TRANSCRIPT:
While media outlets such as VOA have provided a beacon of truth, democracy and hope for the people of Burma, the role of independent media has never been more crucial.
For decades, media outlets like VOA and RFA have been lifelines providing reliable news and updates about Burma and my mother’s situation when I was young.
Since the illegal military coup, they have enabled us to stay informed about the realities inside Burma — the suffering, resilience and resistance of its people.
With journalists placed on leave and funding halted, press freedom is under serious threat. Without these independent voices, people inside Burma would be left in the dark and the world would struggle to grasp the true extent of their plight.
We cannot let these voices be silenced.
People can help by contacting their lawmakers, urging them to restore VOA and RFA and support independent media by donating, supporting exile Burmese media like The Irrawaddy, Myanmar Now, DVB and Mizzima.
Without these media, Burma’s struggle risks being hidden from the world, as it has been for many years now. But now, we need this media coverage more than ever. We must act to keep the truth alive.
Published
Aris is the younger son of Aung San Suu Kyi, the imprisoned former leader of Myanmar. Aris grew up in Britain, while his mother has spent about 20 years of her life in detention in Myanmar.