In defiance of the Burma military regime’s strict censorship, bloggers are using the Internet to tell the world of the events unfolding in their country. Burma’s bloggers are posting photographs, video clips, and eyewitness accounts of the recent protests led by Buddhist monks on the web.

Despite the repressive control of information of Burma’s military junta, the country’s bloggers still find ways to keep the world informed and updated on the latest protests against the junta. With the Internet at hand, bloggers are now defying the strict censorship imposed by the military rule.

“It is amazing how the Burmese, through underground networks, are able to get things from outside and inside,” said Vincent Brussels, head of the Asian section of Reporters Without Borders, a press freedom organisation. “Before, they were moving things hand-to-hand and now they are using the Internet—proxy websites, Google, and YouTube and all these things,” Brussels added.

The internet has not only become a platform for political activists to express their views, which is otherwise prohibited, but also as a space where bloggers teach each other on how to use foreign-hosted proxy sites, in viewing blocked sites, or swapping tricks and links on their pages.

Further, Reporters without Borders cited that a guide for cyber-dissidents provided to young Burmese was copied and distributed among a growing group of young, politically-active, and computer-literate activists.
In addition, mobile phones and e-mails are feeding the people worldwide with vivid facts, photographs, video clips, and eyewitness accounts of the demonstrations unfolding on Burma’s streets at present.

“Protest reports from Burma are giving shape to a new role citizens are daring to don as they stand up to the military regime,” said Aung Zaw, editor of “The Irrawaddy,” a current affairs publication on Burma produced by those like him, journalists who fled their country for their safety.

“The citizens have become reporters for us; they are using all the latest gadgets they have to get the information out fast about the protests,” added Zaw.

Analysts agree that, although Internet access is currently at less than 1% of the population, the current military regime has underestimated its potential.

Aside from this current media landscape, “The Burmese political exile community is much stronger and better organised now. There is so much lobbying going on across the world to increase international awareness about the attacks on the protestors,” said Soe Aung, foreign affairs spokesman for the National Council for the Union of Burma (NCUB), an umbrella body of Burmese political and human rights groups in exile.

“Those demonstrating inside Burma must know that they are not alone, that they have support outside,” said Aung.

Related articles:
“Burma: Buddhist monks lead peaceful protest against junta” from we! September 2007, No. 2
“Burma: Military junta limits information access after massive protest” from we! August 2007, No. 2

Sources:
“Burma cyber-dissidents crack censorship” from BBC News, posted on September 26, 2007, <http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/7012984.stm>.
“Junta Exposed by Information Technology” from Inter Press Service, posted on August 30, 2007, <http://ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=39082>.