MoeMaKa 3 Years Anniversary (2006) - Reunion Event and Workshop Report

MoeMaKa 3 Years Anniversary - Reunion Event and Workshop Report

(12/01/2006)

Maung Yit  (Maung Maung Win)

On Behalf of MoeMaKa Team

The Reasons Behind

MoeMaKa Radio & Multimedia, volunteer news group run by Burmese media people in exile was first launched back in April 2003. Stating as an internet radio web-cast station, it has its momentum by establishing and extending services in online news publication, online media catalog order and monthly print-newsletter.

It has at least one thousand over email subscribers for its news and activity updates. It is not only encouraging the readers in Burmese language but also Burmese writers inside and outside Burma to share their experience and their feeling.

In Burma, as the military junta is blocking and controlling freedom of expression and the press, MoeMaKa has tried its best to serve as a place to practice freedom of expression and the press for the Burmese readers and the writers.

While the Burmese literary icon in exile such as Tin Moe and Maung Swan Yi are providing all their moral support, the Burmese audience gradually accepts MoeMaKa as a trust worthy and transparent news source on Burma and its literature.

This is the first time ever after over 3 years of establishment of MoeMaKa when all the founders, editors, writers, volunteer-staffs and the audience come from every corner of the world to meet face to face and to talk, review and do open discussion for the future well-being of MoeMaKa Radio and Mutimedia.

The Attendees High Lights

The Advisors – Tin Moe, Maung Swan Yi

The Guest Writers and Intellects – Moe Hein, Salai Tun Than, Ye Naing Moe, Zaw Zaw

The Editors – Maung Yit, Htain Linn, Zarny Win

The Volunteer Staffs – Ko Oo,Chan Myay Ain, Ottara Moon

The Contributor-Writers – Moe Cho Thin, Hayman Thazin, Decem Moe, May Hninn Le Mon

And The Audience

The Records High Lights

(1)   The Oral History of the advisors and the guest writers on their life, the contemporary experience and the struggle for the freedom of expression and the press.

(2)   The Open Discussion and Workshop of the MoeMaKa Team on the operation and the plan and the capacity of MoeMaKa in the past, present and the future.

(3)   The Opinion and The Suggestion from the audience.

The Event – Brief Facts

1. MoeMaKa Reunion Event and Workshop was held from 4^th to 15^th October 2006.
2. Total Attended Guests were 30.
3. Accommodation took place at (1) 2 Editors' Residences (2) SFSU Guest House (3) Good Nite Inn at Fremont (4) Metta Nanda Vihara Monastery at Fremont.
4. For Boarding Service, credit went to Khaing Khaing Nyunt and her family.
5. For Digital Photo Recording Service, credit went to Ko Ko Photo.
6. The Guest related accommodation, transportation, information and reception services were provided by all MoeMaKa Team and Volunteers.
7. At the reception, we entertain the guest with mini-book stall, show-casing some rare books published back in Burma and handing out free newsletter of MoeMaKa October edition.
8. The Guest-Book had recorded all the messages wrote by the attendees and also from the audience and the writers who could not attend but send their greetings.

The Network High Lights

This the first time that MoeMaKa formally contacted the institution, organizations and the persons concerned interested in Burmese issues.

(1)   Iowa Writers Program, University of Iowa. We have invited their guest writer – U Moe Hein from Burma. We also invited the director of the program but only U Moe Hein could only managed to attend the event.

(2)   International Visiting Scholars' Program, UC Berkeley. We have invited their visiting scholar – Ye Naing Moe from Burma. He could not attend the event but he had managed to attend the pre-event workshop and open-discussion with MoeMaKa.

(3)   Burma Project, Open Society Institute, New York. We have invited Zaw Zaw, a coordinator of Burma Project (our committed donor) and also an advisor to our fellow technical assistance team to us – Burma IT from India. He could not stay until to the reunion event but joined with us in the pre-event workshop and open-discussion.

(4)   South East Asian Study Center, Northern Illinois University. We have invited Burmese scholar, U Saw Tun but due to very short notice, he could not manage it.

(5)   Burmese American Democratic Alliance, San Francisco. We have invited its general secretary, Ko Nyunt Than to attend the ceremony.

(6)   Burmese Students Association, UC Berkeley. We have invited active member and representative, Ko Zin Minn Tun to attend the ceremony.

(7)   Burmese Buddhist Monks presiding in the bay area around San Francisco. MoeMaKa requested the permission of monks from Metta Nanda Vihara Monastery, Fremont to let us hold the ceremony at their monastery. With their blessing and participation, the event became possible.

