Special Report on Radio Free Asia B (r)

[khin_s_w@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Hi  !  Ko/U Myo Myint Aung...

Thank you very much for your very professional , civilized ,unbiased and informative
report.
We really appreciate your time and effort to prepare this.

Since there are certain individuals like Ma Theingi , who writes for SPDC using many
different anonymous names , misleading the netters and readers , as if there are many
people supporting SPDC, we do need a lot of people like you who can shed light.

In such a situation , where we all are struggling hard for freedom and truth , sided
and unfounded statements/messages released by people hired by SPDC ( especially at this
critical period ) , are quite demolarizing for the Burmese people especially those
inside the country.
Our people inside Burma have to rely on news from outside their world , since their own
media which is controlled by the regime is full of lies , it is important that they get
accurate and relevant news.

Let us support Ko Myo Myint Aung's resolusion and his conclusion , and help in every
possible way to correct the corrupted RFA.

Thank you very much once again.

Regards,
alice khin s w


MMAung@xxxxxxx wrote:

> INTRODUCTION
> ==============
> Maybe I am a new comer to Burmanet debates.  But I have been observing the
> writings that matter pro-democracy movement of Burma from other media sources,
> including RFA, DVB, VOA, BBC, SPDC radios and other printed newspapers and
> magazines.  In this fast-growing information age, you may have experienced how
> important it is that disinformation by such resources can mislead a listener
> or reader in understanding and evaluating a country's real situation.
> Reliability and relevance become the most important rules which the public
> media must follow.  Along with people who have common interest in this issue,
> I have developed a report on Radio Free Asia's Burmese Section based on
> electronic surveys, interactive discussions and substantiated evidences that
> we obtained during past three months.
>
> PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT
> =========================
> *     To inform both Burma watchers and the US taxpayers who funded RFA that
> Burmese section of RFA is violating media ethic and also deviating from the
> main goals of RFA: "to deliver 'accurate and timely' news, information and
> commentary and to provide a forum for a variety of opinions and voices from
> within Asian countries; to promote the rights of freedom of opinion and
> expression?including the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and
> ideas through  any medium regardless of frontiers."
>
> *   To involve more Burma-netters in the ongoing debate on this issue and seek
> their timely  intervention for ending the rampant violation of media ethic by
> RFA Burmese section in a democratic and civilized way.
>
> RFA Burmese section vs Media Rules of Broadcasting Accurate and Timely News
> ===========================================================
> Recent RFA Burmese Section's airing of news and articles on Burma are found in
> violation of the existing media rules.  Some of its inaccurate and untimely
> broadcasts are recorded as below:
>
> January 21 1998:
>         RFA broadcast Daw Aung San Suu Kyi having an affair with her young NLD
> associate.
> February 26, 1988:
>         RFA broadcast Nai Shwe Kyin's interview with a foreign journalist accusing
> that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Dr. Sein Win  and General Bo Mya (KNU) are the
> puppets of CIA.
> April 18, 1998: (p.m)
>         RFA broadcast Ma Thein Gi (SPDC's anonymous writer)'s article commenting US
> sanction's ineffectiveness, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's inability to lead the
> country.
>
> In this case, one should remember how Washington Post executive editors
> delayed its printing of their own reporters' investigative news-coverage about
> WaterGate until they were sure of their sources were accurate and reliable.
> It was also because Washington Post always protected its good image as an
> impartial and fair newspaper.  It was also aware of the fact its coverage was
> politically sensitive and can damage Nixon's popularity if the their
> investigations were proven unfounded and untrue. In the end, its strict
> practicing of media rules has made Washington Post a people's most reliable
> and authentic newspaper.
>
> Unaware or negligent of such essential practices in journalism, RFA Burmese
> section has used the sources which are not only unreliable but biased in its
> daily broadcasting.  How reliable are these three sources? The sources of news
> about Daw Aung San Suu Kyi having an affair with her associate cannot be
> traced.  Who said that?  All were rumours, possibly originating from SPDC's
> office of psychological warfare which always attempts to suppress Burmese
> population's desire for democratic rights and to delink their leader Aung San
> Suu Kyi from her mass.  The same is Ma Thein Gi.  Ma Thein Gi might be a hired
> person from the same office.  Finally, about Naing Shwe Kyin.  Everyone knows
> he is now a mercurial man, changed his side from democracy and ethic rights to
> military dictatorship and meritocracy.  Though his past can be honored, his
> present must be highly denounced.  Before broadcasting his allegations about
> Gen Bo Mya and Daw Suu, RFA must first confirm if they are true or not.  They
> can't just record his voices and aired.  A journalism requires every reporters
> and broadcasters to confirm the sources before they write and voice.
>
