Radio Taiwan International (Rti) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on April 27 with Mizzima, an independent media outlet based in Myanmar.
The agreement was signed by Rti Chairperson Lai Hsiu-ju and Mizzima founder and Editor-in-Chief Soe Myint. The two parties reached a consensus on a range of issues—including the advancement of press freedom and the strengthening of media collaboration within the Indo-Pacific region—and pledged to cooperate across various areas, such as program exchange, technical assistance, and talent development.
Myint noted that Taiwan enjoys a highly favorable image in Myanmar and is regarded as a model regional partner. Against the backdrop of the current Indo-Pacific strategy—and given that the people of Myanmar strongly desire direct ties with Taiwan—he expressed his hope to deepen mutual understanding by helping to convey the voice of freedom to Myanmar and by introducing Taiwan’s culture and social landscape through radio programming.
Furthermore, addressing the security threats faced by media professionals in Myanmar, Mizzima shared its extensive experience negotiating with the military regime, as well as its invaluable experience providing humanitarian assistance through international human rights organizations. Both parties look forward to collaborating in the future on content production, signal transmission, and human rights advocacy, working together to safeguard press freedom in the region.
Mizzima, derived from the Pali for middle or moderate and chosen for its inference of an unbiased and independent media, was established in 1998 in New Delhi, India, by veterans of Myanmar’s 1988 pro-democracy uprising. it returned to Myanmar following the country’s political reforms in 2012 and registered as a domestic media organization. However, in the wake of the 2021 military coup, it once again became an exile media outlet and continues to disseminate news today through its website and social media channels.
Mizzima was founded in 1998 in New Delhi, India, by Myanmar pro-democracy activist Soe Myint and his colleagues. Initially operating as an exile media outlet, it returned to Myanmar following the country’s political reforms in 2012 and registered as a domestic media organization. However, in the wake of the 2021 military coup, it once again became an exile media outlet and continues to disseminate news today through its website and social media channels. Today, Mizzima produces an array of multi-media products and can claim to be one of the top five private media houses in Myanmar.