Burma's notorious press censorship board, the Press Scrutiny and Registration Division (PSRD), has issued a statement saying that registered political parties can publish election-related materials, but with several conditions.
In the statement––dated March 17 but not made public––obtained by The Irrawaddy on Friday, the PSRD said that political parties can apply to the censorship board to publish materials in accord with the 1962 Printing and Publishing Act within 90 days of their official registration with the Election Commission.
The order said that the PSRD will not consider applications submitted by parties beyond the prescribed 90 days.
The order reads: “According the 1962 Printing and Publishing Act, the registered political parties can publish the election-related materials such as pamphlets, journals and booklets without the approval of the PSRD.”
However, political parties must not oppose the ruling State Peace and Development Council, make any attempt to break the armed forces, and should conform with the restoration and prevalence of law and order, the statement said.
The PSRD order will charge political parties for registering to publish materials a sum of 100,000 kyat (US $100), with 500,000 kyat ($500) laid down as a deposit.
To date, only the 88 Generation Student Youths (Union of Myanmar) and the Union of Myanmar
Federation of National Politics parties have applied to register for the election.
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