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Introduction

Writers and intellectuals have played important roles throughout Burma’s modern political history. For example, during the short period of parliamentary democracy in the 1950s when freedom of expression and freedom of the press flourished, writers and intellectuals served as one of the watchdogs of the young democracy. The top writers from this era, including Ludu Daw Amah and U Win Tin are still popular in Burma today and their work is followed closely by many. Although successive military governments have tried their best to buy the loyalty of these writers, most of the prominent literary figures managed to maintain their independence and to resist military pressure to shape their writing to serve the junta’s interests.

Today, those who are openly critical of the military are banned from writing, and some are imprisoned. Other writers who have managed to avoid being banned continue to voice their criticisms of the regime by subtle means. In fact, these intellectuals, writers and poets are considered one of the few rays of hope in Burma today.

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Oodan Magazine

Oodan (Proclamation) is a quarterly literary journal published in exile and distributed inside Burma that provides a forum for writers and intellectuals to explore democratic and civic values that are otherwise banned from circulation. The magazine carries literary works such as articles, short stories, poems, and cartoons that were banned or heavily censored by military authorities, new literary works sent from writers and journalists inside Burma, and new works by well-known exile writers, many of whom have only recently left Burma.

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Journalist Handbooks

During the year 2006, the BMA and its committee have developed both a Burmese media terminology handbook as well as a broadcast pronunciation handbook. The first editions of these handbooks were distributed at the Burma Media Conference.