VZCZCXRO7771
RR RUEHCN RUEHDT RUEHHM
DE RUEHCHI #0161/01 2910712
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 170712Z OCT 08
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0869
INFO RUEHZS/ASSOCIATION OF SOUTHEAST ASIAN NATIONS
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0009
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA 0002
RUEHLS/AMEMBASSY LUSAKA 0001
RUEHSA/AMEMBASSY PRETORIA 0003
RUEHTC/AMEMBASSY THE HAGUE 0001
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0944

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 CHIANG MAI 000161 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
NSC FOR PHU 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SCUL SOCI ECPS PROP TSPA BM TH NL NO
SUBJECT: TV NEWS PROGRAM FOR BURMESE YOUTH LAUNCHED 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000161  001.2 OF 002 
 
 
Sensitive but unclassified; please handle accordingly. 
 
------------------------------------ 
Summary and Comment 
------------------------------------ 
 
¶1. (SBU) The exile media group Democratic Voice of Burma marked 
the official launch of its news program by and for Burmese youth 
on October 3 in Chiang Mai.  Youth Voice is the result of a 
collaborative effort between several NGOs and governments, and 
is a first for Burma, giving youth a chance to deliver news to 
each other on a variety of topics.  Due to the success of the 
program to date, plans are already being made to expand it. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Comment: Youth Voice is an excellent example of public 
and private sectors working together to make a difference.  Its 
continued success will ensure that those youthful viewers inside 
Burma who do have access to it will be better informed about 
conditions inside Burma and around the region, as well as more 
aware of the outside world.  Youth Voice could potentially also 
serve as another outlet for us to conduct outreach to youth 
inside Burma.  End Summary and Comment. 
 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
What Is It, Who's Watching, and How? 
--------------------------------------------- ----------- 
 
¶3. (U) On October 3, Pol/Econ Chief attended the official launch 
of DVB's Youth Voices program, which provides youth both inside 
and outside Burma a chance to deliver news to young people 
inside Burma.  The program is broadcast from the DVB studios in 
Norway, and shown inside Burma via satellite television.  The 
feature can also be accessed via the worldwide web at 
http://www.dvbyouth.com.  A new 10-minute long program airs each 
week, and is re-run three times after the initial broadcast. 
Topics covered so far during the segment include democracy, 
sports, the plight of street children, child labor, and the 
dangers of melamine.  According to DVB's Thailand-based staff, 
they have received positive feedback on the program from TV 
viewers inside Burma, and the web site has received several 
hundred thousand hits. 
 
¶4. (SBU) Youth Voice is the result of collaboration between NGOs 
with support from the Dutch Government.  Its primary architect, 
the Dutch-based NGO Kids News Network (KNN), has launched 
similar programs in six other countries, including Indonesia, 
Afghanistan, Zambia and South Africa.  Representatives from KNN 
traveled from the Netherlands to Chiang Mai to attend the launch 
ceremony, as did Peter Keulers, the Political Counselor at the 
Dutch Embassy in Bangkok. 
 
¶5. (SBU) The journalists who produce the DVB program received 
two months of training focused on simplifying complex news 
topics to make them suitable for children, and interviewing 
youth.  The training was conducted by KNN with assistance from 
journalists working on similar programs in Indonesia and South 
Africa.  According to DVB staff, children participating in the 
program often have to wear masks to protect their identity for 
fear of retribution due to statements they may make on the show. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
Expansion in the Works, but What About the Future? 
--------------------------------------------- -------------- 
------------------ 
 
¶6. (SBU) Due to the program's success to date, DVB staff told us 
that they plan to double the length of the program to 20 minutes 
as of January.  During their presentations at the launch 
ceremony, they nonetheless highlighted the strain that satellite 
TV broadcasts and the Youth Voice program place on their budget. 
 They emphasized that when DVB broadcasts went from shortwave 
radio only to radio and TV, their budget doubled from one to two 
million dollars.  KNN representatives told us that KNN will 
fully fund Youth Voice through October 2009, but emphasized that 
DVB will have to look for alternative funding thereafter. 
 
¶7. (SBU) Currently, the Netherlands, Norway and Canada are the 
main donors to DVB, according to Dutch PolCouns Keulers.  In his 
presentation, Keulers singled Pol/Econ Chief out, inviting the 
U.S. to provide financial support to DVB.  (Note: He appeared 
unaware that the USG already provides half a million dollars 
annually to DVB.  DVB staff and Pol/Econ Chief reminded him of 
USG support in a pull-aside after the formal program.) 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000161  002.2 OF 002 
 
 
 
¶8. (U) This cable was coordinated with Embassies Bangkok and 
Rangoon. 
MORROW