The Irrawaddy
Encyclopedia
This article is about a newsmagazine. For other uses of the term, please see Irrawaddy
.
For the Second World War battle honour, see Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations
The Irrawaddy is a newsmagazine
published by the Irrawaddy Publishing Group (IPG), founded in 1992 by Burmese exile
s living in Thailand
. From its inception, IPG (formerly the Burma Information Group, or BIG) has taken an independent stance on Burmese politics, although as a publication produced by former Burmese activists who fled the brutal crackdown on anti-military protests in 1988, it has always been closely associated with the pro-democracy movement. Nonetheless, it remains unaffiliated with any of the political groups that have emerged since the 8-8-88
uprising.
The Irrawaddy is published in both English
and Burmese
, with a primary focus on Burma, although other Southeast Asia
n countries are also covered to a lesser extent. It is regarded as one of the foremost journalistic publications dealing with political, social, economic and cultural developments in Burma. In addition to news, it features in-depth political analysis and interviews with a wide range of Burma experts and other influential figures. It is frequently cited by international media outlets as a source of reliable information.
, Thailand
by its current editor and director Aung Zaw. But, its origin dated back to 1992. Aung Zaw, who was a student activist from Rangoon University, Burma who left Burma after Martial Law
imposed in 1988 and two years later, founded Burma Information Group (BIG), in Bangkok
. He later updated its previous name of Burma Information Group to The Irrawaddy Publishing Group in 1999 in reasons of covering news features in South East Asia. Its main office was relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1995-96.
In December 2010, The Irrawaddy suspended the print version of its magazine citing increasing costs and, after a three month hiatus, launched a quarterly print magazine instead.
On 12 March 2011, the Irrawaddy reported that it had been hacked by unknown attackers who posted fake articles on it. The fake articles concerned an alleged feud between Aung Zaw, the Irrawaddy's editor and Aung San Suu Kyi
, and the purported death of a popular singer May Sweet
. The more divisive piece was titled "Exiled Media outlets lose out on funding thanks to NLD", referring to the opposition National League for Democracy, led by the revered Aung San Suu Kyi. The article suggested that the NLD had encouraged funding cuts for exiled media that have forced a number of organisations, including the Irrawaddy and DVB, to cut programmes and fire staff. The story, which the Irrawaddy quickly flagged up as fictitious, went so far as to include made-up quotes from the organisation's chief editor, Aung Zaw, who allegedly said that "Thanks to her [Aung San Suu Kyi's] request Irrawaddy lost over 1 Million US Dollars in funding and DVB lost 500,000 Euros from their annual budget". Aung Zaw speculated that the attack was launched by a pro-military junta group or Naypyidaw's cyber warfare department. However, in a blog post, Irrawaddy refused to apologize the affected parties including singer May Sweet saying that "We can't say that the hackers won't come back in future. If that the case, we have to learn how to apologize rather than writing news."
Irrawaddy
Irrawaddy may refer to:*Irrawaddy River, the main river of Burma*Irrawaddy Delta, a rice growing region of the country*Ayeyarwady Region, an administrative division of Burma*The Irrawaddy, a Burmese news publication based in Chiang Mai, Thailand...
.
For the Second World War battle honour, see Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations
Battle of Pokoku and Irrawaddy River operations
The Battle of Pakokku and Irrawaddy River operations were a series of battles fought between the British Indian Army and the Imperial Japanese Army and allied forces over the successful allied Burma Campaign on the China Burma India Theater during World War II...
The Irrawaddy is a newsmagazine
Newsmagazine
A news magazine is a typed, printed, and published piece of paper, magazine or a radio or television program, usually weekly, featuring articles or segments on current events...
published by the Irrawaddy Publishing Group (IPG), founded in 1992 by Burmese exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
s living in Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
. From its inception, IPG (formerly the Burma Information Group, or BIG) has taken an independent stance on Burmese politics, although as a publication produced by former Burmese activists who fled the brutal crackdown on anti-military protests in 1988, it has always been closely associated with the pro-democracy movement. Nonetheless, it remains unaffiliated with any of the political groups that have emerged since the 8-8-88
8888 Uprising
The 8888 Nationwide Popular Pro-Democracy Protests was a series of marches, demonstrations, protests, and riots in the Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma...
uprising.
