Freeing the press

The dangerous state of affairs in Burma

Jessica Stewin, Volunteer Staff

Burma, the tightly controlled Southeast Asian country, is drowning in its controversy.

The country has been under military rule since the death of their prime minister, Soe Win, on Friday, Oct. 12 . Soe Win remains the legally stated prime minister, despite his “corpsely” nature. With the deceased prime minister as the ruling authority in the country, an election cannot be called. Meanwhile, defence minister Than Shwe can run the country as defence minister until a new minister is elected. Without opposition, and possible foreign intervention, the military dictatorship could last until Shwe’s death. Therefore, Shwe has no desire for the presence of uncensored foreign media in his country. The only bad press is not any press at all, but rather, the only good press is that which is under government censorship. Shwe needs censorship to limit the information escaping the country’s borders.

But with censorship of information, Burma is a black hole for journalists.

Several people have been killed, including monks, in the country’s recent crackdown on protestors. The protests are in response to inflation and a 500 per cent rise in fuel prices. The size of the protests have increased in recent weeks to become one of the largest gatherings in Burma since the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations and have attracted the attention of the foreign press. However, journalists were warned not to cover or participate in the protests that poured into the country’s streets. This warning was taken too far. Kenji Nagai, a Japanese photojournalist, was deliberately shot and killed on-camera during a protest on Sept. 27. Even as he lay on the ground injured he continued to take pictures of the protest. Nagai’s final moments can be watched on Youtube.com; although horrific it exemplifies the disgusting brutality of the dictatorship’s action. With the immense dispersal of information that Youtube enables, this video may be used to encourage foreign groups into action. Although verified information is limited, it is difficult to deny the visual depiction of the journalist’s death.

The censorship of media in Burma has made it difficult to get an accurate picture of how many people have been killed. Journalists are trying to get such information; however, with the country’s newspapers under government control, the validity of such statistics is questionable. There are reportedly almost 3,000 people detained and 500 people still in custody . Burma claims that 10 people have died during its crackdown; however, the actual numbers are likely to be much higher. A British newspaper quoted Hla Win, a former officer for the junta: “Many more people have been killed in recent days than you’ve heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.”

The picture of monks and peaceful protestors being slaughtered in this military dictatorship is a gruesome one. But with censorship of information, Burma is a black hole for journalists. Images of the monks’ protests for peace had originally flooded television screens, text messages, and Internet sites. As a result, after Sept. 28, Burmese generals shut down the Internet and cut off telephone access to the outside world. Burma only has two Internet providers, both of which are under government control. The Internet access provided is highly restricted, especially any websites that contain government commentary. Blogs are often used for communication regarding government opposition. Cameras and video-recording cellphones were confiscated by soldiers in the streets. In short, the whole country is in lock down.

With the death of Kenji Nagai, we can recognize the serious nature of Shwe’s warning against foreign press. The country is trying to shut off communication between its people and the outside world. With no way to know when the Internet will be restored and government officials using fear to prevent further information from leaking out, there is little, if any way at all, to get access to the country.

However, the black hole has not gone unnoticed. The Japanese government canceled their US$4.7-million grant for the country. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Nobutaka Machimura, said the cancellation is intended as a message to Burmese authorities that “our thinking is the same as that of the international community.” Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations’ special envoy to Burma, has visited the country’s detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Gambari has also visited with the regimes senior general Than Shwe. The United Nations representative has not publicly talked about the meetings but is said to be planning further meetings come early November.

For a country to have the ability to lock down information flow in and out of the whole nation is frightening. Yet comfort can be found in former Burma officers, like Hia Win, who recognize the horror of their orders, and in martyrs like Kenji Nagai. The United Nations may wish to recognize the radical opposition to the injustice within Burma. However, it seems quaint meetings are planned for the near future.

Jessica Stewin is a University 1 student.





