Junta forbids tuning into foreign radio

With general elections around the corner, the Burmese military junta has warned people not to tune into, listen and trust broadcasts by foreign based ethnic radio programmes in Burmese.

“The authorities have cautioned us not to listen to outside radio programmes since last month, especially for election news,” said a local in Falam town.

The junta closely monitors BBC, VOA, RFA and DVB radio broadcasts in Burmese, so it is natural for the regime authorities to issue orders to people not to listen and trust these radio stations, said a government employee in Hakha town.

“They have forbidden listening to ethic radio programmes in Burmese language from outside the country to prevent, what they feel is false news from circulating. However, the regime has not issued orders on what action it intends to take on those flouting the directives,” he added.

Interestingly, although the authorities have been trying to persuade and at the same time frighten people not to listen to foreign radio programmes, there is hardly any effect. The authorities also tune into these radio programmes to keep abreast of what is being said about them.

“People are hardly interested in national radio programmes but, prefer international radio programmes. Election is around the corner and people are keen on the nitty gritty of election news. The authorities also want to listen to all the programmes so as to monitor it,” said Mr. Chunghlun in Kalemyo.

The junta is monitoring ethnic radio programmes from 5 pm to 9 pm, of 30 minutes each of all ethnic groups in Burma. – Khonumthung News.

Source :http://www.khonumthung.org/news.php?readmore=203

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