RItorno dall'esilio: la voce democratica della Birmania lascia Oslo dopo 21 anni e apre a Yangon

A volte ritornano. Nel senso che per fortuna anche le vicende politiche più intricate, le storie di opposizione ai regimi più sanguinari hanno un lieto fine. Il 21 novembre a Oslo, in Norvegia, si è tenuto un evento che ha coinvolto, in un lungo ringraziamento, le autorità norvegesi e l'organizzazione di Democratic Voice of Burma. L'emittente radiotelevisiva ha trasmesso dai suoi studi di Oslo per oltre 21 anni, essendo stata fondata da un gruppo di esuli birmani nel 1992 con il sostegno delle organismi umanitari in Norvegia. Fino alla prima metà del 2000 DVB trasmetteva esclusivamente in onde corte, decidendo poi di affiancare un servizio televisivo diffuso via satellite. Oggi le condizioni politiche della Birmania sono cambiate al punto che DVB ha deciso di ritornare in patria. Da tempo aveva spostato il grosso delle operazioni a Chiang Mai, nel nord della Tailandia. Entro l'anno l'ufficio di Oslo verrà definitivamente chiuso perché DVB sta già aprendo una sede a Yangon, nella sua Myanmar. Considerando che l'ente di Stato utilizza le onde corte per le sue trasmissioni interne, forse anche DVB continuerà a servirsi di questo mezzo.

La notizia ha ricevuto una certa prominenza in Norvegia, come testimonia l'articolo su Aftenposten. Ma lo stesso quotidiano locale inglese Myanmar Times lo scorso marzo raccontava delle intenzioni di DVB, annunciando la prossima apertura di una sede ufficiale birmana. Il percorso di democratizzazione non è ancora stato concluso e il leader dell'opposizione Aung Saan Suu Kyi si sta battendo per una riforma di una Costituzione che attualmente le impedirebbe di presentarsi come candidata alla presidenza nelle elezioni che potrebbero svolgersi nel 2015. Il segnale della liberazione dei giornalisti di DVB dal loro esilio praticamente polare è però molto forte. Al momento, in ogni caso, DVB si può ancora ascoltare in onde corte, in birmano, su 6225 kHz  tra le 14:30 e le 15:30 (dal Tajikistan) e su 7510 kHz tra le 23:30 e le 00:30 UTC (dall'Armenia).

Questo è il discorso pronunciato la settimana scorsa a Oslo da Guri Hjeltnes, rappresentante del board della organizzazione Fritt Ord (Libertà di parola) che in questi 21 anni ha contribuito a finanziare le operazioni dell'emittente.

Dear journalists and editors of DVB, distinguished guests from abroad, and very soon arriving Børge Brende, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs!

On behalf of the Fritt Ord Foundation and the DVB Multimedia Group: Welcome to the seminar “DVB Operations and Myanmar Media: Past Experiences and Future Vision”! This is a seminar to commemorate DVB’s stay in Norway. DVB is on the move, leaving Norway, it is off to Myanmar. 

Besides journalists and editors of DVB, we have prominent journalists from other Burmese media, and exiled journalists from Belarus and Zimbabwe as well as journalists from South Africa and South Sudan, who are now able to work inside their own countries, that are here today to both learn from DVB, and share their experiences with DVB, on their new path as a commercial, independent media house in Burma.

A warm welcome to you all!

As many of you might know, The Fritt Ord Foundation is a private non-profit foundation that works to promote freedom of expression and public debate in Norway.  We are both a grant-giving foundation, and we do run our own projects.  On an international level, Fritt Ord has over many years supported Index of Censorship. A few years ago Fritt Ord established the Free Word Centre in London, a building devoted to freedom of expression, where both Index of Censorship and Article 19 have had their headquarters. Together with the German foundation ZEIT-Stiftung, Fritt Ord annually awards press prizes to journalists and media in Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Georgia, and Azerbaijan. The press prizes are intended to support the independent role of journalists, despite reprisals and financial difficulties, to encourage them not to be intimidated by censorship and to resist self-censorship.