The High Lighted Notes from Open-Discussions

The Title	The Description	From	To
Burma Project & MoeMaKa	To get continuous support from Burma Project. To assist in small and medium projects inside/outside Burma done by Burma Project. To have more discussion in expansion of MoeMaKa's operation.	Zaw Zaw	MoeMaKa
BIT & MoeMaKa	To help build Burmese/English internet web pages. To assist in technical support for MoeMaKa. To help prepare Burmese articles, e-books and archives.	Zaw Zaw	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa in English	To extend the non-Burmese audience by sharing and presenting the articles by Burmese authors in English translation.	MoeMaKa	Maung Yit, Zarny Win
MoeMaKa & Inside Burma	After having open discussion with the guest writers visiting from Burma, MoeMaKa will have to take a broader role to present more articles and books by Burmese authors inside Burma which are banned by the regime and at the same time, the reasonable royalty has to be arranged. To build more e-books and e-archives of books and articles which are now banned in Burma.	Guest Writers	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa E-Archives	According to open-discussion, MoeMaKa has to be more focus to build a virtual and physical arrangement to archives books and literatures.	Maung Swan Yi	Maung Swan Yi, MoeMaKa, BIT
The capacity of MoeMaKa	To be more efficient, effective and compact in running the whole operation of MoeMaKa, it has to be practical and discreet in taking jobs and responsibility. If things are not possible, admit it and do only things that are affordable to MoeMaKa because Moemaka is mostly running from the fund, knowledge and capacity coming only from the committed volunteer intellects.	Tin Moe	MoeMaKa
The Management	According as the ceremony goes, MoeMaKa has very limited man power and resources to manage the operation. If we can have committed manager to oversee the routines and procedure, it would be better.	Zarny Win	MoeMaKa
Burmese Language Usage	Online Publication of MoeMaKa, it has variety of topics and categories to organize the articles and writers according to the issues and the interest of the readers. But if we stick with simpler topic name and straight forward Burmese language usage, the audience will not be confused while browsing site.	Maung Swan Yi	MoeMaKa
Fund Raising	To take more seriously in doing paper works and book keeping making it more official non-profit organization. To raise such awareness to the audience to seek their assistance and help.	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa Newsletter in Print	After launching the MoeMaKa Monthly Newsletter in Print, it has gained significant amount of impact to the audience. The e-Newletter in PDF reached the audience inside Burma and the Print reached more to non-internet audience outside Burma. We have to make freer newsletter contribution to some location where Burmese people are used to gather such as Dentist, Monastery and Mom & Pop Stores.	Tin Moe	MoeMaKa
To Accept Ad	As MoeMaKa seems to be regarded as opposition news media, many Burmese community and business related person and companies are found to be reluctant to place the ad on MoeMaKa publications. MoeMaKa is only asking 300 US$ for the whole year to place an ad on both online and monthly newsletter. If we continue to ask more support from the audience, we might be getting ad-placement from the community. Reading an ad is also fun because it provide regional information and some personal datas.	Tin Moe	MoeMaKa
To Serve as Publication Service Provider to outside customers with reasonable fees	There's a need of the place where you can have one stop service for books or articles typing, compilation, layout/design and production. If MoeMaKa can provide such service, it can be served as one of fund-raising work. We have to estimate the service charge for preparing a book, it may be 300 to 500 US$ no printing included.	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa, Ko Oo
MoeMaKa Online Library	As we already have the habit of buying, collecting and sharing books among the team members of MoeMaKa, if we were to come up with the list of books and archives that we have and post online as Online Library Service, it will be a good reference place for other institution and persons alike.	Zaw Zaw, Maung Swan Yi, MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa Online Catalog (Online Shop)	To be able to serve as on stop location to find and purchase the multimedia produced by the Burmese opposition media groups, MoeMaKa is offering "Online Catalog Order System" – Online Shop.  It is getting it popularity and also it is offering free e-PDF downloads by some media groups' periodicals. We are also planning to post some collectible books and publications from inside Burma	MoeMaKa	Ottara Moon
MoeMaKa Oral History Week	Most of the conversation and talk by our advisors and our guest-writers are recorded as their reflections of their lives, experience and the struggle for the freedom of expression and the press. It will be organized and edited by MoeMaKa team to present it online or on the internet radio.	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa Daily News Updates	MoeMaKa does daily article update at least with one article. But we still could not do the daily Burmese news updates like other news group. If we can have more volunteer news-writer and tech-support people, it could be arranged	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa
History and Research Section	We already have editors on policy, technology, literature and current-issues. The audience is in demand on history, term-paper and research. We can present articles on historical facts and biography of people normally banned inside Burma. If Maung Swan Yi could oversee the task, it would be great.	MoeMaKa	Maung Swan Yi
MoeMaKa Award	To promote the movement and the struggle of press freedom in Burma and the local Burmese people who are committing into it through their lives and raise the awareness of the struggle towards the audience and to get the public participation onto it, MoeMaKa is thinking of giving a yearly award to such Burmese people.	Zarny Win	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa Guests of Honor	Salai Tun Than – Independent and individual intellect activist raising human rights issue in Burma. Family of Zarganar – famous artist and comedian of Burma recently banned from public performance due to his constant criticism towards the junta. The Monks residing at the Burmese monastery in the bay area of San Francisco – without their support and the willingness to let us use their place, MoeMaKa event should not have been possible. The attended Buemese guests from all walks of life – it is remarkable for MoeMaKa to see their interest and enthusiasm to come out and be present at this Reunion event.	The Guest	MoeMaKa
Next Year Event	It is the first ever showcase of MoeMaKa to show its readiness and capacity to work, to coordinate and to participate with any organization, institution and individuals interested in freedom of press issues of Burma and Burmese People. MoeMaKa is ready and willing to welcome and to be welcomed to and from the institutions and the individual who has the similar goal and policy as MoeMaKa. May be in next year, MoeMaKa might host the cultural and traditional music festival if the faith and situation permit.	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa
MoeMaKa 3 Years Anniversary Event  - Guest Book	We are going to publish both online and print special newsletter featuring of the photos, auto-graphs and articles by the guest-writers.	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa, Ko Oo
The Event Souvenir	The Reunion Event Logo will be used as a print out on the coffee mug and will be sent out to all the volunteer workers and attend guest-writers.	MoeMaKa	MoeMaKa

