Mizzima-Aug 9
Reporters Without Borders (RSF)and the independent Myanmar media outlet Mizzima have joined forces to launch the “Voice of Independent Myanmar,” a shortwave radio broadcast aimed at providing vital information to the Myanmar public as it confronts the civil war and censorship as it confronts the civil war and censorship from the military junta. On 9 August 2026, a 60-minute broadcast will be aired weekly on shortwave radio from 7am to 8 am every Sunday in Myanmar, aiming to reach between 500,000 and 2 million Myanmar listeners weekly, and up to 4 million during major crises. The broadcast will combine and international news bulletins and analysis, practical information and segments dedicated to human rights and disinformation analyses. To maximize its impact, the audio content will also be broadcast across Mizzima’s accounts on digital platforms, which count over 21 million followers on Facebook and 3 million subscribers on YouTube. “This radio
broadcast, which is freely accessibleto anyone equipped with a shortwave receiver and can’t be blocked or jammed on a wide scale, will allow the Myanmar public to once again access independent news despite the junta’s censorship, internet blackouts and digital surveillance, and the growing influence of propaganda narratives from other in the region — particularly from China,” said Cedric Alviani, director of RSF Asia-Pacific Bureau. Unlike cellular networks and the internet, shortwave radio can cross borders without relying on local telecommunication facilities, which the junta can shut down. Cost-effective and extremely difficult to jam on a large scale, it can be accessed through a simple battery-powered receiver. It is the most direct and secure way to reach isolated populations in conflict zones and rural areas, as well as refugees and diaspora communities across the region. Since
the military coup of February 2021, Myanmar has plunged into a severe crackdown against journalism. More than 200 reporters have been detained, at least 39 of whom remain behind bars today, while the licenses of at least 15 media outlets have been arbitrarily revoked. Myanmar ranks 166th out of 180 countries and territories. Read more at: https://eng.mizzima.com/2026/08/09/37282