I would like to mention just two of our recent initiatives.

In Norway the Fritt Ord Foundation recently established the Freedom of Expression Barometer of Opinion, the first comprehensive survey of the general public's attitudes to and experience of freedom of expression. The Foundation has also taken an initiative for a Monitoring Project designed to monitor the status of freedom of expression in Norway. The project is being run by the Institute for Social Research. The Monitoring Project is a comprehensive research project that will survey freedom of expression in a multi-cultural society, the digitalization and modification of the new media reality, the surveillance needs of society and the market, and freedom of expression in the work place.

An important international exhibition and information project in the wake of the terrorist act perpetrated in Norway on 22 July 2011 will be opened to the public in spring 2014. With the tentative title “We live on a Star”, the project is a result of cooperation between the Henie Onstad Art Centre and the Fritt Ord Foundation.

And so to our guests from far away - and what we are commemorating here today. The Fritt Ord Foundation has provided support for DVB for a number of years. We supported the establishment of the DVB radio in Norway in 1992.  Ten years later, in 2002, the contact between DVB and Fritt Ord resumed, then with support for an international media conference in Oslo and for educational programs for the DVB journalists.  In 2003 we extended our support to media training of journalists within Burma.  Fritt Ord was actually the first foundation to support a pilot project, in 2004, under the auspices of the DVB that was aimed at setting up a TV station. 

We have subsequently followed up by providing substantial annual support for the media organization’s TV project. The Foundation has also provided grants for the production of the documentary film “Burma VJ – reporting from a Closed Country” which received an Oscar nomination in the category ‘best documentary film’. The Norwegian premier of the documentary took place at Fritt Ord in 2009. In 2010 we invited to a film screening of the documentary “Burma’s Nuclear Ambitions” and a follow-up debate together with DVB in Oslo. In 2011 Fritt Ord and DVB co-organized a preview screening of the documentary film “The Voice of Burma”. Both films received production support from the Fritt Ord Foundation.

It was with great joy that we were able to invite Zarganar – comedian, film actor, director and former political prisoner, and Min Htin Ko Ko Gyi – poet, filmmaker and screenwriter, with help from DVB to take part in the opening ceremony of the First World Conference on Artistic Freedom of Expression, entitled "All That is Banned is Desired", at the new Opera in Oslo in autumn 2012. The session was most appropriately called ‘Beauty under Pressure’: about film, poetry and music in Burma. 

Two weeks ago members of the board of Fritt Ord visited DVB’s new premises in Thailand and Burma, accompanied by Khin Maung Win, Deputy Executive Director of the DVB. First stop was Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. We met the most engaged group of editors and journalists, working on different media platforms, in the midst of unopened boxes sent from Norway, a charming chaos. The working conditions – and the working spirit – are impressive. The TV-monitors in the DVB-building demonstrated the wide journalistic activity. The competence amongst the DVB was convincing. Next stop was Yangon, where another dynamic group, maybe a bit smaller, met the Fritt Ord guests. We were once again well informed of the ambitions and challenges of working in Burma. Hot topics are the new laws – a complicated mixture of laws and regulations, heavily debated when we visited.

We also had a most enlightening morning meeting Zarganar, other artists, and other editors, and not to forget an eager group of quite young journalists, greating us with optimism and determination. I am happy to share with you the repeated praise of the exile radio- and tv- station:

– DVB was our light in the darkness.

This fall, the biggest journalistic event is the SEA games. Next stop was the capital Nay Pyi Taw – quite a change from the extreme traffic in Yangon, quite a long way to fill the streets of Nay Pyi Taw. 