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Public Support and MoeMaKa

Public Support And MoeMaKa
by Maung YIT • July 30th, 2006


1. The officers and volunteer teams are not compensated for their contribution and services

2. The articles, products and material produced by MoeMaKa are not considered copy right protected as it is charity work for the community especially for Burmese families

3. All the donation and charity received are contributed back to the artists from the Burmese community for allowing us to use their work freely, the operation cost of the MoeMaKa and towards volunteer works of the Burmese community and families to assimilate with their host/ residing community.

4. We have strong belief in volunteer community service with arts and literature to help build democratic and peaceful society in the neighborhood.

Running the Operation on Charity & Donation
Every year, from our online radio program and internet presentation of articles, we compile into book publication or into media production of DVD or CD. This is to raise the awareness of our media presence and to receive donations from our interested general public.

We send these materials to the regular donors and potential donors as a token of thanks and to oblige for the donation. We also send out such products to our volunteer artists and contributors as token of thanks and encouragement. We send our materials out by postal mail service according to our email list and also upon request.

Publication of books or media is in need of resourceful tasks which involve intensive team work, artistic and professional capacity and also a lot of financial support. In returns, the appreciation and the awareness from the audience is very impressive where you can both raise the awareness of our presence and our fund to carry on our operation.

We have never fixed the sale price of our publication. We have calculated the basic price of our product based on the publication cost (printing, hardware / software cost), shipping and handling cost (postage cost and etc.). Then we just informed the audience and our donors of our new publication and we requested for donation based on basic cost. By this way, we can raise the donation to carry on our operation.

As our organization is media related and according to professional media organization, there are a lot of copy right and ownership issues. For us, our products are the compilation of our service, our writers / artist’s works and the donation of the public, we consider that the publication itself belong to the general public as long as it goes to the non-commercial interest. If commercial interest is raised for the publication, the author, artists or the writers are considered sole owner of their materials so that MoeMaKa will not be involved in that process.

The development and the control of the website and data are managed by the team members of MoeMaKa. There’s no third party involved.

Only the volunteer team members of MoeMaKa produce the publication, videos and multimedia products. As long as the copies of the publication and multimedia products are distributed to the public freely from MoeMaKa and there’s no commercial interest is raised, we have no objection towards the distribution of our publications.

We are also suggesting placing the announcement or advertisement of Burmese community gatherings or events on our internet website. We are also suggesting open donation from the interested person to place such announcement or advertisement. Even without receiving donation, we have been placing the announcements and advertisements of Burmese community gathering and events on our website to raise the awareness of our Burmese community presence among us and also with the non-Burmese community.

We do not have any commercial related advertisement on our website. We are and we will still be relying on the public donation and charity to carry on our operation.