The Irrawaddy is published in both English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
and Burmese
Burmese language
The Burmese language is the official language of Burma. Although the constitution officially recognizes it as the Myanmar language, most English speakers continue to refer to the language as Burmese. Burmese is the native language of the Bamar and related sub-ethnic groups of the Bamar, as well as...
, with a primary focus on Burma, although other Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia
Southeast Asia, South-East Asia, South East Asia or Southeastern Asia is a subregion of Asia, consisting of the countries that are geographically south of China, east of India, west of New Guinea and north of Australia. The region lies on the intersection of geological plates, with heavy seismic...
n countries are also covered to a lesser extent. It is regarded as one of the foremost journalistic publications dealing with political, social, economic and cultural developments in Burma. In addition to news, it features in-depth political analysis and interviews with a wide range of Burma experts and other influential figures. It is frequently cited by international media outlets as a source of reliable information.
History
The Irrawaddy magazine was founded in 1999, Chiang MaiChiang Mai
Chiang Mai sometimes written as "Chiengmai" or "Chiangmai", is the largest and most culturally significant city in northern Thailand. It is the capital of Chiang Mai Province , a former capital of the Kingdom of Lanna and was the tributary Kingdom of Chiang Mai from 1774 until 1939. It is...
, Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
by its current editor and director Aung Zaw. But, its origin dated back to 1992. Aung Zaw, who was a student activist from Rangoon University, Burma who left Burma after Martial Law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
imposed in 1988 and two years later, founded Burma Information Group (BIG), in Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. He later updated its previous name of Burma Information Group to The Irrawaddy Publishing Group in 1999 in reasons of covering news features in South East Asia. Its main office was relocated to Chiang Mai, Thailand in 1995-96.
In December 2010, The Irrawaddy suspended the print version of its magazine citing increasing costs and, after a three month hiatus, launched a quarterly print magazine instead.
Cyber-warfare
The Irrawaddy has reported that its web sites had come under attack by a DDos (Distributed Denial of Service) attacks in September 2008 and also in September 2010, which shut down both its English and Burmese online editions.On 12 March 2011, the Irrawaddy reported that it had been hacked by unknown attackers who posted fake articles on it. The fake articles concerned an alleged feud between Aung Zaw, the Irrawaddy's editor and Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, and the purported death of a popular singer May Sweet
May Sweet
May Sweet is a Burmese singer and actress, and considered one of the most commercially successful female singers in the history of Burmese pop music...
. The more divisive piece was titled "Exiled Media outlets lose out on funding thanks to NLD", referring to the opposition National League for Democracy, led by the revered Aung San Suu Kyi. The article suggested that the NLD had encouraged funding cuts for exiled media that have forced a number of organisations, including the Irrawaddy and DVB, to cut programmes and fire staff. The story, which the Irrawaddy quickly flagged up as fictitious, went so far as to include made-up quotes from the organisation's chief editor, Aung Zaw, who allegedly said that "Thanks to her [Aung San Suu Kyi's] request Irrawaddy lost over 1 Million US Dollars in funding and DVB lost 500,000 Euros from their annual budget". Aung Zaw speculated that the attack was launched by a pro-military junta group or Naypyidaw's cyber warfare department. However, in a blog post, Irrawaddy refused to apologize the affected parties including singer May Sweet saying that "We can't say that the hackers won't come back in future. If that the case, we have to learn how to apologize rather than writing news."
