Radio Netherlands Worldwide is preparing a special Shout with Short Wave edition of current affairs show Newsline this Thursday, 4 October, which will focus on the continuing oppression of democracy and free speech in Myanmar/Burma.
The broadcast will coincide with a day of international action by Bloggers who will leave their Internet pages blank, replacing their usual content with a banner saying ‘Free Burma.'
As one of its key roles Radio Netherlands Worldwide promotes press freedom. In regimes like Myanmar the authorities control internal media and can turn off the Internet - but with Short Wave Radio we can still get through.
And for three hours a day our independent news and analysis can by heard behind the military junta’s iron curtain of propaganda. Short Wave offers a beacon of light in the darkness at times like these.
Our transmitters are in Madagascar, Irkutsk in Siberia, and other strategic locations which ensure that our signal beams into the country loud and clear.
People from all over the world have been leaving messages at our website backing our broadcasts.
“I’m so glad Short Wave is still available, in the absence of the Internet, to let the people of Myanmar know of our support. I salute RNW for taking worldwide initiative in its use,” said Elma from New York State.
The mass protests themselves may have died down in the country but political tensions are simmering just under the surface and there are reports of continuing arrests of those perceived as a threat to the military dictatorship.
We remain committed to providing independent unbiased information around the globe on a daily basis.
RNW’s relay station in Madagascar also provides airtime for broadcasters that are specifically targeting listeners whose freedom of expression and access to unbiased news is restricted. Currently this includes the Democratic Voice of Burma, Voice of Tibet, and Voice of the People which broadcasts to Zimbabwe.
If you want to leave your own message for the programme, you can do so via this form.
This special edition of Newsline will be broadcast at 1400 UTC on 9890, 11835 and 9345 kHz, as well as on our usual satellite platforms and the Internet.
(R Netherlands Media Network Weblog)
