BMA lambasts junta's media for lack of ethnics

Written by Khun aung Myat

08 October 2007.

The Burma Media Association (BMA) in exile has condemned the military junta run media for telling people not to believe news broadcast by foreign radio stations like the  BBC, RFA, and VOA.

Talking about a write up in the New Light of Myanmar he said, "In my view it is an undignified piece of writing. If they are unhappy with foreign radios, they are welcome to criticize it. But the way they made the announcement in bold, is not done according to journalists' ethnics," said BMA's general secretary U San Moe Wai.

Yesterday the New Light of Myanmar wrote on the back-page:  'be aware of full liars RFA, VOA, BBC, be aware of destroyer BBC, RFA and VOA, and people must be aware of killing from the BBC, RFA, VOA radio. The full liars are destroying our country. BBC is lying. VOA is lying. RFA is provoking. Don't trust them'.

It is for the listeners to decide whether the news is correct or incorrect, U San Moe Wai added.

"The junta's action of cutting off telephone lines, the internet and arresting persons having cameras was to prevent information from Burma flowing to main stream international radios. They are trying to black out the real news," BMA pointed out.

People do not trust the regime's media because it airs and writes incorrect news, said a local who listens to foreign broadcasts.

"In today's world we can see and hear of events within minutes. The whole world can see it. The junta intentionally beat and killed Buddhist monks and destroyed monasteries. Thousand of monks had come out to protest. The Myanmar radio, MRTV (Myanmar Radio and Television) and Myawaddy TV broadcasts distort news thinking we are brainless," BMA said.

The New Light of Myanmar said yesterday that the news that monks from Mandalay came to Pakokku in boats, monks protested in Khayan township, Rangoon and thousands of monks from Kyakhatwaing temple demonstrated, are in correct.

All media publications in Burma are censored because the junta strictly controls the media. Reporters Sans Frontieres (Reporters without Borders) based in France said that Burma is among the top in the list of countries which has practically no freedom of the Press.