Remember a couple years ago watching the world news and seeing footage of Burmese Buddhist monks leading over 100,000 people in a march against the military dictatorship? The country had been on government-ordered media lock-down for decades so one had any idea what the hell was going on until they saw this. And you can thank a semi-anonymous group of reporters called Burma VJs for it. Actually, they've been working for years, filming blatant violence and exploitation as ordered by the dictatorship, literally risking their lives to show you what's it's like to live in fear for your life, because chances are if you're reading this right now you have no idea what that means. A documentary about it, so pithily titled Burma VJ, just showed in Park City and everyone freaked out about it. We caught up with one of the reporters and talked to him about his job and whether or not he'll be able to do it now that there's a documentary about it.
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Reporter:Well, not a lot of people do what I do, and maybe that's what seems important about my job. But I wouldn't say it's very important. In the States some people cure deadly diseases so…. In Burma we don't have access to truthful information through papers or anything like that, so I inform the people with my camera. The material is broadcast on the internet and television via Norway, by the Democratic Voice of Burma [DVB]. That is the only Burmese media network that shows what's really happening and that is, at the same time, why its headquarters are in Norway. I'm just trying to do the best I can. The essence is telling the truth. That's what's most important.Why do you call yourself a VJ? That kinda sounds like you're remixing swirling lava graphics to crap acid house.
I wouldn't call myself a traditional journalist or reporter. I'm always busy with the camera and editing the material and spreading it through the internet.What made you want to endanger yourself and illegally shoot film and then show that footage to the world?
Before I worked for the DVB, I worked as a journalist for a government newspaper. That was my ambition—just a being a proper journalist who was good at his job. But while working for the newspaper I found out that I was used by the govern-ment to block the people's eyes and ears. Of course the moment I found out, I didn't want to work for them anymore. I started working for another journal, the only other journal that is allowed to exist in Burma, and that is printed by a corpo-rate company only in it for the profit. In exchange for financial support it produces the paper so that the government can say, Look world, we have a newspaper. But it's all propaganda. So I still wasn't able to tell the truth and do what I really wanted. I even got fired because, of course, I couldn't get along.
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Earlier this year there was a fire in Rangoon, the capital of Burma. A big, big fire, but the authorities didn't take any action. The fire department just stood there, waiting to follow orders. A whole block burned down to the ground. Afterwards I interviewed victims and people living nearby. They told us the government set the fire to, for some reason, "move away" the people who were living there. When I wanted to publish their story, the newspaper wanted it to be censored. I didn't agree, so I was fired. I continued looking for a job where I could really present the peoples view. I got in contact with DVB, and I started working for them.So you got fired over a fire. That's rich. How many people in Burma do what you do?
As far as I know we have nearly 50 people, but I don't know every one of them. In case I get arrested it's better not to know everybody because when I get caught they will torture me to get me to betray my colleagues.I imagine you move stealthily from dangerous scenario to dangerous scenario, narrowly avoiding getting nabbed by the evil mustache-twirlers in the government. But do the people of Burma kind of know who you are? Are you loved and praised?
Even though people don't know who we are, lots of them watch our TV station and I hear a lot of praise. People can see what's happening in their country and talk about it because often it features something that took place at the corners of the streets they are living in. It makes them happy and that's what makes me proud. Even relatives don't know exactly what I do. I just tell them a little bit but I don't give them any details. I tell them I'm "doing something secret" so they know, if necessary, how to respond wisely to the police, to avoid me getting arrested.
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At one point in the documentary, you see me getting caught with my camera, being thrown in a truck and later being interrogated at the police station. But that wasn't the scary part. The thing that frightened me the most was them actually letting me go after a while. They took my camera, but released me. I didn't under-stand why and I felt like they were following me everywhere just to see who I was working with. Eventually nothing happened, but it was the scariest period in my life.What do you do when the fear gets too intense?
Well, I read. Or I talk to my colleagues. But when I'm really insecure or scared I go to the countryside or to my native village. It's freer there. And I can also make a VJ story there. About farmers. Or the agriculture of Burma. Or about tourism. To actually do the same thing, but with a much lighter subject, releases my mind.Are you now like an enemy of the State? Burma's Most Wanted?
I'm not Burma's Most Wanted, but I'm on the list. I know that because every time somebody from the network gets caught I hear they try to find out something about me.Have many reporters been caught by the authorities? What happens to them?
They are sent to jail, and they will never be released again. There were only two cases of actual release, and one of them was me. Others are still in jail. We don't know exactly how they are, because we are not allowed to visit them. We only hear things through rumour sometimes. Like that they are tortured and treated very badly. I heard one of them is walking around with a broken nose. Another one was paralyzed after severe beatings. They try very hard to survive. Media people are the most targeted people of the government. They are treated worse then others. They are anonymous to other prisoners, but the only thing that shows that they are different from them is that they are tortured more heavily.
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Our mission is almost impossible. But I was surprised how many people are trying to work with us. They see what we can do. Especially the younger ones. They are more educated and technically skilled then ever before. We select them, actually, we only want the best of the best, so we don't have to teach them how to communicate through internet or things like that. We are stronger then ever.I don't think many people have the balls to do what you do. What keeps you going?
The thing that keeps me going is my pride of being a journalist and telling the truth. As long as I'm happy with my camera I will continue doing this.What have people said to you about your film? How do you feel about the response?
We get a lot of congratulation mails but other Burma VJs are still in prison. I want them out, working together with me, but I can't do anything for them. We love each other more than family you know. Even though I'm free, my heart is in prison. I want the international authorities to realize everything's wrong about journalism in Burma, and find a way to help. If they keep talking about my colleagues in prison, they will not be forgotten. I know it will have impact. My colleagues will get moral support, and I hope they will be recognised as the real journalists in Burma. As long as they are promoted internationally, they will find honour in their job, and it will make them keep up their hopes.You're pretty fearless.
The only thing that worries me is that the younger people in Burma are scared. They think that every move they make will make them go to prison and disappear for years. But I hope I can educate them about what's wrong and what's right, and I will go on and make them part of our peaceful struggle.Anything you want to say to encourage people?
Yeah. I want people to know that we have more power then ever before. I understand now how much we can do. Before, I got frustrated because I wasn't able to see the results of our work. But now I see. I will keep going, although international support is of crucial importance. When I talk to people outside of Burma I get encouraged. It makes me realise we can do a lot, like in the near future, during the elections, Burma will need us.LARA BAKEMA
