BBC expands Bangkok bureau for Burma election coverage

The BBC has expanded the team of journalists at its Bangkok bureau to support extra coverage of the Burmese elections.

Last month Journalism.co.uk reported that foreign journalists will not be allowed into Burma to report on the country's first election in 20 years.

In response, BBC Burmese will use its network of regional correspondents and stringers to inform its Burmese audiences and assist the BBC's international news services.

From 7 to 10 November the service will add original programming, focusing on the elections, to its daily broadcasts, according to a release from BBC World Service. Two half-hour and one 45-minute programme will be broadcast each day, presented from the London and Bangkok studios of the BBC.

The radio programming is broadcast on shortwave and on PAS10 and Palapa satellite television channels, and is also streamed on the BBC Burmese website, the release adds.

To achieve the expanded coverage, the BBC's Bangkok bureau has taken on two extra journalists.

"It's hard to overestimate the significance of these elections, which are going to change the political structure of Burma," head of BBC Burmese Tin Htar Swe, says in the release.

"As people in Burma are urged to go to the polls for the first time in 20 years, we know they will be tuning into BBC Burmese for a chance to hear out and engage with representatives of some of the parties taking part in the elections, as well as with other Burmese from both within and outside Burma."

Last month, Electoral Commission chairman Thein Soe told a press conference it was not necessary to grant visas to outside journalists because foreign media companies already have accredited local reporters working for them within the country, according to a report by Reuters Africa.

"Concerning the journalists, there are resident representatives of the international news agencies in our country, and press statements will be released in a timely manner about the elections. So there is no need to allow foreign reporters to cover the elections," Soe was quoted.

According to Reuters Africa there are 25 officially registered 'foreign correspondents' in Burma, also known as Myanmar, working for 17 foreign news outlets.

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