> The impact on people's psychology left by such violation of media ethic by RFA
> Burmese section is immeasurable.  Burma population is in need of having
> absolute trust in their leaders for continuing their strife for democratic and
> human rights.  RFA's airing of "sided and unfounded" accusations against Daw
> Aung San Suu Kyi and Gen Bo Mya equal to "character assassination" against the
> public leaders.  It is a crime committed in the name of "impartiality and
> fairness."
>
> WHO ARE RESPONSIBLE? : IDENTIFICATION OF VIOLATORS OF MEDIA ETHICS
> ==============================================================
>
> It is clear that one cannot hold every staff of RFA Burmese section
> accountable for such crime and its damages.  Its director, U Soe Thin must be
> held responsible for this because he is the final authority to judge whatever
> news and articles broadcast by his staff-members.  Who else if it is not him?
> U Soe Thin alone is responsible for RFA Burmese Section's violation of media
> ethics and its subsequent damages caused to the popularity and images of the
> public most trusted leaders of Burma.
>
> WHY U SOE THIN DID IT: AN UNBIASED ANALYSIS
> =======================================
>
> Here, one should focus asking questions on the cause-and-effect of U Soe
> Thin's character assassination against Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Gen Bo Mya.
> In this typical case, one has to question who he really is and why he did it.
> Though this method of analysis might seem to be subjective, we have to use it
> to make this report objective.
> The reason is that RFA is free from managerial interference from policy-makers
> as long as it does its job in accordance with rules.  However every last-
> minute decision for airing a news or an article is at the hand of its
> director. Thus,  personal background of the head of RFA Burmese Section must
> be carefully checked in order for us to fairly conclude if his violation of
> media ethics is whether accidental or intentional.
>
> A.  WHO IS U SOE THIN?
> ====================
>
> Early Carreer Achievement
> ===================
> U Soe Thin was a former BSPP diplomat who defected to "democratic movement" at
> the peak of 1988 uprising in Burma.  According to the people who knew well
> about him, he was initially assigned by Gen Ne Win as his bearer of royal or
> official umbrella (Htee-Daw-Moe) while receiving foreign dignitaries at the
> Mingladon airport.  His obedient mannerism for New Win and his blood-
> relationship with top-ranking officials like SPDC's Deputy Director of Defense
> Service Intelligence Colonel Kyaw Win (his uncle) had possibly promoted him to
> work as a diplomat in overseas.  His father himself was a former colonel of
> Burma Navy.  Some rivals of him claimed that he defected to democracy group
> because he was anticipating that he would become a full ambassador if
> political system were to change from dictatorial to democratic rule overnight.
>
> One should question what made U Soe Thin a diplomat: his professional
> qualification or his political and social contacts with the former BSPP.  Such
> opportunity during the age of BSPP can be achieved only by the people who had
> close relationship with BSPP officials.   In BSPP age, it is who you are that
> counts but not what you are.
>
> Present Career Achievement
> ================== ==
> Before becoming the director of the RFA Burmese Section, U Soe Thin got a
> position in Voice of America (VOA) Burmese Section.
>
> "His childhood acquaintances U Khin Maung Win (VOA-BUR) and U Tin Maung Win
> (DAB-Vice President) and his cousin U Tun Aung (VOA-BUR) were the persons who
> brought him into this honourable career.  They even bought a car for him when
> he first came to the United States." said a former VOA staff-member.  Again U
> Soe Thin made it in his own way: clinging to the higher positions through
> "contacts."
>
> Now U Soe Thin is the director of RFA Burmese Section.  How did he get that
> position?  We know there are certain people who are highly qualified to head
> RFA.  In the early days of the formation of RFA Burmese Section, every
> democratic activist of Burma expected that U Aung Myint Tun, the most
> respected Burmese journalist who retired from BBC Burmese Section, would be
> the one in the team.
>
> We will explore more about it and come back to this question.
>
> B. U SOE THIN AS DIRECTOR OF RFA BURMESE SECTION AND HIS ACTIVITIES
> ==============================================================
> Method of Recruiting His Team
> =======================
> There are two different teams: residential and overseas.  One in newsroom and
> another in neighbouring countries and Japan.
>
> With limited knowledge about journalism, U Soe Thin recruited the people who
> could consolidate his position rather than who could do the job.  Win Maung
> Maung (Account Section), Khin Myo Htwe, Khin Maung Nyein, Daw Tin Htar Swe and
> Nyi Nyi became his handpicked and trusted team members in this way.  The same
> selection method was employed in recruiting Nyi Nyi as his stringers in Tokyo
> become U Soe Thin brought him into the US.  In Daw Tin Htar Swe's case, she is
> an old friend of U Soe Thin with similar family background and her father too
> was a former navy colonel of Burma. To her, U Soe Thin seems to be a savior
> because she was saved from being a jobless person for BBC Burmese section
> won't extend its contract with her.  U Soe Thin's intention of keeping Daw Tin
> Htar Swe, a highly qualified journalist, next to him is to shield himself from
> being contended by other qualified people in the Burmese media.
>