We need your help and support

Please contact for further information and resources from us …

MoeMaKa
Burmese News & Media Group
Contact Address : PO Box 320-207, San Francisco, CA 94132-0207
Dated – July 30th 2006
contact@moemaka.org

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Members Profiles (2005) of MoeMaKa Radio

Members Profiles (2005) of MoeMaKa Radio

Board of Directors

1.      Aung Din

2.      Min Zin

3.      Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit)

Officers

1.      Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit)

2.      Htain Linn

3.      Zarny Win

4.      Khun Myo Nge

5.      Chann Myay Ain

Working Committee

1.      Advisory

2.      Contributors

3.      Editors

4.      Production & Publication

5.      Information Technology & System

6.      Operation

Advisory

1.      Maung Swan Yi

2.      Tin Moe

3.      Mar Mar Aye

4.      Win Pe

Contributors

1.      Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw

2.      Mya Kyay Mon

3.      Kyaw Kyaw Naing

Editors

1.      Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit)

2.      Htain Linn

3.      Zarny Win

Information Technology & System (IT/IS)

1.      Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit)

Publication, Production

1.      Htain Linn

2.      Maung Yit

3.      Khun Myo Nge

Operation

1.      Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit)

2.      Chann Myay Ain

Location of MoeMaKa Media

PO Box 320207, San Francisco, CA 94132-0207

Phone: 1-415-595-1485

Service Available

1.      Weekly Radio Program Production

2.      Daily News and Articles Online Publication – (e-journal)

3.      Online Catalog Ordering System

4.      Web Hosting and Technical Support

5.      Multimedia Cataloging, Archiving and Digitizing (Books, CDs and DVDs)

6.      Burma Related Media Catalog Online Library

7.      Production, Publication of books, CD/DVD, audio and video products

3.      Brief Bio-Data of Officers and Volunteers

Directors

1. Aung Din

Aung Din served over four years behind bars as a political prisoner in Burma after organizing and helping to lead the country's nationwide pro-democracy uprising in 1988 as Vice Chairperson of the All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), a largest national student organization and outlawed by the regime. He is also country representative of the Thai-Burma border based "Assistance Association for Political Prisoners-Burma" (AAPP). He has been quoted in countless media articles, testified before the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee and Congressional Human Rights Caucus, and traveled on speaking tours across the United States.

2. Min Zin

Min Zin has been involved in Burmese pro-democracy movement since he was 14 as a high school student activist in early 1988. He founded nation-wide high school student union in Burma and worked with pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi closely. He went into hiding in 1989 as he had had to avoid the arrest by military, and his underground activist-cum-writer life lasted for nine years until he fled to Thai-Burma border in September 1997. He was a deputy editor of the Irrawaddy Magazine (www.irrawaddy.org). He has been a visiting scholar at U.C. Berkeley's School of Journalism in 2001-2002. He is currently working as a broadcaster for Radio Free Asia (Burmese Service).

3. Maung Maung Win (Maung Yit)

In 1998, He was a 20-year-old electrical engineering student at Rangoon Institute of Technology, a politically active school comparable to UC Berkeley or SF State when police raided the campus breaking into dorm rooms and jailing outspoken students. He wrote articles for Burmese newsletters that were critical of the repressive government between the years 1988 – 1996. He left his country in 1997 to Singapore where he help founded informative web sites for Burmese to promote freedom of expression. Fours year later he flew to the United States to attend graduate school in Iowa at Fairfield and then co found MoeMaKa Radio in April 2003. He is now also working at J Paul Leonard Library, San Francisco State University as System Specialist.

Officers

1. Htain Linn

1988-2001, he was actively involved in struggle for democracy in Burma by participating himself in Student Union, Democratic Party for a New Society [DPNS] and National League for Democracy. As a writer and an editor by profession, he had worked in several local magazines and journals with various pen names including "Htain Linn". He was detained twice by military junta as an active member of NLD while NLD was staging the CRPP action to head against National Convention by military junta back in 1997 and 1998. In 2001, he fled to Thailand, worked as Editor for Burmese Edition in Irrawaddy Publishing Group, Burmese media group in exile. He had written numerous articles on Burmese struggle for democracy and freedom of expression in various Burmese publications outside Burma including Radio Free Asia – Burmese Services and New Era Journal (Khit Pyaing). He is still an active member of AAPP-Burma (Assistance association for political prisoners in Burma).

2. Zarny Win

Since 1988, he was an active NLD-Youth member participating in the struggle for democracy in Burma. He had been detained twice for his democratic political activity. After he fled to Thai-Burma border in 2000, he became a staff writer of Irrawaddy Publishing Group. He also published his own Burmese news journal – Shwe Yanant (Golden Scent) for the Burmese readers at the border area. He is also serving as an active executive member of AAPP-Burma (Assistance association for political prisoners in Burma).