Fritt Ord met the Minister of Information and his top leaders in the ministry. Fritt Ord – alas, thanks to our friend Khin – we also met and talked to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. Our chairman Georg Rieber-Mohn told her about our visit and cooperation with DVB through many years. He mentioned that after our short week we are optimistic of the development. Suu Kyi replied: - I am carefully optimistic. You cannot just hope. You can only allow yourself to be optimistic if you at the same time work hard. 

I think these words sums up DVB’s effort over the years: hard work and a media adventure with no parallel anywhere. The small radio station, Democratic Voice of Burma, an exile opposition, more propaganda-like in the beginning, has developed into a professional multimedia organization.  Yes, Fritt Ord is optimistic, and we enjoyed the beautiful landscape of Burma. Being a WWII-historian it was also a travel back in Burmese history. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Khin Maung Win. He took a week off from his important work at DVB, and gave Fritt Ord an unforgettable journey into his home country and into the new world of DVB. 

At the Fritt Ord Foundation we will follow the new path of DVB in Chiang Mai, Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw with great interest, and also with understanding of the need for financial support in this crucial transitional period. I repeat – an understanding of the need for support … – hope you get the point. And now I turn to you – Aye Chan Naing, Executive Director and one of the founding members of the DVB. You have for many years been a driving force of the DVB, so we are honored that you will open this seminar. Together with the DVB staff you have created an independent flagship in the Burmese media landscape. 

(Gli speaker dell'evento, al quale hanno partecipato altre organizzazioni mediatiche extraterritoriali)

1. Professor Guri Hjeltnes is a member of the Board of Trustees of Fritt Ord (Freedom of Expression

Foundation), a Norway based DVB donor since the beginning and the host this event at their office

2. Mr. Aye Chan Niang is Executive Director and one of founding members of the DVB

3. Mr. Harn Yawnghwe is former Executive Director of the DVB

4. Mr. Harald Bockman is Chairman of the Board of both DVB Foundation and Norwegian Burma

Committee which helped DVB get started in 1992 in Oslo

5. Mr. Maw Lin is Chief Editor of the People’s Age Journal, Myanmar

6. Mr. Khin Maung Win is Deputy Executive Director of the DVB, and one of founding members of the

DVB

7. Ms. Eva Atterlov Frisell is Programme Manager at Swedish International Development Cooperation

Agency (Sida), a DVB major donor since the beginning

8. H.E Børge Brende is Minister of Foreign Affairs, Government of Norway

9. Professor Helge Rønning is a professor at the Department of Media and Communication, University

of Oslo

10. Mr. Kavi Chongkittavorn is a Thai journalist and member of Board of Directors of the DVB since

2006

11. Mr. Jacob Akol works for Gurtong Trust Peace and Media Project

12. Ms. Tu Tu Thar is an Editor of the Irrawaddy Magazine and Online (Burmese section)

13. Ms. Jane McElhone works for Media Programme, Open Society Foundation

14. Mr. Jacob Akol runs Gurtong Trust Peace and Media Project, South Sudan

15. Mr. Thaung Htike is Chief Editor of True News Journal, Myanmar

16. Mr. Toe Zaw Latt is Myanmar Bureau Chief, DVB

17. Ms. Maria Sadovskaya-Komlach is a Senior Project Coordinator of the European Radio for Belarus

18. Ms. Gerry Jackson runs Short Wave Radio Africa (Zimbabwe)

19. Mr. Pe Myint is Consultative Editor of People’s Age Journal, Myanmar

20. Mr. Kyaw Min Swe is Chief Editor of The Voice Daily Newspaper and The Voice Weekly Journal,

Myanmar

21. Mr. Wilf Mbanga is Chief Editor “The Zimbabwean Newspaper”, which is published in South Africa

and circulation is made within Zimbabwe

Birmania, grande ritorno delle onde corte: un nuovo impianto per le lingue locali