Accuracy of reporting
Like most news organizations, the Irrawaddy has a history of reporting inaccurate news. However, it is not clear that the news organization has actively retracted the stories. Some examples are:- On February 10, 2011, citing an anonymous senior government official and "sources close to military", the Irrawaddy alleged that the Tatmadaw Commander in Chief Than ShweThan ShweSenior General Than Shwe is a Burmese military leader and politician who was chairman of the State Peace and Development Council from 1992 to 2011. During the period, he held key positions of power including commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces and head of Union Solidarity and...
would head 'State Supreme Council', an extra-constitutional body which would be the paramount of future government according to Irrawaddy. The alleged news was soon further spread by other foreign and exile media including Asian CorrespondentAsian CorrespondentAsian Correspondent was launched in October 2009 by Hybrid News Limited with the stated purpose of creating a hybrid news model that combined professional journalists, successful bloggers and wire news in one website...
and Democratic Voice of BurmaDemocratic Voice of BurmaThe Democratic Voice of Burma is a non-profit media organization based in Oslo, Norway. Run by Burmese expatriates, it makes radio and television broadcasts aimed at providing uncensored news and information about Burma , the country's military regime, and its political opposition.In July 1992,...
. The news went so far as to state that a resolution introduced by United States Republican senators, Richard Lugar, Mitch McConnellMitch McConnellAddison Mitchell "Mitch" McConnell, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Kentucky and the Republican Minority Leader.- Early life, education, and military service :...
and Jim InhofeJim InhofeJames Mountain "Jim" Inhofe is the senior Senator from Oklahoma and a member of the Republican Party. First elected to the Senate in 1994, he is the ranking member of the United States Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works and was its chairman from 2003 to 2007. Inhofe served eight...
noted that the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) had been "recently renamed as the State Supreme Council".
- It turned out to be a rumor according to Derek Tonkin, chairman of Network Myanmar. He stated that State Supreme Council almost certainly did not exist at all. The Wall Street Journal reported that current President Thein SeinThein SeinThein Sein is a Burmese politician and military figure who has been president of Myanmar since March 2011. Previously, he was Prime Minister from 2007 until 2011...
is exercising his executive power rather than retired Senior General Than Shwe. There is no report in the state-run media about the "State Supreme Council". The constitutionConstitution of BurmaThe Constitution of Burma ) has changed several times since the country became independent from the United Kingdom. Burma's third and current constitution was published in September 2008 after a referendum.-1947 Constitution:...
does not define such body.
- On August 27, 2010, the Irawaddy reported the resignation of Senior General Than ShweThan ShweSenior General Than Shwe is a Burmese military leader and politician who was chairman of the State Peace and Development Council from 1992 to 2011. During the period, he held key positions of power including commander-in-chief of the Myanmar Armed Forces and head of Union Solidarity and...
. The news proved to be false when state-run newspapers referred to him as Senior General three days later.
See also
- Democratic Voice of BurmaDemocratic Voice of BurmaThe Democratic Voice of Burma is a non-profit media organization based in Oslo, Norway. Run by Burmese expatriates, it makes radio and television broadcasts aimed at providing uncensored news and information about Burma , the country's military regime, and its political opposition.In July 1992,...
- Mizzima NewsMizzima NewsMizzima News is a Burmese multimedia news organization. It was established in August 1998 by a group of Burmese journalists in exile. The International Press Institute awarded Mizzima News its Free Media Pioneer award in 2007.-Organization:...
- Radio Free AsiaRadio Free AsiaRadio Free Asia is a private, nonprofit corporation that operates a radio station and Internet news service. RFA was founded by an act of the US Congress and is operated by the Broadcasting Board of Governors . The RFA is supported in part by grants from the federal government of the United States...
- Internet in BurmaInternet in BurmaThe Internet in Burma has been available since 2000 when the first Internet connections were established. However, the military government works aggressively to limit and control Internet access through software-based censorship, infrastructure and technical constraints, and laws and regulations...