Journalism award can encourage and inspire Myanmar's people

Excellencies, editors, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you everyone for giving me an opportunity to be here. It is an honour. When I was informed about this award, I was really surprised. I never expected to be recognised for my profession, or for my work. To be honest, I had previously only heard of this award. I didn’t know what it meant or who were the recepients. After investigating further, I realise that this is a very prestigious award. I understand that many journalists and writers who have received this award have made numerous sacrifices and had to face up to a lot of challenges.

Although I have given a lot to journalism, freedom of the press, and the freedom of my people, I ask myself whether I have made the same sacrifices as past recipients of this award. After much thought, I decided that this award is not for me, but rather, for my struggling fellow citizens of Myanmar. Since I was born, I have always lived under dictatorship. I have never experienced freedom before. Now, after five decades of my life, freedom is in front of me. 

I would like to point out that our country’s freedom is a fairly recent phenonmenon. There are numerous problems that need to be fixed. Our 60 million people are still living in poverty. Discrimination and injustice prevail everywhere. There is a lack of the rule of law. There is widespread corruption, and hundreds of thousands people live in refugee camps. I would like to tell the international community that our transition to democracy and people’s freedom is not as smooth as you may think. 

Those who cannot accept the changes are doing everything they can to block the progress of reform. They want to impose indirect control on the media despite all the appearances of liberalisation. They are creating a network to intensify their propaganda and to attack political figures and journalists. They are responsible for inciting religious riots and armed conflicts, leading to the displacement of thousands more  people, as you may already know. 

I understand that after 50 years of dictatorship, the road to democracy may not be smooth. We are still living under pressure and fear. This Golden Pen of Freedom Award means to me that I am not walking alone. We, the people of Myanmar, are not walking alone. This award means you, the international community, are with us. Thank you on behalf of my people. Thank you on behalf of my country.