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From: AASYC GHQ <aasyc.ghq@gmail.com>
Subject: AASYC Statement on Code of Ethics of Irrawaddy Magazine
To: waimoe88@gmail.com, aungzaw@irrawaddy.org, editors@irrawaddy.org, letters@irrawaddy.org
Cc: mypo_office@yahoo.com, pyohq@yahoo.com
Date: Sunday, 3 May, 2009, 4:28 PM

Dear All,

Attached are the Statement on Code of Ethics of Irrawaddy Magazine. Please see the attached documents.

Best regards,AASYC_GHQ

Statement on Code of Ethics of Irrawaddy Magazine

Reference: Article Titled “Junta Trying to Erase
Non-Burman Identities, Say Ethnic Groups”, Irrawaddy
Online Magazine Dated 21st April. http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=15508

On April 21st 2009, a collaborative report was released by AASYC, MYPO and PYO titled “Holding our Ground”. The report highlights the forceful confiscation of land by the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in some ethnic nationalities’ areas. This land has since been used for military installments and other projects that profit the regime economically, leading to negative consequences in the affected communities.

On April 21st 2009, Irrawaddy released an article titled “Junta Trying to Erase Non-Burman Identities, Say Ethnic Groups” based on the report and comments made at its press conference. In the article, the author distorted and misquoted some facts and figures to form these three misleading impressions:

(1)  The primary purpose of the report was to promote awareness on the issue of “Burmanisation”.

(2)  The figures given for the total amounts of acres of land confiscated by the military regime was iscalculated.

(3)  The authors intentionally omitted details of the land confiscated in a few certain areas to avoid mentioning a sensitive immigration issue, which some may refer to as the “Rohingya Issue”.

In attempt to correct these misconceptions, we called the author’s attention to the misinformation, which
we were later compelled to believe was in fact disinformation. We did this by sending the responsible author, Mr. Wai Moe a complaint letter dated 23rd April and a reminder dated 27th April. 

To our dismay, no one from Irrawaddy has claimed responsibility and or attended to this issue, either formally or informally.

We, All Arakan Students’ and Youths’ Congress (AASYC) strongly object to the reckless actions committed by
your institution without any heed to media ethics such as accountability, accuracy and credibility. Ignorance or arrogance will not create favourable impressions on your institution, but taint its reputation. 

We highly recommend that you appoint professional and accountable correspondents for your magazine, or
review your current code of ethics among the staff within your institution.

For further information, contact us at: 

Aung Marm Oo
081-6736326 (mobile)
055 506 618 (off)
aung.marmoo@gmail.com 
aasyc.ghq@gmail.com

Source: Arakannet

Related Story: Junta Trying to Erase Non-Burman Identities, Say Ethnic Groups