Myanmar's long years of military rule meant some of the tightest restrictions on the press anywhere outside of North Korea. A censorship board vetted all publications – and still does, for political or news content at least – and routinely excised chunks of articles and more if the content was in any way "critical" of the government.
The country's parliament is scheduled to discuss a new media law in coming weeks, with local journalists hopeful the censors will be disbanded.
In late 2011, the Myanmar government also announced laws permitting the formation of trade unions – banned up until then as the government feared the prospect of groups of disgruntled workers in Myanmar's decrepit economy forming mass associations. It also announced a new code permitting public demonstrations, so long as these are pre-approved by the police.
