A/HRC/7/18 page 9 of civilians as porters for the army during patrols and military operations. Major obstacles to the elimination of forced labour include the apparent lack of political will to seriously address the problem or to develop acceptable alternatives, and the continued impunity of the Government officials and army officers responsible. Another problem is the lack of public information on, and awareness of, the Government’s orders, which prohibit the use of forced labour and the mechanisms which exist to seek redress. C. Freedom of expression, movement and peaceful assembly 34. The authorities have continued to impose severe restrictions on the freedoms of movement, expression, association and assembly. The Special Rapporteur has received several reports alleging that the Government is involved in crackdowns on initiatives by individuals; even those for non-political purposes, such as the fight against HIV/AIDS. He has also received allegations concerning the prosecution of individuals who have conveyed public information to organizations and individuals inside and outside the country. The Special Rapporteur remains concerned at the severe restrictions on freedom of movement that prevail in general in the country, and in particular at those imposed on specific minority groups. 35. The established legal framework is used to silence the voices of opposition. The Press Scrutiny and Registration Division of the Ministry of Information examines every publication for anything perceived to be anti-regime. Similar censorship boards exercise tight control over art, music, film and all other forms of artistic expression. All authors, publishers, journalists and poets must submit a personal biography to the board of literary censorship. The board then investigates whether these individuals have any association with opposition political parties or connections to other people or groups deemed threatening by the regime. Anyone proved or suspected of having undesirable connections is placed on a blacklist and their work is not allowed to be published. 36. Reporters Sans Frontières placed Myanmar 164 on its press freedom index, five places from the bottom, and the Committee to Protect Journalists ranked Myanmar second on its list of 10 most censored countries. While a number of new publishing licences have reportedly been granted in recent years, very few of them have resulted in the establishment of viable publications because of the excessive restrictions and bureaucratic demands of the Government. In order to have access to information on what is really happening in their country and the rest of the world, many citizens are forced to rely on sources of information such as Myanmar-language radio broadcasts from abroad, which are prohibited by the national authorities. Meanwhile, the Government continues to crack down on other forms of outside communication. The military allegedly raided a number of areas across Myanmar as part of a campaign to confiscate cheap mobile phones smuggled in from neighbouring countries. The Internet also continued to be censored and extensive efforts are made to block e-mail services. 37. The freedoms of assembly and association are also significantly curtailed by the Government. The Unlawful Associations Act of 1908 (later amended) prohibiting unauthorized outdoor assemblies of more than five people is enforced selectively. Despite obligations under domestic law and international treaties to recognize and respect the rights of workers, the authorities have banned trade unions and labour organizations in Myanmar.