Citizen Awareness and Voice in Burma's Reform Process

BBC Media Action is working in Burma, also known as Myanmar, to support improved governance, approaching public participation through media. This period in working with citizens and governance is unique in the country's history because it experienced a transfer of power from a military junta to a semi-civilian government in March 2011 that included lifting of pre-publication press censorship. Burma's "Framework for Economic and Social Reform (December 2012)... states that improved governance is crucial to growth and poverty reduction and that 'people-centred development' and 'public participation' is desired."

BBC Media Action activities underway (2012-2013) include: the production of a youth-focused radio programme, Lin Lait Kyair Sin, which aims to inform and stimulate discussion on social and civic issues; support to the state broadcaster MRTV during its transition to public service broadcaster; and capacity building of local journalists.

"Processes such as public consultations will be a crucial step in facilitating such participation. However citizens will not be truly empowered to participate unless they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and confidence to make their voices heard. In Burma, the barriers to this are considerable. More than two thirds of the population live in rural areas, geographically remote from their leaders. A legacy of political oppression means discussion of social issues, let alone political action, is still seen a dangerous pursuit. For many, information on government policies and activities is limited to news broadcasts produced by the state media....

In June 2013, BBC Media Action surveyed 1,224 people aged 15+, across 11 of Burma’s 14 states and regions. The survey explored people's awareness of key governance issues and reforms, access to information and media, and attitudes towards and participation in governance processes. The survey was part of a mixed-methods baseline study to inform BBC Media Action’s approach to supporting governance in the country."

Key findings include the following:

• "Reported awareness of reforms was extremely low, with 62% unable to name a policy, law or service change announced by the government in the past 12 months.
• When asked what they thought were the main issues affecting people in Burma at present, 46% said they “"did not know" any national issues of importance, and 32% "did not know" any issues affecting their local community.
• Just 42% reported discussing an issue of importance with family members, and 40% with friends. 46% said that they had never discussed an issue with anyone.
• Taking overt action on an issue was even less common. Only 12% reported ever raising an issue with a village or urban ward level official."

The results conveyed a low awareness of reforms and issues affecting people on a national level, as well as within their own communities. It was unclear whether findings reflected reluctance to engage in social and political matters or a lack of awareness. However, the conclusions suggest a clear role for media and communications to inform the public by exposing it to multiple perspectives to stimulate discussion and improve knowledge on reforms which impact wellbeing and livelihoods and to provide space for citizen voices to alert leaders to the needs of the general population through balanced, independent news reported through broadcast media.

Click here to access this research on the BBC Media Action website.