DAILY EXPRESS: Australia is planning to broadcast a Burmese language radio service into the south-east Asian nation to promote democracy and human rights.
The military junta which rules Burma heavily censors the nation's media and limits the population's communications with the outside world.
But foreign radio remains popular among locals, including US Government-funded Radio Free Asia and Democratic Voice of Burma, a Norwegian-supported operation.
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the Burma service would become the eighth language broadcast by state-owned Radio Australia, which focuses on Asia and the Pacific.
Mr Smith said the service would "open up a new channel of international contact for the people of Burma".
It would also show Australian solidarity with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi, he said. >>> | Wednesday, August 12, 2009