3. Khu Myo Nge (Cartoon Dynamite) ( Cartoonist in Exile )

After the military junta brutal crackdown on democracy demonstration in 1988, he fled to Thai-Burma border. He constantly worked with Burmese media groups in exile as an illustrator and cartoonist in their publication. He was well-known for his politically critical comic strips in Irrawaddy News, Khit Pyaing and Other Ethnics Newsletters.

4. Chann Myay Ain

An anonymous Burmese social and community volunteer who frequently travel into Burma to contribute his labor and service with non profit and non governmental humanitarian and medical organization for socially and economically disabled Burmese people in the rural area. 

Advisory

1. Tin Moe ( Poet in Exile)

A Well-known writer whose literary work has achieved great recognition and appreciation before the advent of the military dictatorship in Burma. Living in involuntary exile, he is unofficially regarded as being his country's 'national poet'. Although his work is banned in Burma, he continues to write poetry and other work in Belgium and the United States. His texts are a constant source of inspiration for his people. Tin Moe's poems are circulated in pro-democratic circles in Burma and are regularly published in the foreign media. He was awarded with Prince Claus Award in 2004 honoring him for his outstanding literary achievements and for his role in sustaining culture as a source of strength, inspiration and identity.

2. Maung Swan Yi ( Critic & Poet in Exile)

A well-known scholar and writer, his poems, short stories, book reviews, and articles on Mayanma (Burmese) literature and art have appeared in various journals, magazines, and newspapers since 1958, often under the pen name Maung Swan Yi. He has lectured on literature, at schools, town halls, churches, and monasteries, since 1962 and has also devoted himself to the preserving of Burmese culture, conducting extensive field research on Burmese folklore and folk music.

3. Mar Mar Aye ( Musician Artiste in Exile)

She sang almost 6000 songs, including movie soundtracks and independent records and cassettes, as well as radio broadcasts. She worked for Burma Broadcasting Service from 1961 to 1977 as an assistant producer. She is currently performing in the United States and compiling an archive of materials related to the history of Burmese music. Her current popular program is now presenting at BBC Burmese Section of her life and Burmese music history from her perspective.

4. Win Pe ( Artist, Film Director & Writer in Exile )

A well-known artist, film director, short-story writer, painter and musician. In the early 1960s, Win Pe worked as an illustrator for People 's Daily in Mandalay, and served as the principal of the State School of Fine Arts, Music and Dancing until the early 70s. In a continuation of his creativity, Win Pe became a film director, short story and screenplay writer. In 1994, he left Burma for the United States. In 1997 - 2005, he has worked with Radio Free Asia under the name – Zaw Wate.

Contributors

1.      Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw

Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw (Burma), poet, journalist, and teacher, is an ethnic Karen, one of Burma´s largest minority populations. In 1992, Khaing Mar joined with the Karen opposition movement. First she taught school and joined the KNU general secretary´s office. Now she works for the Karen Women´s Organization and is the Burmese language editor for the Karen Information Center based in Thailand, writing news and feature articles. She was awarded with Hellman-Hammett Grants in 2003 for her literary and human rights activity.

2.      Mya Kyay Mon

Student Activist and former political prisoner turned into writer after she fled to Thai-Burma border. She was in Insein prison with her mother, writer San San Nweh (Tharawaddy). She  had to live in solitary confinement for 6 years. Her writings on her life in prison and her fellow political prisoners were frequently seen in DVB, Irrawaddy, New Era Journal (Khit Pyaing) and other Burmese periodicals published outside Burma. She now lives in Norway.

3.      Kyaw Kyaw Naing

He is a Saing musician for the past 25 years, and is well experienced in Burmese and international Music and musical instruments. Moreover, he is one of the few Burmese musicians whose music has been recorded for projects released outside of Myanmar, and has performed in Russia, Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand, England and the United States. He performed his music on program “ The Bang on a Can Marathon Music” at Brooklyn Academy of Music on October 28, 2001, and at Lincoln Center on February 9, 2002.

Best Regards

Maung Maung Win

Director, Coordinator

MoeMaKa Radio / Multimedia

PO Box 320207,
San Francisco,
CA 94132-0207, US.

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MoeMaKa and Year of 2005 - Reports

Table of Content

1. Looking Back 2005 – Initial steps and Achievements
2. Plan Ahead Year 2006 – Building up capacity and beyond
3. Major setback and boundary MoeMaKa facing
4. MoeMaKa Still Looking Forward

1.      Looking Back 2005 – Initial steps and Achievements

Introduction

For the first year 2004, we have run MoeMaKa with self-funding received from our volunteer staffs and directors approximately 10248.00 annual. We also received US $ 10,000.00 from OSI Burma Project for technical assistance which was spent sorely on hardware and software upgrade of MoeMaKa's production.

