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RADIO AUSTRALIA AND BURMA



		
			RADIO AUSTRALIA AND BURMA
			*************************

In 1986, Radio Australia received about 25,000 letters from Burma, most written 
in response to RA's broadcasts in Standard Chinese, or Mandarin (understood or 
spoken by many Burmese citizens of Chinese origin).

Amid continuing unrest during 1987, the number of letters received from Burma 
began to drop, to about 1000 per month.

The unrest culminated in serious riots in March 1988, which were suppressed by 
the security forces, with many people killed.

Since, then, Radio Australia has only been receiving a few hundred letters a 
year from Burma -- although the actual audience is believed to remain high.

In May 1990, Ms Suu Kyi's National league for Democracy won general elections, 
but the military has refused to hand over power.

The military government imposes tight restrictions on all interantional 
communications.

Radio Australia has identified introduction of a Burmese languae service as a 
top priority, if funds were available.


[Source: Radio Australia]
21 February 1997