After 50 Years Private Daily Newspapers Return in Burma

Private daily newspapers are being sold in the country for the first time in almost 50 years. This is yet another important milestone on Burma's journey to democracy. Sixteen papers have so far been granted licences, although only four were ready to publish on Monday.

Until recently, reporters in Burma faced some of the harshest restrictions in the world.

Private dailies in Burmese, English and other languages, which had been commonplace in the former British colony, were forced to close under military rule in 1964.

Subsequently, journalists were frequently subjected to surveillance and phone-tapping, and were often tortured or imprisoned. Newspapers that broke the rules were shut down, the BBC reports.

But media controls have been relaxed as part of a programme of reforms launched by the government of President Thein Sein that took office in 2011, the report said.

Last August, the government informed journalists they would no longer have to submit their work routinely to state censors before publication.

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According to the report, it was announced in December that private dailies would be allowed to publish from 1 April.

Source-ANI