For the second year 2005, MoeMaKa is running its basic operation with 12,000.00 annual by the self-funding received from our own volunteer staffs and directors. On August 2005, we have received grant approval from OSI Burma Project of 16,000.00 US$ and Prince Claus Funds of 5,000.00 EU $.

Current Situation

MoeMaKa has established as one and only community based station providing Burmese literature and audio archives among other internet portals run by Burmese volunteers and professionals. As you can all see, there are 5 major internet news and information sites run by democratic Burmese which are Democratic Voice of Burma (http://wwww.dvb.no), Norway, Mizzima News Group (http://mizzimz.com), India, New Era Journal (http://khitpyaing.org), Irrawaddy News Group (http://www.irrawaddy.org) and Burma News Int'l (http://bnionline.net ), Thailand. They are generally focusing on Burma related current news and articles. However MoeMaKa has gained as the significant Burmese media site which presents and represents Burmese literatures, cultural and social issues contemporary to Burmese people inside and overseas.

That is why within the year 2005, MoeMaKa has reached 1,300 subscriptions of its online free newsletter service. It is now reaching a band width of 50 GB a month from 8000 over unique internet service provider (ISP) servers. Despite blocking from the Burmese military regime's internet censorship authority, we still can see Burmese internet users from inside Burma visiting MoeMaKa through free proxy servers too.

How's self-funding used and affected for MoeMaKa

With self funding, we are doing our basic services operational in the year 2005. They are itemized as follows;

1.      Weekly Radio Program Production

2.      Daily Online Publication and Updates ( electronic news & literary journal)

3.      Archiving and Cataloging of digital and multimedia materials (books, CD, periodicals) for online catalog library

4.      Presenting, Shipping and Posting of materials distributed from Online Catalog Ordering System

5.      General Office and Communication Cost ( Internet, phone, periodicals, books, CDs, DVDs, hardware and software upgrades, postal charge and such general expenses.)

Production Highlights  - 2005

We have produced following audio CD/DVD program archived back from our past production;

"Tin Moe for all seasons around the Burmese year", the  recollection of    interviews with Tin Moe from MoeMaKa weekly radio programs on reflection of a Burmese poet on Burmese festivals around the year.

"MoeMaKa Weekly Radio Archived in MP3/Real Media - 2004", the recollection of weekly radio programs from MoeMaKa in the year 2004 for the Burmese audience who would be able to listen with their computer, CD or DVD player without connecting to the internet.

            Presentation Highlights – 2005 / 2006

We have reached significant recognition among the Burmese media professionals, Burmese artists and audience and following is the list that we considered ourselves some milestones;

MoeMaKa's Special Edition (Presentation) on Daw Aung San Suu Kyi's 60^th Birthday (19^th June 2005)

MoeMaKa's Special Edition (Presentation) on 17^th Anniversary of 8888 Burmese Democracy Uprising (8^th August 2005)

MoeMaka's Special Edition (Presentation) on 90^th birthday of Ludu Daw AhMar – Burmese literary icon representing freedom of expression and struggle for democracy in Burma (29^th Nov 2005)

MoeMaKa in-house serials programs and articles by following Burmese artists in exile such as Tin Moe, Maung Swan Yi, Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw.

MoeMaKa's regular programs and articles on contemporary issues of Burma written by some artists and writers who are still inside Burma with hidden pen names. ( It is considered most significant because MoeMaKa became trusted and credible by the Burmese audience and also by the artists and writers who are under the heavy censorship of military junta)

MoeMaKa's Special Program -  Letters from the Readers – which is sorely contributed by the Burmese audience inside Burma and overseas, expressing of their opinions and thoughts.

Grants Received

MoeMaKa has received the grant approvals from OSI-Burma Project of 16,000 US$ and also from Prince Claus Fund of 5,000 EU $ for the year 2005 which are more than 10,000 US$ of the grant we received in 2004 previously.

How grants used for MoeMaKa for the year 2005

1.      We have decided to maintain our basic operation within our budget managed from our own self-funding for this year 2005.

2.      We use the grant money received on awarding royalty fees to our artists, writers and advisors. ( US $ 6000.00)

3.      We use the grant money on producing publication of their works in books, newsletters and CD/DVD towards Burmese audience inside and outside Burma. ( US $ 10,000.00)

4.      We also use some amount on upgrade of our web server to serve more band-width and capacity to increasing audience. ( US $ 3000.00)

5.      We use the grant money to provide technical assistance to volunteer writers with hardware and software to be able them to update their news and articles to us whenever they are in the remote area or in mobile. (US $ 3000.00)

How the sponsorship of the granters be credited

1.      All the Granter's representing link are now displayed at the front page of our MoeMaKa website as "Friends of MoeMaKa".

