BBC MisInformed on Democratic Radio

[maung@xxxxxxxxxxx]

				Statement Regarding 
   			    BBC REPORT ON D.V.B. RADIO 
				   March 26, 1996 
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A British Broadcasting Corporation Special Report on Clandestine and Other 
Selected Broadcasts, datelined March 21, 1996, Thursday. stated: 
 
"Democratic Voice of Burma began broadcasting on 19 July 1992, when it 
announced that it was operating on behalf of the National Coalition 
Government of the Union of Burma (NCGUB). However, it is believed that the 
station is now run by Burmese student activists accountable to the 
Norwegian Burma Council but without any formal control by NCGUB." 
 
The same report goes on to state that, "Thabye Radio, a pro-government 
radio station, appear(s) to be aimd at a Karen audience and reflect 
the positions of Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council 
(SLORC), which is opposed to the activities of the Karen National Union 
(KNU)." 
 
Another BBC report on the same day, quoted a Radio Netherlands report of 
14 March 1996 which stated that the Voice of America Burmese Service is 
being jammed again by SLORC but that the DVB Radio transmission from 
Norway, and the BBC are not being jammed. 
 
The juxtaposition of the three reports may be a mere coincidence. 
However, taken together, they could imply that SLORC is not jamming DVB 
Radio because it is now under the control of SLORC and not the NCGUB. A 
cursory reading of the reports could also give the impression that DVB 
Radio is broadcasting programmes opposed to the activities of the Karen 
National Union. This is far from the truth. 
 
If the reports had been filed by any other organization but the BBC, 
suspicious Burmese democracy activists would be justified in thinking 
that the reports are the work of a clever SLORC disinformation campaign. 
 
While the juxtapositioning of the three reports may be unintentional. it 
is very unprofessional for the BBC to have published the report that DVB 
Radio is no longer under the control of the NCGUB without verifying the 
rumour directly with DVB Radio in Oslo. Former BBC Burmese Service staff 
are currently providing technical advice to DVB Radio. A single 
telephone call to a former colleague could have clarified matters. 
 
For the record, DVB Radio is not 'run by Burmese student activists 
accountable to the Norwegian Burma Council but without any formal 
control by NCGUB.' DVB staff members are appointed by and accountable to 
a Management Committee which is chaired by the Prime Minister of the 
NCGUB. The chairman of the NBC is also a member of the Management 
Committee. 
 
The objective of DVB Radio is to provide the people of Burma with 
accurate news and information, in support of the Burmese democracy 
movement. It aims to reflect all ethnic groups in its programmes and 
the Radio is currently broadcasting programmes in Karen, Karenni, Kayan 
and Shan. For further information regarding DVB Radio, contact Oslo - 
Tel/Fax: 47 2236-2525. 
 
Harn Yawnghwe 
DVB Radio Management Committee