Mizzima awarded global JTI certificate for reliable news on Myanmar

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Mizzima Mizzima, one of Myanmar ’s most prominent news outlets and a press freedom advocate, obtained the Journalism Trust Initiative ( JTI ) certification from global audit firm Bureau Veritas , JTI says in a press statement 5 January.  Operating in clandestine mode within Myanmar and supported by an exiled team, Mizzima strives to fulfil its role as reliable source of news and information for the Myanmar public. “Your Journalism Trust Initiative certification affirms what audiences already know: that principled, transparent journalism matters. Congratulations on this achievement and on your continued contribution to informing citizens about Myanmar,” says Benjamin Sabbah , director of Journalism Trust Initiative “Myanmar’s ongoing conflict has created an intensely contested media landscape, where mis- and disinformation are increasingly deployed to reinforce state propaganda and the prevailing “official” narrative. Although Mizzima is already regarded as one of the most trusted ...
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Border forces fire on smugglers, kill one

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by Nyein Chan
Wednesday, 11 November 2009 21:59

Dhaka (Mizzima) – The Border Region Scrutiny and Administration Department (Na Sa Ka) in Maungdaw Township opened fire on two Bangladesh bound boats of smugglers on November 8, killing a man, border sources from both countries said.

The boat transporting cattle from Mun Aung and the other carrying teak wood from Tungup were intercepted by the forces by opening fire when they were sailing to Bangladesh. Ngwe Thein (30) from Tungup was shot dead.

“Personnel of Na Sa Ka No. 7 region opened fire when they reached Ahle Than Kyaw in Mung Daw. Our boat suffered no casualty but there were casualties in the boat coming from Tungup. I heard that they were arrested and there is casualty,” a crew member from the boat coming from Mun Aung told Mizzima.

Those who were injured are helmsman Zaw Win Naing, U Pyi Thien and one other. The dead and the seriously injured were sent to Mun Daw hospital. Five other people are in the custody of the Na Sa Ka.

The teak and cattle smugglers have to grease the palms of sailors of naval patrol boats in the region before their journey.

But this time the smuggler’s boats were fired upon by Na Sa Ka personnel from No. 7, which usually confiscate their goods when they refuse to stop, a sailor from Mun Aung said.

The special task force for sea lane control, led by Brig. Gen. Myo Thant, is based in Tungup, Rakhine State since September 2008. The naval patrol boats collecting protection money from the smugglers were from the special task force, another sailor said.

The bribe for teak is Kyat 20,000 per ton while it is Kyat 5,000 for each head of cattle. Besides various taxes have to be paid. One of the boats was carrying about 100 heads of cattle and another boat was carrying about 100 tons of teak, when they were fired upon, the crew on the boats said.

In Bangladesh, the price of Burmese teak is 1.4 million Taka (Kyat 2.1 million) per ton and the price of cattle is Taka 20,000 (Kyat 300,000) to Taka 40,000 (Kyat 600,000). In Burma, the price of teak is Kyat 700,000 per ton and the price of a head of cattle is between Kyat 150,000 to Kyat 250,000.

Though there have been many incidents of firing on smugglers boats before, this is the first death reported.

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