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Mizzima: Burma journalists in exile



Burmese journalists in exile

By Soe Myint
February 19, 2000: Mizzima News Group

Burma has been a military state since General Ne Win who was the then
Commander-in-Chief of Armed Forces took over power in 1962 by ousting
the democratically elected Prime Minister U Nu. The military regime, in
1974, transformed itself into a civilian government under the one-party
rule of Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP). It ruled the country
under so-called "Burmese Way to Socialism" and as a result United
Nations in 1987 had to recognize the country as world?s Least Developed
Country (LDC). Having suffered for nearly three decades, the people from
all walks of life revolted against the regime in 1988, demanding for
fundamental economic and political changes in the country. The military
leadership, however, did not give in to the people?s demands and instead
staged a bloody coup again in September 1988 after shooting down
thousands of peaceful demonstrators on the streets of the country.

The people of Burma enjoyed fundamental human rights including freedom
of expression during the parliamentary democracy period which the
country enjoyed between 1948 and 1962. However, all basic rights were
denied to the people under the successive military governments, who
changed their names periodically (with the present military regime
naming itself as State Peace and Development Council).

Media in Burma is strictly state-controlled and it has been functioning
as a mouthpiece of the government and being used as government?s
propaganda machinery. Those media personnel who resisted against the
government control are either jailed or forced to leave the country.

U Thaung, publisher and editor of a newspaper Mirror Daily, was one
amongst them. Known after the newspaper, which he started in 1957, U
Thaung was jailed for three years by the government in 1964 for his
criticism against the government. He left Burma in 1980. He has been
staying with his family in United States since where they were granted
political asylum. He wrote a book ?A journalist, a General and an Army
in Burma? in 1994, which vividly depicts the misery and cruelties
endured by the Burmese people under the military regime. He now
regularly contributes to many of anti-government literatures and
overseas Burmese radio stations including Washington-based Radio Free
Asia (Burmese Service).

Many Burmese journalists similar to U Thaung's case are living in exile
particularly in Western countries where they continue to fight for
freedom of expression. In 1999, a well-known Burmese writer Maung Thara,
69, fled to Thai-Burma border. His writings based upon the reality of
life under the regime have been banned since 1989 and the government
does not allow even reprints of his writings. He is currently staying in
Thailand and waiting to go to United States where he is likely to get
political asylum. Another journalist who recently fled Burma is U Tin
Moe, a well-known poet and founder of various magazines in Burma. He is
currently working in Norway for Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB).

And many media personnel also continue to fight inside the country for
the basic human right. Some journalists, such as U Thaw Ka (writer),
Monywa Tin Swe (writer), Tin Thein Maung (writer), Maung Yin Thit (poet)
died in prison. Exiled All Burma Federation of Student Unions, on Jan
31, 2000, released the names of the 32 journalists who are being
imprisoned in Burma. According to Paris-based Reporters Sans Frontieres,
there are twelve Burmese journalists who are serving long prison
sentences for their belief.

After the 1988 military crackdown in Burma, thousands of Burmese
activists, mostly youth and students left for the border areas of the
country to continue the struggle for the restoration of democracy in
Burma. During the past eleven years, some of them have become
journalists working for overseas Burmese radio stations such as BBC
(Burmese Service), Voice of America (Burmese Section), Radio Free Asia
(Burmese Service) and Norway-based Democratic Voice of Burma. Most of
these activists-turned journalists are based in the cities of Thailand,
India and Bangladesh and some of them are based in the border areas in
these three countries. Dozens of Burmese journalists also work for
publications and print media of exiled Burmese democracy groups.

Their situation is venerable that they have neither legal stay nor
permit to work as journalists in these countries. They face constant
danger of arrest by the local authorities. As these overseas radio
stations are very popular inside Burma (which is in fact the only source
of actual news for the people), Burmese regime often attacks these
exiled-journalists in its own state-controlled media. The regime also
put pressure on the governments of neighboring countries to deport some
of these journalists back to Burma.

In the case of India, in July 1999, the Manipur Government issued a
warrant to arrest a Burmese journalist who works for one of the overseas
Burmese radio stations. The reliable sources in the Home Ministry of
Manipur Government said Burmese government accuses him of sending
?malicious information? against the Government of Burma and Burma wants
India to take action against him. In regular bi-lateral meetings,
Burmese government put forward this issue with the Indian authorities.
On 5th January this year, Manipur Government issued an order asking the
said Burmese journalist ?to leave India with immediate effect? as he is
?indulging in the activities against the interest of Manipur
Government?. Indian government has apparently bowed down the pressure of
Burmese government in this case.

As these exiled Burmese journalists are not staying with legal travel
documents and work permit in Thailand, India and Bangladesh, they are
not accredited with the Press Information Bureaus in these countries.

When asked about Indian government?s position on these activists-turned
journalists, one official in the Ministry of External Affairs said:
"they, being refugees, are not entitled to work in India but government
is aware of what they are doing?.

These radio journalists are popular for the Burmese audience both inside
and outside the country. Working as exiled journalists, they risk their
safety. But every news and features they report has been a sharp sword
for the authorities in Burma and Burmese government would definitely
like to see this to be stopped by any means.

(Soe Myint is a freelance journalist based in India.)