C'è forse un preciso disegno del regime birmano nella frenesia che dallo scorso febbraio anima i rapporti d'ascolto che arrivano dai radiohobbysti sintonizzati sulle frequenze in onde corte dalla Birmania (Myanmar). La nazione asiatica situata tra Bangladesh e Thailandia sta per andare alle elezioni e da settimane è impegnata a trasmettere su frequenze del tutto inedite programmi destinati alle sue numerose minoranze linguistiche. I "DXer" in India, Sri Lanka,Thailandia e California, segnalano gli annunci di Radio Thazin, ma anche di Radio Kachin (lo stato del nord di un paese dalla geografia molto allungata) e di Radio Rakhine. Proprio in queste ore analizzando Google Maps (foto) è stato individuato un impianto di trasmissione poco a est di Pyin Oo Lwin, nuovo nome di Maymyo, nella provincia di Mandalay, quindi parecchio a nord rispetto alla città principale, la costiera Yangon (Rangoon) ma anche della nuova capitale birmana, la centrale Naypyidaw. A Pyin Oo Lyn sono state individuate una grande antenna per onde medie, probabilmente attiva su 639 kHz e due antenne per onde corte, la cui frequenza più attiva (e facile da ascoltare anche da noi) è di 7110 kHz, quella osservata dall'inizio del mese di febbraio in tutto il mondo, dopo la segnalazione da parte dei DXer indiani. Impianti di trasmissione sono visibili però anche a poca distanza da Naypyidaw, mentre a Yangon dovrebbero tutt'ora operare gli impianti di Myanma Radio, l'emittente ufficiale, e la stazione delle Forze Armate (quella che si ascolta su 5770).

Del resto, in uno dei regimi più ermetici dell'Asia, nonostante la concessione di qualche decina di seggi elettorali offerti ai partiti oppositori del regime da mettere in palio con le votazioni di domenica, in Birmania alcune trasmissioni radio venivano curate dal Direttorato Pubbliche Relazioni e Guerra Psicologica del Ministero della Difesa. L'improvviso interesse nei confronti delle trasmissioni in lingue minoritarie (ma anche in lingua inglese) da Radio Thazin/Radio Kachin potrebbe derivare da una rinnovata intenzione di estendere la copertura della propaganda di regime anche nelle regioni più periferiche. Una prima lista di frequenze attive è stata ricavata da osservazioni effettuate in febbraio in Thailandia da Gerhard Werdin (s/on=apertura programmi, s/off=chiusura):

5770 Defence Forces Bc;

0030 a 0430, 0800-0930, poi s/on 1130 fino alle 1440 UT.

5915 Myanma R; 2330-0200 e 0900-1400, alle 1240 UT tutti programmi diversi sulle varie frequenze (5770, 5915, 5985, 7110, 7345 kHz), fino alle 1340 UT;

s/off presunto 1430.

5985/6 Myanma R; 2330-0130 UT s/off; 0930 s/on, fino ad almeno le 1445 UT,

6030 Myanma R Thazin

7110 Myanma R Rakhine pres.; 2330 s/on fino alle 0130 UT s/off,

7110 Myanma R Thazin pres; 1030 s/on fino alle 1430 UT s/off;

7200 nuova frequenza QRG; Myanma R da inizio marzo nella fascia 0300-0930 UT; annunci "Myanmar, Naypyidaw" forse rimpiazzata da 9400 kHz (?).

7345 Myanma R Rakhine pres.; tent s/on 1030, s/off 1330 UT.

9460 Myanmar R, nuova frequenza da inizio marzo s/on 0430, s/off 0630 UT.

9590 Myanma R pres.; s/on 0130, s/off 0330 UT, e a volte 0530-0830 UT, forse fino alle 1030 UT,

9730 Myanma R (nominale, ascoltata in realtà su 9730,85 kHz); s/on 0230 UT, s/off 1000 con segmenti in inglese 0230-0330 e 0700-0730 UT. Su questa frequenza è stato osservato anche il relay di PadaukMyay Radio di Naypyidaw