> Before the present time, RFA Burmese Section did offer internship programme
> funded by the Soros foundation to Burmese youths with an objective to train
> them in journalism.  Interestingly, Khin Myo Htwe started as an departmental
> intern.  It means U Soe Thin brought her into RFA parameter by extending
> direct RFA intership to her because she is not a student and not qualified to
> get funded by Soros foundation in this regard.  After he got "trusted" Khin
> Myo Htwe after having support from Daw Nyein Shwe (former VOA-Bur), U Soe Thin
> abruptly stopped this internship program in order to prevent the people with
> quality from getting into his well-fenced RFA Burmese Section even though
> Soros Foundation still wanted to extend its financial assistance to keep the
> programme going.  Several Burmese youth in the US definitely lost the
> opportunity to explore their talent and experience in broadcast journalism
> because of the untimely termination of this internship.
>
> Running the Business
> ==============
> Credibility is the important requirement for the journalists to fulfill in
> order to get public acceptance for and trust in their reports.  To achieve
> that, every reliable newspaper and radio business  require their reporters to
> use their real names.  Surprisingly, U Soe Thin dropped this basic requirement
> and even encourages his team members to use "fake" names for announcing the
> news. Consequently, U Win Pe (aka Director Win Pe) became known as Zaw Weight,
> Nyi Nyi as Ba Aung and Khin Maung Nyein as Moe Kyaw. All three staffs once
> worked for years as high ranking officials in Burma under Ne Win.  Why?
>
> Are they afraid of SPDC ?  Or, is U Soe Thin indirectly informing his former
> master Ne Win that they are working in RFA just to earn their livings?
> (Note: Ko Khin Maung Nyein quit using fake name after he realized it is not
> right.)
>
> (U Soe Tin net salary (take-home money) is US $45000.00.  Surprisingly, one
> can find his bank accounts never have more than one thousand dollars.  Where
> did the money go? Known as a stingy man, people believed that U Soe Thin
> abused his power as the boss against Ko Myint Thein (RFA-Bur)  to share his
> one-bedroom apartment to Win Aung Tin, his brother-in-law, while he is
> enjoying his three-bedroom luxury apartment.  His sister in Rangoon has been
> running a successful joint-venture [corporation] with military officials in
> Burma.  Perhaps, he has invested thousands of shares in that corporation.
> This might have forced him to air pro-military leadership stories in exchange
> of protecting his business inside Burma.)
>
> It is quite outrageous for one to learn that they are encouraging Burmese
> population under oppression to fight bravely for freedom and democracy while
> they are covering their faces with such masks.
>
> U Soe Thin's Manipulation
> ===================
> Sadly, Burmese people cannot hear the democratic songs from RFA Burmese
> Section because U Soe Thin personally prohibited broadcasting lyrics that
> mention democracy and human rights.  Only melodies are aired. Only DVB
> broadcast such songs.  Why?
>
> He made stories that expressed sympathy for Gen Ne Win and Gen Khin Nyunt.
> These stories portrayed these two men as "sincere and uncorrupt" personnel and
> informed the listeners that bad consequences are generated by the bad people
> surrounding these two men.  On what basis U Soe Thin is making such
> sympathetic comments on these two murderers?  Based on Okkar's and Military
> Intelligence reports?
> By comparing these typical stories with the ones he let RFA broadcast against
> Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and Gen Bo Mya, readers can conclude why U Soe Thin
> ............
>
> RECOMMENDATIONS
> ==================
> 1.      U Soe Thin must be removed from or demoted in the RFA Burmese section.
> 2.      RFA authorities must reform and restrengthen RFA by including quality
> journalists like U Aung Myint Tun, Dr Aung Khin as the senior advisors of RFA
> Burmese Section.
> 3.      Internship Program for the Burmese youth in USA must be reinstated so that
> new talented generation of broadcast journalism is available for the RFA's
> future employment.
> 4.      Reinforce the media ethic of reliability, impartiality, credibility and
> relevancy in the RFA Burmese section.
>
> CONCLUSIONS
> ============
> Every Burma-lovers must actively participate in correcting the runaway media
> called RFA Burmese Section if they do want the Burmese population to get
> accurate and relevant news, which will help themselves educate in freedom of
> expression. By correcting RFA Burmese Section's management, we can together
> promote our expected image of RFA as pro-democracy and pro-human rights media.
> We still hope that to happen.  Every willful assault on public leaders without
> substantiated proofs and evidences should be retaliated in every way possible.
> No one can insult anyone in the name of freedom of expression.  Freedom of
> expression without discipline and reliable proofs should be treated as crime
> against democratic societies.
>
> REFERENCES
>
> 1.  Recorded Tapes on RFA's programmes
> 2.  Organizations and Individuals who have special interest in RFA in USA,
> Thailand, India, Japan, Norway, New Zealand and South Africa.
> 3.  Recent postings by individuals and organizations on RFA.
>
> For any further information and comments on this issue, please email me.
> MMAung@xxxxxxx
> (For security reasons, I excluded my address and phone numbers at Bangkok.)
>
> Myo Myint Aung
> Independent Media & Research Center of Burma (IMRCB)
> In Support of All Truth Lovers.