Volume 95 Issue 10	The Official University of Manitoba Students' Newspaper Website	October 24, 2007

Home About Us Advertising Rates Contact Staff Current Issue PDF Employment Letters to the Editor Meet the Staff Online Archives Volunteer Online Classifieds St. Vincent's Academy Diaries	Font Size Respond Email Print-Friendly Freeing the press The dangerous state of affairs in Burma Jessica Stewin, Volunteer Staff Burma, the tightly controlled Southeast Asian country, is drowning in its controversy. The country has been under military rule since the death of their prime minister, Soe Win, on Friday, Oct. 12 . Soe Win remains the legally stated prime minister, despite his “corpsely” nature. With the deceased prime minister as the ruling authority in the country, an election cannot be called. Meanwhile, defence minister Than Shwe can run the country as defence minister until a new minister is elected. Without opposition, and possible foreign intervention, the military dictatorship could last until Shwe’s death. Therefore, Shwe has no desire for the presence of uncensored foreign media in his country. The only bad press is not any press at all, but rather, the only good press is that which is under government censorship. Shwe needs censorship to limit the information escaping the country’s borders. But with censorship of information, Burma is a black hole for journalists. Several people have been killed, including monks, in the country’s recent crackdown on protestors. The protests are in response to inflation and a 500 per cent rise in fuel prices. The size of the protests have increased in recent weeks to become one of the largest gatherings in Burma since the 1988 pro-democracy demonstrations and have attracted the attention of the foreign press. However, journalists were warned not to cover or participate in the protests that poured into the country’s streets. This warning was taken too far. Kenji Nagai, a Japanese photojournalist, was deliberately shot and killed on-camera during a protest on Sept. 27. Even as he lay on the ground injured he continued to take pictures of the protest. Nagai’s final moments can be watched on Youtube.com; although horrific it exemplifies the disgusting brutality of the dictatorship’s action. With the immense dispersal of information that Youtube enables, this video may be used to encourage foreign groups into action. Although verified information is limited, it is difficult to deny the visual depiction of the journalist’s death. The censorship of media in Burma has made it difficult to get an accurate picture of how many people have been killed. Journalists are trying to get such information; however, with the country’s newspapers under government control, the validity of such statistics is questionable. There are reportedly almost 3,000 people detained and 500 people still in custody . Burma claims that 10 people have died during its crackdown; however, the actual numbers are likely to be much higher. A British newspaper quoted Hla Win, a former officer for the junta: “Many more people have been killed in recent days than you’ve heard about. The bodies can be counted in several thousand.” The picture of monks and peaceful protestors being slaughtered in this military dictatorship is a gruesome one. But with censorship of information, Burma is a black hole for journalists. Images of the monks’ protests for peace had originally flooded television screens, text messages, and Internet sites. As a result, after Sept. 28, Burmese generals shut down the Internet and cut off telephone access to the outside world. Burma only has two Internet providers, both of which are under government control. The Internet access provided is highly restricted, especially any websites that contain government commentary. Blogs are often used for communication regarding government opposition. Cameras and video-recording cellphones were confiscated by soldiers in the streets. In short, the whole country is in lock down. With the death of Kenji Nagai, we can recognize the serious nature of Shwe’s warning against foreign press. The country is trying to shut off communication between its people and the outside world. With no way to know when the Internet will be restored and government officials using fear to prevent further information from leaking out, there is little, if any way at all, to get access to the country. However, the black hole has not gone unnoticed. The Japanese government canceled their US$4.7-million grant for the country. Japan’s chief cabinet secretary, Nobutaka Machimura, said the cancellation is intended as a message to Burmese authorities that “our thinking is the same as that of the international community.” Ibrahim Gambari, the United Nations’ special envoy to Burma, has visited the country’s detained opposition leader, Aung San Suu Kyi. Gambari has also visited with the regimes senior general Than Shwe. The United Nations representative has not publicly talked about the meetings but is said to be planning further meetings come early November. For a country to have the ability to lock down information flow in and out of the whole nation is frightening. Yet comfort can be found in former Burma officers, like Hia Win, who recognize the horror of their orders, and in martyrs like Kenji Nagai. The United Nations may wish to recognize the radical opposition to the injustice within Burma. However, it seems quaint meetings are planned for the near future. Jessica Stewin is a University 1 student.


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