Mizzima News

5 November 2010: Delhi & Chiang Mai- Mizzima News commenced its special election coverage of Burma’s first election in over 20 years on the 1^st November with a team of 100 reporters & citizen journalists inside Burma and in neighboring countries.

Mizzima has commenced operation of an English-language Live Elections Update page on its website where detailed, exclusive news is being reported from across the country until 15 November http://www.mizzima.com/news/live-update.html

A Burmese language site is also operational http://www.mizzimaburmese.com/

The site has live video streaming and podcasts from Mizzima’s Delhi office, as well as text update reports from journalists covering the election on the ground inside Burma. The site also features radio news, photos and videos as they become available from reporters in Burmese & English.

Editor-in-Chief Soe Myint says “there are huge challenges in terms of information flow and independent reporting in Burma”.

“Many Burmese people themselves do not know much about the issues surrounding the 2010 election and access to this information by the international media has been limited by a lack of foreign observers and journalists”.

“Mizzima’s Live Update, being put together with our limited resources, helps to bridge this gap and will prove an invaluable source of news and information for Burmese and non-Burmese on real-time basis”, he said.

Recent samples of reports on the site include:

• Ethnic minority voters in eastern Shan State have very little poll information
• Authorities tighten security across Mandalay, increased police presence.
• Meeting over second Panglong conference fruitful, NLD says
• Restrictions on local media reporting the elections
• USDP pays villagers in cash and T-shirts in bid for advance votes in Kyaukpadaung
• Third of Thandway’s eligible voters missing from roll

Mizzima is also running a special series of election features on gender inequality, the role of private media, jobs creation and land policy reform.