The Democratic Voice of Burma based in Oslo, has been awarded the 2007 media award by the Reporters Sans Frontières, an international media rights group, for its outstanding coverage of the recent protests in Burma. The award carries 2,500 Euros.
The Democratic Voice of Burma, which has a Television, Radio broadcasting as well as online news service, was among the few Burmese exiled media groups covering the recent monk-led protests in Burma, which was eventually crackdown upon by the ruling junta.
The RSF, during its 16th award giving ceremony in Paris, awarded the DVB for its reliable source of news during the recent imbroglio in Burma.
Vincent Brossel, head of RSF's Asia desk said, "I am proud that RSF recognized the important work of Burmese journalists, especially DVB. It is a tribute for all Burmese who covered the news of recent demonstrations, despite risks."
During the recent protests in Burma, the media played a vital role in disseminating information about the ground situation to the international community through the use of various means of communication means including internet and telephone lines.
However, the Burmese junta, which initially exercised a certain level of tolerance, resorted to tough measures and cut-off internet connections and several telephone lines of key political activists. The junta also arrested several local as well as foreign journalists and y killed a Japanese photojournalist, Kenji Nagai, who was covering the events as it unfolded.
DVB was at the forefront in covering news and information from Burma during the protests. And its pre-matured TV broadcasting played a vital role as it produced raw footage of the Burmese soldiers shooting protesters.
Despite the Burmese junta's claim that the Japanese journalist was killed by accident, when a stray bullet hit him as troops fired warning shots in the air, a raw footage by the DVB clearly showed a Burmese soldier shooting Kenji Nagai at point blank range.
"I am so proud and honoured to receive the Media prize, because it is not only for us, but also for the people of Burma who made sacrifices for the country," said Moe Aye, News Editor of DVB.
"The news reporters could not have done anything without being supported by the citizens of Burma. At the same time, I am deeply saddened for reporters and citizens who were arrested, or have disappeared, been tortured and killed in their pursuit of freedom of expression. Burma is very different from other countries, because newsmakers in Burma are victims of human rights violations."
DVB was formed in 1992 by student activists, who escaped the Burmese junta's brutal crackdown on protesters in 1988. While it began humbly as a Radio broadcasting station, over the years it has expanded to a Television station broadcasting directly to Burma.
With a viewership and audience claim of more two million, the DVB today stands as one of the biggest Burmese media groups in exile that provide immense information on Burma.
With a cash prize of 2,500 Euros, the RSF has chosen to honour the DVB and recognize its efforts in producing reliable information on Burma.
