U Aung Zaw uses the example of HIV and Burma to make his point in this article. And we must remember that "There is no guarantee that change at the top will bring democratic values, good governance or the rule of law, so the press must be vigilant and work to hold the government accountable."
[him] moderator
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Why an Independent Media Matters in Burma
Aung Zaw
Monday, March 10, 2008
Burma’s rulers and democratic opposition forces have limited experience with a free and independent media. This is definitely worrying for a future democratic Burma.
King Mindon, Burma’s penultimate monarch, knew the value of a free press. During his reign, he introduced a new press law which read in part: “If I do wrong, write about me. If the queens do wrong, write about them. If my sons and my daughters do wrong, write about them. If the judges and mayors do wrong, write about them. No one shall take action against the journals for writing the truth. They shall go in and out of the palace freely.”
The king and his ministers read newspapers published in Lower Burma, which had already been colonized by the British, and were quite sensitive to criticism. When newspapers like the Rangoon Gazette reported the poor state of roads in Mandalay, Mindon’s seat of power, the ministers immediately ordered that the roads be repaired.
However, despite the king’s embrace of a free media, criticism of palace scandals in the royal court of Mandalay never made its way into the Yadanabon Naypyidaw, launched with Mindon’s blessings in March 1875.
The Yadanabon Naypyidaw, or Mandalay Gazette, as it was also known, is recognized as one of the first indigenous newspapers in Southeast Asia, and the law which led to its creation was also among the first of its kind in the region.
Burmese are justifiably proud of this accomplishment, and to this day, advocates of press freedom in Burma cite Mindon’s example as evidence that truly enlightened leadership is indeed possible in the country, despite the reputation of its current rulers, who are regarded by the international community as enemies of the press.
As Burma’s military regime prepares for a referendum in May and an election in 2010, the exiled media continues to play a key role in ensuring that Burmese people and the rest of the world remain informed about developments inside the country.
If sudden or gradual change comes to Burma, exiled journalists must be prepared to safeguard their independence. There is no guarantee that change at the top will bring democratic values, good governance or the rule of law, so the press must be vigilant and work to hold the government accountable.
If new government ministers and opposition politicians embraced a free and independent press, it would be welcome news, indeed. But this is not something that can be taken for granted. Even if democratic opposition forces and the winners of the 1990 elections came into power, it would be naive to expect a friction-free relationship between politicians and the press beyond an initial honeymoon period.
The independent media must act like a watchdog, not a lapdog. This means that exiled media groups founded by former activists and students may find themselves at odds with a future democratic government of Burma.
At this critical juncture, dissidents and Burma’s independent press agree on the urgent need for political change. But when change comes to Burma and democratic opposition groups come into power, a new dynamic will evolve. The question is: will “democratic forces” respect press freedom?
Burma’s opposition groups and politicians see the media as a tool to counter the regime. But the role of the media is much greater than this, and in the event of a democratic transition, the press will play an even more important part than it does now. In a future democratic Burma, the need for newspapers and broadcasters will grow as the country seeks to ensure its stability and prosperity.
Media projects are not merely an “add on” to development projects: they are integral to the success of any effort to improve the lives of ordinary people. For instance, on the issue of HIV/AIDS—the regime’s biggest crime in the past was not acknowledging this devastating health crisis in the media. If the people of Burma had been properly informed about the virus, many lives could have been saved.
The media can play a very important role in providing information to citizens. The press can make government more accountable, expose corruption and abuse of power, and even improve the performance of both government and opposition groups. At the same time, it can empower people to make their own decisions. Access to information makes societies more open and more transparent.
With a healthy and professional independent media, it is difficult for any government to resist the forces of public opinion. An independent press can make a nascent democracy more democratic.
Media freedom is both a means of achieving democracy and the surest way of fostering its future survival. King Mindon was ahead of his time—and ahead of many in our own time—in recognizing the vital role of press freedom. Burma would be a much better place today if its ruling regime and the democratic opposition shared his appreciation of the importance of a free and independent media.
This opinion was originally presented at a conference on “Burmese Media: Present and Future,” organized by the Democratic Voice of Burma and held in Bangkok March 6-7.
http://www.irrawaddy.org/print_article.php?art_id=10782