Babul Gupta, dall'India, ha diffuso in questi giorni una griglia molto dettagliata dei programmi di Radio Kachin e di quella che viene tentativamente identificata come Radio Thazin, entrambe operative dal nuovo impianto di Pyin Oo Lwin:

Morning

2330 to 0130 hrs UTC in Burmese on 639 kHz, 6030 kHz

0130 to 0200 hrs UTC in English on 639 kHz, 6030 kHz

Afternoon

0430 to 0630 hrs UTC in English on 639 kHz, 9460 kHz

Evening

1030 to 1430 hrs UTC in Burmese on 639 kHz, 7110 kHz

1430 to 1500 hrs UTC in English on 639 kHz, 7110 kHz

The other new station in Myanmar which I posted earlier as "Rakhine Broadcasting Station" in IDXCI fb group, I think this station is also from the same studio in Phin Oo Lwin for minority language broadcast, but I'm not sure about it. The schedule is as follows:

Morning

2330 to 0030 hrs UTC in Chin on 7110 kHz

0030 to 0130 hrs UTC in Kachin on 7110 kHz

0130 to 0230 hrs UTC in La on 9590 kHz

0230 to 0330 hrs UTC in Po on 9590 kHz

Afternoon (secondo Victor Goonetilleke a Sri Lanka gli orari corretti sono 0430-0830)

0530 to 0630 hrs UTC in Geba on 9590 kHz

0630 to 0730 hrs UTC in Kokang in 9590 kHz

0730 to 0830 hrs UTC in Karen on 9590 kHz

0830 to 0930 hrs UTC in Shan on 9590 kHz

Evening

1030 to 1130 hrs UTC in Kayah on 7345 kHz

1130 to 1230 hrs UTC in Gekho on 7345 kHz

1230 to 1330 hrs UTC in Mon on 7345 kHz

Myanmar, una nuova stazione a onde corte dallo stato del Rakhine

Dopo che una ventina di giorni fa era stata segnalata in India una stazione probabilmente birmana sulla frequenza di 7100 kHz (in piena banda radioamatoriale, ma non è l'unica a invadere uno spazio che un tempo era condiviso tra stazioni amatoriali e broadcast), oggi sempre dall'India si è propagata attraverso le mailing e i gruppi di discussione su Internet una griglia di programmazione completa relativa alla Rakhine Broadcasting Station, una dei nuovi organismi che a Myanmar, dal 2009, avevano rotto in FM il monopolio della radio nazionale birmana (ecco un articolo apparso sull'edizione online del Mynamar Times). Rakhine è uno degli stati della federazione birmana e secondo le fonti indiane l'emittente avrebbe iniziato a trasmettere anche in onde corte con una selezione di lingue minoritarie. Ecco gli orari UTC e le lingue/frequenze utilizzate:

Morning

2330 to 0030 Chin 7110 kHz

0030 to 0130 Kachin 7110 kHz

0130 to 0230 La 9590 kHz

0230 to 0330 Po 9590 kHz

Afternoon

0530 to 0630 Geba 9590 kHz

0630 to 0730 Kokang 9590 kHz

0730 to 0830 Karen 9590 kHz

0830 to 0930 Shan 9590 kHz

Evening

1030 to 1130 Kayah 7345 kHz

1130 to 1230 Gekho 7345 kHz

1230 to 1330 Mon 7345 kHz

Quando verso le 00.30 (le 23.30 UTC) mi sono accorto che a Milano una portante arrivava su 7110, mi sono spostato su uno degli ormai numerosi ricevitori SDR accessibili via Internet in molte località del mondo attraverso il network di Websdr.org. Il fischio della portante si è trasformato in un segnale molto robusto, con musiche decisamente del sud-est asiatico.