2.      On the covers of all the publication and production materials in the year 2005 from MoeMaKa, all the Granters' name and logo shall be printed.

3.      At least 10 copies of publication and production materials will be sent to all Granters' organization address and if possible, more copies could be able to obtain upon request.

4.      All the materials produced from MoeMaKa with the fund from granters shall be copy right free to all the Granters i.e they are free to present or represent in their works or reports or publications.

Other Achievements

Other Departments supporting MoeMaKa's main operation have done following tasks;

                                                  i.      Online Catalog Order System (http://shop.moemaka.org) has updated regularly with it own publication and also with other publications from other Burmese media groups based in Thailand, Korea, Japan and US which offers the convenient place to order and distribute Burma related issues.

                                                ii.      Online Media Archive Library has regularly updated with books, CD/DVD and audio records so it has collected around 1000 records electronically.

                                              iii.      Web Hosting and Technical Support has been upgraded and maintaining the following domains;

                                                              i.      AAPPB – Assistance Association for Political Prisoners Burma (http://aappb.org, http://aappb.net )

                                                            ii.      MyWebDigest – Burmese related web directory, Burmese Magazine and Burma Related News Article Archives

(http://mywebdigest.net, http://ezine.mywebdigest.net, http://news.mywebdigest.net )

                                                          iii.      Mingalar Online – Overseas Burmese Community and Business Directory (http://mingalaronline.com, http://mingalaronline.net)

Due to financial difficulty, some team members left MoeMaKa voluntarily letting other committed volunteer to step in to run the operation. However we have more recruitment of volunteers in the team, advisors and contributors.

The departed team members –

            Kyaw Aung Lwin (Officer, Production)

            Kay Thwe Khine (Officer, Operation)

The existing team members –

Maung Yit (Director, IT/IS, Editors, Production, Operation)

Htain Linn (Officer, Editors, Production)

                        The newly added team members –

Zarny Win (Officer, Editors)

Chan Myay Ain (Officer, Operation)

                        The existing advisors –

                                    Tin Moe (Poet in Exile)

                                    Maung Swan Yi (Critic in Exile)

                        The newly added advisors –

                                    Mar Mar Aye (Artiste in Exile)

                                    Win Pe (Film Director, Writer and Artist in Exile)

                        The existing contributors – 

                                    Min Zin (Journalist in Exile)

                                    Khaing Mar Kyaw Zaw (Writer in Exile)

                        The newly added contributors –

                                    Mya Kyay Mon (Writer in Exile)

                                    Kyaw Kyaw Naing (Artiste in Exile)

2.   Plan Ahead Year 2006 – Building up capacity and beyond

Estimated Budget for next year 2006 on publication and production

For the year of 2006, we would like to continue to provide the hardware, software support and royalty fees to our advisors, contributors, media professionals, artists and writers.

We would also like to keep up the pace of publication, production and distribution of MoeMaka's works towards Burmese audience inside and outside Burma.

 

We have to recruit more volunteer staffs that came into US with the resettlement program as refugees who are all Burmese democratic journalists in exile.

With the amount of grant we are going to receive, we are planning to use them as royalty fees to the Burmese writers and artists in exile, in the Burmese border area and also for those still inside Burma who contribute their articles passively.

With the amount of grant we are going to receive, we are planning to publish compilations of Burmese articles written by Burmese writers in exile which were normally banned in Burma. The authors are Tin Moe, Maung Swan Yi, Aung Din, Min Zin and other articles by various writers presented in MoeMaKa internet radio and online publication.

We are also planning to do the followings;

To publish monthly newsletter in hard copy to be able to post or ship to any Burmese audience inside and outside Burma so that MoeMaKa's outreach shall be extended to non-internet users of Burma.

To prepare and present "MoeMaKa in English" as MoeMaKa is to gain more audience not only with Burmese speakers but also with non-Burmese speakers to raise more awareness on building democratic civil society in Burma.

3.  Major setback and boundary MoeMaKa facing

1.      Up until now, MoeMaKa could not still be able to compensate the volunteer staffs for their valuable time and service. We still could not even employ a part time staff yet. Still, we have encouraged and requested them to continue their volunteer service and fund contribution to make our operation running so that the grant money could be able to spend on the more production of our works and on the royalty fees to the more needy Burmese writers and artists.

2.      Instead of opening up on-site information center and library for the Burmese audience where MoeMaKa is located, we have withdrawn ourselves just to maintain the online catalog library service for the interested audience.

