A delegation of Myanmar’s leading independent media outlets recently concluded a study trip to Poland, where they received strong expressions of support for press freedom in their embattled nation.
The visit, which took place from September 7-13 and was supported by the Embassy of Poland in Bangkok, included workshops on combating disinformation and high-level meetings with Polish politicians, government officials, and media leaders. The delegation featured managing directors and editors from major organizations including Burma News International (BNI), Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), Mizzima Media, The Irrawaddy, the Independent Press Council of Myanmar, and the Myanmar Internet Project.
During the trip, the delegates detailed the severe crisis in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup, explaining the immense challenges journalists face. These include arbitrary arrests, extrajudicial killings, internet restrictions, and criminalization of basic reporting. They highlighted that Myanmar ranks 171 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, with 64 journalists currently detained.
A key focus was the shared threat of disinformation. The group met with the Polish fact-checking organization Demagog.org for a session titled “Fighting Falsehoods – How Journalists Can Fight Disinformation.” Discussions also covered Russia’s role in spreading propaganda in Europe and its military and psychological warfare support for the Myanmar junta.
The delegates emphasized the critical need for international support, citing recent funding cuts that threaten their operations. They stressed that independent media is essential for covering the junta’s upcoming elections, which are widely viewed as a sham, in order to expose fraud and manipulation.
Polish officials were described as understanding of these concerns, expressing skepticism about the election’s credibility and a commitment to continuing humanitarian support based on principles that reject endorsing the junta-led process. The visit served as a crucial opportunity to raise awareness of Myanmar’s dire situation and forge connections for future collaboration.