Ecco il clip che ho registrato controllando a distanza una radio SDR installata nelle isole Canarie:

Se questa è veramente la Birmania arriva sorprendentemente bene. Grazie agli amici dell'India DX Club International e a DXLD del solito Glenn Hauser per le notizie, è buffo che proprio una nazione così chiusa come la Birmania abbia imboccato una strada in totale controtendenza rispetto al generale declino delle onde corte. Un segno di incipiente, attesissima democrazia?

Povero mezzo

Questo articolo di Union of Catholic Asian News a proposito dei programmi di Radio Veritas Asia in lingua sino-tibetana "karen" (una consistente minoranza dell'oppressivo stato birmano, la quale da anni chiede l'autonomia), sottolinea giustamente che se i giovani di Hong Kong navigano su Internet e le famiglie indiane hanno la tv via cavo, nei villaggi etnici Kayin di Myanmar ci si deve arrangiare con radioline cinesi da dieci dollari sintonizzate sulle onde corte. A conti fatti le onde corte possono raggiungere, nelle varie aree critiche del mondo, diverse centinaia di milioni di persone. Forse gli abbonati alla larga banda sono già di più e fruttano più soldi agli operatori, soldi pagati di tasca propria e non dalla fiscalità e le donazioni che inevitabilmente sostengono broadcaster come la cattolica Radio Veritas (40 anni di attività quest'anno).
Però è un peccato che nella civiltà dell'abbondanza e dello spreco si debbano ancora fare questioni di bilancio per cercare di portare un po' di equilibrio in più tra chi è benestante e libero e chi, invece, è povero, sfruttato e non ha nessuna voce in capitolo. Nemmeno con la sua radiolina.

MYANMAR Radio boon to Kayin listeners
May 27, 2009

YANGON (UCAN) -- Hong Kong youths log onto the Internet, children in Tokyo use their mobile phones and many Delhi kids have scores of cable TV channels to entertain them.
But for the Kayin, or Karen, ethnic people in Myanmar, a cheap US$10 radio is their "hi-tech" link to communications and entertainment. Here you'll find many Kayin with "Made in China" radios tuned to Radio Veritas Asia's (RVA) Kayin service.
The RVA, based in Quezon City north of Manila and sponsored by the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, has provided a Kayin-language service for over 25 years. Its Catholic programs have become a source of spiritual strength and information to thousands of Kayin Christians, most of whom are Protestant.
The programs include reflections on the Bible, meditations, family and youth issues, question and answer sessions on spirituality, sessions on the lives of the saints, local news and Kayin culture.
Anthony Htun Mya, 45, from Hkaungpu-Bawsi in Hpa-pun Township, Kayin State, who was on a visit to Yangon, is one such listener. He is a regular follower of Radio Veritas' shortwave early morning and evening services.
In his village, the programs are virtually the only window to the outside world, he said. There, all the Catholic and Baptist villagers regularly tune in to the service.
"Because of the lack of newspapers, magazines and novels, we have all come to understand the value of the service, especially since many Kayin don't understand the (main) Burmese language properly," he said. "It makes us especially happy to hear religious news broadcasts in the Kayin language."
Htun said he really enjoys listing to the Kayin songs which are relaxing and help him unwind after a tiring day at work. But homilies are his favorite.
Regular Kayin-language services are broadcast seven days a week from 6:30 a.m. to 7 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. Of the two Kayin languages, Pwo Kayin is broadcast only on Wednesdays and Saturdays, the rest are in Sagaw Kayin.
Mahn Paul, 50, from Myaungmya is a composer and in charge of recording at the Thoo-lay-phaw Kayin Studio at Sts. Peter and Paul Church in Yangon. He also contributes to programs. "I've been listening to the programs for 25 years," he said. "It's especially delightful to compose songs for the program and I will be trying my best to come up with more modern songs."
Such is the popularity of the service that loud speakers are placed at the Sts. Peter and Paul Bible School, so all those in the compound or in the vicinity can hear the broadcasts.
Plans are also afoot to provide a Kayin language support center at Sts. Peter and Paul Church where Kayin listeners can send requests and suggestions for the service. Internet and digital facilities will also be available when the center comes into operation.
Elizabeth Hla Hla Nwe 42, a listener from the village of Outsu, Twantay Township, said: "I have been listening to the RVA for more than 15 years and I love the programs on spirituality. Birthday song requests, homilies and the program on the lives of the saints are also my favorites."
However, the broadcasts serve other needs as well. She said she and fellow villagers also have also "learned more about other things such as health issues and the use of medicines, which is very important when you consider the scarcity of doctors and nurses in remote areas."
Retired Archbishop Gabriel Thohey Mahn Gaby, former archbishop of Yangon, established the Kayin radio service on April 1, 1982. At present, Bishop John Hsane Hgyi of Pathein and Bishop Raymond Saw Po Ray of Mawlamyine oversee the Kayin broadcasts.
RVA, which broadcasts in 15 languages across Asia, is the only continental Catholic shortwave station in the world. It celebrated 40 years of broadcasting in April.

