A network of exiled media organisations from Myanmar has been slowly expanding its reach with new members joining the ranks of what is called the Burma News International (BNI) during a meeting at Chiang Mai in Thailand. BNI plays a key role in tracking developments within Myanmar and
disseminating information among Myanmarese living across the world through e-mails and publications.

Two ethnic media groups, the Shan Herald Agency for News and Kao Wao News Group, last week joined BNI, which originally comprised seven organisations — Mizzima News, Khonumthung News, Kaladan Press Network, Narinjara News, Independent Mon News Agency, Karenni Information Network Group and Network Media Group. In a statement issued here, BNI said it had also extended its network by accepting two newly formed groups — Shan Youth Power Media based on the Thai-Myanmar border and Kachin News Group based on the India-China border — as networking partners.

“I know that the role of media is crucial for social change in (Myanmar). Shan Herald Agency for News alone could not complete this huge task. So we joined BNI to work together with other groups,” said Khun Hseng, editor of the Shan Herald Agency for News. BNI said it recognised there were “many constraints to develop all member groups in the current political situation where most of the groups are based in neighbouring countries and there is no freedom of expression as well as free flow of information” in Myanmar.

The members of BNI agreed to tackle these obstacles through cooperation and coordinated efforts. “We believe we shall overcome the obstacles in front of us by joining hands. We decided to change these constraints into our strength,” said Aung Naing, former duty editor of BNI. BNI was formed
in January 2003 through the initiative of exiled Myanmarese media organisations based in India and Bangladesh. It plans to launch a multi-lingual news website comprising news from its nine member groups.