Burma

Burma's news groups reach for the star

Human Rights

Seven of Burma's exiled media groups have formed a syndicate in an effort to further promote Burma related news and reports in Asia during a 3-day seminar, 10-12 February, in the northern Thai border area. 

Soe Myint, editor of the New Delhi based Mizzima News and the groups' spokesman, said the Burma News International's long term aim was to become a multi-media and subscription-based news network both for the regional and international media. "It also proposes to serve as a bridge among news agencies, each of whom are working on specialized issues," he said. There are two criteria for becoming a BNI member organization:  To be an independent Burma media organization  To produce its own news and reports

The group, founded by 4 India and Bangladesh-based agencies in January 2003, increased to 6 in July 2003, and 7 at this latest meeting, with 4 others agreeing to become networking partners. 

The meeting was also participated by representatives from Inter Press Service (IPS), founded in 1964 after "too much information from the global north and too little from the global south", and Southeast Asia Press Alliance, founded in 1998, who said SEAPA would rather deal with one common umbrella media organization than individuals. 

One of the issues discussed at the meeting included protection, or lack of it, for exile journalists. "Our office in Chittagong (Bangladesh) has been closed," reported Fayas Mohammad, Kaladan Press editor. Another participant also related his experience in applying visa to Bangladesh. "I was required to state that I wasn't a journalist," he told his surprised listeners. 

The last session was joined by other Thai-based media groups who informed the meeting of plans for the formation of a Burma Journalists Association (BJA), the principal aim of which was the protection of the journalists. No specific date or venue, however, was disclosed at the meeting. 

Note: Burma Media Association is not regarded as one, as it also includes poets, fiction writers and those from the entertainment sector, according to the participants. 
For further information, please contact Aung Naing, Tel: 01-530 2837 <aungn@cscoms.com>.