Date: April 29, 2018

The Sixth Ethnic Media Conference was successfully held for three days in Hpa-an, Karen State from April 27 to 29, 2018 under the theme, “Promote Media Literacy for Ethnic Media Sustainability”.

The Union Minister of Information, the Union Minister of Ethnic Affairs, the Karen State Chief Minister, the Karen National Union (KNU), and political party attended this conference. The conference brought together around 200 delegates including ethnic media reporters from respective states and Yangon-based media and officials from ethnic literature and culture committees and civil society organizations from the state.

During the conference, the delegates earnestly discussed the issues on the sustainability of ethnic media, increasing the number of qualified female reporters in ethnic media, development of the right to teach mother-tongue literature, obtaining the right to information from government departments on the same level, and uplifting the safety and protection of reporters.

The delegates were also able to assess the issues on how some media outlets have toppled down due to all-round difficulties, how the businesses of some media outlets have become suspended, and why ethnic reporters left the media industry.

Decisions set down by the Sixth Ethnic Media Conference are:

(1) A committee will be established for drafting the ethnic media policy.

(2) An ethnic media training school will be established for the development of ethnic media.

(3) Ethnic media will increase accurate and comprehensive news production in order for the public to become more aware of local armed conflicts and the peace process.

Demands

(1) The government and international organizations should continue to provide their assistance in uplifting media awareness in ethnic areas and the emergence of more qualified ethnic reporters.

(2) All detained Myanmar reporters must be released immediately.

(3) The government needs to enact laws to protect the safety of ethnic reporters.

(4) The government and international organizations need to assist in the broadcast of TV channels, FMs, and community radio in the mother tongue for ethnic people in ethnic areas.

Contact: Nai Kasauh Mon - 09 255800336; Khaing Mrat Kyaw – 09 250142518; Nan Paw Gay - 09 786292443

Download PDF here>> Statement of the Sixth Ethnic Media Conference