Setting the Record Straight

By AUNG ZAW JUNE, 2010 - VOLUME 18 NO.6

COMMENTS (3)

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Unlike members of Thailand’s thriving civil society, which has long enjoyed relative freedom of expression, most Burmese citizens have never known anything but ruthless oppression. That may be why they are often at a loss when they feel a need to “speak truth to power”—even when that power is the relatively benign power of groups or individuals sympathetic to their cause.

Even as Thais experience their worst political crisis in decades, Burmese can only envy them their power to speak up for themselves—both to their own leaders, and to the foreign pundits who think they know their country better than they do.

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COMMENTS (3)

Natalia W Wrote:

14/06/2010

Excellent editorial. I disagree with the comment below from John L. The author made it clear he passed no judgment whatsoever regarding the *claims* of the local Thais, but commended Thai civil society for actively rising up against what they perceived as injustice being done against them.

The subject-matter of the Thais' actions is separate from the act itself, which John L below can't seem to quite grasp. In light of freedom of speech and expression, there can be no question of whether the "actions by the Thais was correct" - everyone is at liberty to act or speak out on any issue. The issue is not whether Thais were "right" to voice complaints against foreign media, but whether such complaints had any substance. It is not a matter of "right" or wrong at all.

John L's generalization that complaints against foreign media in Thailand came from "Bangkok people" is also untrue. Many expats as well as Thais nationwide - not just in Bangkok - lodged complaints against CNN & BBC.

John L Wrote:

13/06/2010

While your article does an admirable job in highlighting the inability or unwillingness of Burmese to articulate their case, it also gives the impression the action by the Thais was correct, especially the complaints against CNN, the BBC, et al.

In fact nothing could be further from the truth. The Bangkok people weren't correcting meddling self-appointed experts, but independent journalists who were covering events live, on location, putting themselves in the firing line (including me).

Their comments were in part, part of the cyberwar that ran during the red-shirts protests, and in part driven by (wrong) nationalist pride.

I think you should be more careful in drawing a parallel between the two.

Perhaps Burmese are less quiet until they are certain on matters, or more united as a nation and so therefore refuse to partake in propaganda that only serves to damage the country by denying what is in fact true.

Reg Varney Wrote:

12/06/2010

Oh, really excellent stuff. Encourage Burmese to act like world-ignorant nationalist zealots and attack the international media that produces reports that filled a gap left by the compliant local media that asked not one hard question of the government. That really is a disturbing recommendation.

By the way, The Irrawaddy's coverage was generally very good and far superior to the junk in Thai newspapers. Well done.