Dear Mr. Walter Isaacson,
We represent Burmese communities in exile who are faithfully following news coverage by RFA, VOA and BBC on Burma related news. Most of us are U.S tax payers. We congratulate you for the timely news coverage, and journalistic insights of the events in Burma by the U.S Broadcast stations under BBG, but unfortunately, we need to inform you about quite an ugly and unethical recent coverage of news by a RFA reporter.
While enjoying extensive news coverage on Burma, we -as U.S tax payers- sincerely want to see the U.S based news organizations use our money in appropriate way especially in sending qualified reporters oversea for news events to get proper coverage. And we want to see the U.S broadcast Services as good example for journalistic excellence for Burmese journalists and Burmese audience by keeping high standards and following strict ethical values.
Recently RFA has sent a Burmese reporter Khin Maung Soe to Bali, Indonesia to cover ASEAN Summit meetings. We expected we would get first-hand account of what happened there on Burma and comprehensive reports. Rather we had a very pathetic show of un-journalist handling of issues and very obvious unethical behaviors by the reporter Mr. Khin Maung Soe.
1. On 16 November, Mr. Khin Maung Soe had a report on a Press Conference by Indonesian Foreign Minister Marty Nataligawa. Apparently seemed to have sobered after a lot of drinks, he kept on saying in his report how the Indonesia FM was polite and patient rather than what was discussed in the meeting. He was rumbling around and around and his conclusion of the points make in the press conference was a very generalized and not actually reflects what the minister had said (we know because we listened to the coverage by BBC and VOA to compare). He spent nearly 4 minutes of precious air-time to talk all bullshits (apology for the language) wasting our time and tax payer money. Please see attached translation of the report for yourself to judge if it is worth for RFA to spend thousands of dollars to send him there.
2. On 18 November, Mr Khin Maung Soe had an interview with Burmese Information Minister Kyaw San together with a local Burmese journalist Ko Ko who is also working for a Japanese news Agency. Ko Ko is known for his lackey approach to military authorities in Burma and no one regards him as a serious journalist rather than an opportunist and appeaser and mouthpiece of the regime. He and Khin Maung Soe (being good friend) addressed the Minister (a former military General) as "Ah Ba", a superlative term all the senior military officers in Burma forced their subordinates to address them in public. Literally meaning dear father. All of us were shocked to hear a RFA reporter used this term to address an arrogant Burmese official like Kyaw San. It is too much for a real conscience reporter to appease an official like that. It has became a widely discussed issue on the web and we would like to refer you to a widely circulated piece of advice on the web specifically pointing out this as bad example and unethical.
http://sonenaykya.blogspot.com/2011/11/blog-post_22.html
It said all professional journalists should refer or address the officials as their appropriate ranks and names only. It even denounces some young Burmese journalists calling Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as "Aunty".
3. On 19 November, Mr. Khin Maung Soe was among Burmese journalists in a meeting with President Thein Sein (former General) in Bali, Indonesia. We were shocked to hear his way of appeasing the President unnecessarily and unethically. He said " Dear Mr. President, thanks very much to give us this opportunity to meet with you in person which we never even dreamt about would happen in our life time". Then he said "all the leaders in the world appreciate and thank (to you) for all positive developments in Burma in recent months" as if he was representing all the world leaders. Then he question was "how did you come up this brilliant ideas and actions to make changes and decision?" We heard that many journalists in the meeting were embarrassed by his appeasing question and behavior.
We also know that this particular reporter Khin Maung Soe is enjoying extra-ordinary privilege and misusing authority to bully fellow journalists in RFA Burmese Service. Many had complained about it but he has been well protected by one of the senior manager lady named Susan Lavery. Khin Maung Soe once -sometime in 2002- bragged to a few of his close friends that 'he had slept with this old lady". We do not want to go into this kind of character assassination type accusation but it was the fact that he did say it to a few people back in 2002. Our worry is that if it is true and if it stills a continuing relationship, it will be of serious work ethic concern.
We request the BBG and RFA senior management to properly look into the fact we presented in this letter and address it accordingly.
Sincerely,
Freedom Fighter
Representing Exile Burmese Community
CC in Burmese: to All Prominent Burmese Website and Blogs.
Translation for RFA report on 18 November 2011. (total air-time: 3:50 minutes)
RFA Narrator: Indonesia Foreign Minister Marty Nataligawa hold a press conference on the eve of ASEAN summit in Bali, Indonesia. U Tin Aung Khaing talked to our RFA colleague U Khin Maung Soe (KMS) who attended the press conference just a few minutes before this air-show.
Q: Yes U KMS, we learn that Indonesia FM Nataligawa hold press conference today. Can you tell us about the questions and answers he has got there?
KMS: Yes U TAK. We had a news conference at 6 pm in the building where ASEAN summit was held in Bali Island. The main point is 3 or 4 Burma related questions were raised to Mr Nataligawa. I also asked question.
Q: So you mean most questions raised during the press conference were Burma related?
KMS: Yes. About half of ten people who stood up asked Burma related questions. Mr Nataligawa answered them very patiently and thoroughly. What I observed in this event was that Mr Nataigawa was very polite and very cordial. For example, journalist even followed him to ask questions when he got out from the hall. He was very patient. And while I was outside the hall waiting for my taxi to go back (to room) to make this report I saw him coming out. I said "thank you" to him and he came to shake my hand and asked which news service I was from. I told him I am from RFA. H said " yes.. yes" and I said "Thank you very much". He was really polite. And I also observed the way he treated his subordinates, assistants who were accompanying him. It was not like a Minister and subordinates relation but like a colleague to colleagues relation. Then he went back on a car. He really is a polite and humble minister.
Q: Lets get back to talk about news conference. What are the key points of his answers to Burma related questions?
KMS: Journalists including me asked him, why the ASEAN decided to confer Chairman position to Burma. And Mr Marty had previously said that he was glad to hear that more prisoners would be released during the week but nothing actually happened and families of the prisoners were waiting. So I asked what he had to tell about it. He explained the reason to confer chairman position to Burma was because they witnessed signs of positive changes in the country and they believed that the government will continue moving in the same way. And said they believed the political prisoners would also be released. In summary, he said the reason for ASEAN decision to give chairmanship position to Burma was because Burma had positive changes and they've got words from Burmese government that it would continue moving in the same direction. And the decision was to give Burma incentives for more positive developments. That all U Tin Aung Khing (I have to say).
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