Un regalo particolarmente sgradito

Quando la Cina ha regalato duemila radioline da distribuire tra le vittime del ciclone che aveva colpito la Birmania, le locali autorità si sono fatte prendere dal panico. Duemila apparecchi radio capaci di sintonizzarsi sulle onde corte? Inaudito. Chissà quali menzogne avrebbero potuto diffondere. La Democratic Voice of Burma - la ong di esiliati birmani basata in Norvegia che cerca di diffondere una informazione corretta via radio e attraverso Internet - riferisce che a quel punto sono stati mobilitati gli ingegneri "di Stato". I quali hanno preso le duemila radio, hanno disattivato la sintonia delle onde corte e hanno regalato alla gente (con tanto di foto ricordo da mandare agli amici cinesi) duemila radio monche, capaci solo di sintonizzarsi sulle emittenti di stato in onde medie (di FM nella giungla non se ne parla neppure).
La nuova domanda del guru dovrebbe essere: moriranno prima la radio analogica, la giunta birmana o i birmani tout court?

Junta's information black-out

Tai Kyaw

Jul 4, 2008 (DVB)–Burma’s military regime is still keeping quiet about an incident following Cyclone Nargis. It is a minor incident, but one that would surprise the people of Burma and the international community.
Relief supplies provided for Burma’s cyclone victims from China included 2000 radios. They were handed over to the junta authorities. Low-ranking officials were in a difficult situation when they received those cheap radios because they were not sure if they should give them to refugees or hold them back, so they asked their superiors what to do.
The information about the radios pushed high-ranking officials into a tight corner. They seemed to be worried about affecting the relationship with China if they did not give the radios out. On the other hand, if they distributed the radios, the 2000 people who received them would be able to listen to foreign broadcasting services such as BBC, VOA, DVB and RFA, which they did not want their citizens to be able to access. Finally, an order came through that radios should be distributed to cyclone victims only after they had been adapted so that they could not be used to listen to foreign broadcasting services.
As a consequence, engineers and officials at the Communication Department faced a heavy workload. They had to remove the short wave tuning system used by foreign broadcasting services to air their programmes from each radio. Engineers working for the Communication Department in Rangoon Division spent a lot of time on these radios worth US$ 5 each. After the radios had been adapted, the authorities gave them out in Irrawaddy division for people to listen to weather news, took photos of their donations and then sent the photos back to donors in China.
When village headmen and others received the radios, they were unable to tune into foreign radio broadcasts because the short wave system had been disabled. They were also unable to listen to City FM since they were far away from Rangoon. As a result, they all ended up only being able to listen to programmes from Myanmar Radio and Television Department, the state-controlled radio station transmitted on medium wave.
The way the military regime dealt with the donated radio shoes the lengths to which it will go to black out information and stop its citizens listening to news broadcasts.
[continua]