Myanma Ahlin’s weekly ethnic language supplement is printed in color, and includes four pages of news translated into Mon, S’gaw Karen, Pwo Karen, and Pa-O, with one page devoted to each language.
“Because they just started the publication today [August 1st], we have not heard what the audience says yet. It is only one page in Mon language, so it is not [a lot] to read. As in today[‘s publication], there are only six stories [in the] Mon section,” said Nai Pone Non, editor of the Guiding Star, aMoulmein-based, bi-monthly, Mon journal.
Currently, the Guiding Star’s bi-monthly journal costs 500 kyats, while the Myanma Ahlin Newspaper, which is distributed in Mon State, costs 100 kyats.
“Starting on August 3rd, it [Myanma Ahlin’s edition including ethnic language supplement] will be published once per week; every Sunday. At the moment, they [the Myanma Ahlin Moulmein Branch] cannot afford to hire full time staff,” said Mi Mon Kyae, who helps translate for the Mon language section in Myanma Ahlin.
The newspaper will assign four staff members to each language publication, with two staff members translating the news, one staff member typing the news, and another staff member to act as supervisor. Since the newspaper cannot yet afford to hire such staff, volunteers have filled vacant positions. Myanma Ahlin’s Moulmein office branch is set to distribute 30,000 copies in Mon State, and another 20,000 copies in Karen State.
Newspaper groups based in Moulmein Capital which distribute newspapers and journals in Mon language include the Guiding Star (Sanong-taing), the Than Lwin Times, and Myanma Ahlin. Guiding Star publishes in Mon language bi-monthly, while the Than Lwin Times publishes bi-monthly with only Mon language as its supplemental news, and Myanma Ahlin prints weekly editions with one supplemental page of news in Mon language.
Publication in ethnic languages was banned in 1962 by the Publication Act, which was passed after the political takeover by General Ne Win. Now, following the introduction of political reforms in Burma, ethnic languages have been allowed to be published in the country. On December 28, 2012 the Ministry of Information made a public announcement that it would allow the operation of private daily newspapers within the country, while also granting publication licenses to ethnic language newspaper groups on February 1, 2012.