3.      When extending our service in daily online publication and updates of Burmese articles to the readers, we have hard time presenting weekly radio programs on time between the months of August - November 2005.

4.  MoeMaKa Still Looking Forward

We are deeply appreciated and obliged for the grant received. We would like to commit ourselves on making of MoeMaKa as a practical ground for building democratic civil society for the near future of Burma. We also would like to welcome more volunteers and support to make this institution a success as an example of Burmese communities inside and outside Burma to be more willing and daring to contribute towards democratic struggle of Burma independently.

Best Regards

Maung Maung Win

(Maung Yit)

On behalf of MoeMaKa Team

PO Bx 320207,

San Francisco,

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The Day To Day Activities of MoeMaKa

The Day To Day Activities of MoeMaKa

by Maung YIT • October 8, 2004 •


– Daily News and Articles Publication Online on our main website – http://moemaka.com

– Weekly Radio Program Presentation (webcasting) on our main website – http://moemaka.com

– Data, Information, Media collection, archiving, cataloging and research on Burma & Burmese Community related issues, news & literature

– Publication of Books, Online Media & Multimedia on Burma, Burmese literature and Burmese Community living abroad including in the bay area.

– Supporting and Organizing Burmese Literary Talks, Burmese Language Speaking and Reading Eventsfor the Burmese community at the bay area.

– Providing and Assisting educational, technical and art / language related materials, training and consultancy to Burmese and non-Burmese interested in Burmese issues at the bay area and beyond.

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How we have started MoeMaKa - 2004 Mid-Year Report

How we have started MoeMaKa - 2004 Mid-Year Report
Narrative and Financial Interim Report (March 2004)
Introduction

MoeMaKa Radio, the internet radio station for Burmese community has officially been launched on 13th April 2004 on the beginning of Burmese Water Festival and the Eve of Burmese New Year.

We have initially launched our Internet Radio Station with the following purposes;

1. To present entertainment and informative news on Burmese community inside and outside Burma
2. To represent the voice and opinion of Burmese people
3. To promote the identity of the nation, culture and language among the multicultural society.

As we have reported previously of our phases, we have passed first phase for the year of 2003 and now we are in 2nd phase in process for the year 2004.

We have received the grant, financial assistance of US 10,000.00 from OSI, Burma Project for our ongoing phases for the year 2004.

What we have in our 2nd Phase of MoeMaKa Radio

We have the following plan for the second phase of building MoeMaKa Radio;

1. To produce and present 2 times a week radio program
2. To present the interviews and articles of Burmese writers, scholars and professionals concerning on Burmese community issues
3. To produce and present video documentary on the situation of health and education of children who were forced to leave their home with their parents due to the human rights abuse done by the Burmese military junta in Thai Burma border area.
4. To provide IT related training and resources to Burmese activists' groups stationed at Thai-Burma borders to support of their operation technically

What we have done according to the 2nd Phase Planning

• We have successfully produced and presented 2 times a week radio program starting on the anniversary of Burma Union Day, 12th February 2004.
• We have contacted with the following Burmese writers, activists, journalist to provide us with their advice and their articles on Burmese community issues. They have initially agreed with us as our regular contributors to our MoeMaKa Radio Programs.
• U Tin Moe, the poet and the writer
• U Swan Yi, the poet and the writer
• Ko Aung Din, the poet, former political prisoners of Burma, activist for the struggle for democracy and freedom of expression in Burma.
• Ko Min Zin, the writer, the editor to Irrawaddy News Magazine based in Thailand
• Khai Mar Kyaw Zaw, a Karan Nationality, a writer, actively worked for the humanitarian assistance to the internally displaced people of Burma at the Thai Burma border
• Right now, plan is under way to do the video documentary.
• We have offered to host the web site of Assistance Association for Political Prisoners – Burma (http://aappb.net) , the organization based in Thailand, campaigning on the situation and condition of Burmese political prisoners and providing assistance to the family of political prisoners.

Additional Task done during the phase 2 and evaluation

1. Recruiting volunteer and providing in-house training for Radio Production
2. Seeking help from lawyers to register MoeMaKa Radio as 501(c), non profit organization
3. Planning to move from low end web server to high end web server to present radio archives and for the future video presentation
4. Planning to present the online Burmese newsletter of previous MoeMaKa programs to the online readers according to the MoeMaKa's members' request and survey.
5. According to the statistic, we have now 700 subscribed members where 200 more members are added to last year 500 members list.

How is our operational budget running during the phase two?
Most of all the resources and man-power are on the volunteer basis. With the minimum of resources and maximum of man-power contribution, we are still trying at our best to produce optimum efficiency.

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