Reporting on families’ difficulties prompts outpouring of generosity

By DMG 28 May 2021

DMG Newsroom
28 May 2021, Sittwe

Ma Khaing Phyu Win, a 10-year-old girl who is earning money for the family while pursuing her education, and Ma Su Hlaing Win aka Ma Su Chay, a 22-year-old woman from Kyauktaw town who is seeking justice in the death of her husband who was killed by unknown person, are received financial aid from donors after their stories were covered in DMG’s Weekly TV News programme.

Ma Khaing Phyu Win is a Grade 4 student selling flowers to earn money for the family as her mother cannot sell flowers due to poor health. She wants to become a teacher and sells flowers near Lawkananda Pagoda in Sittwe.

When DMG reported on her situation, Lay Yat Waddy New Generation Youths provided financial aid for her through Ko Wai Hun Aung, a social aid worker and author.

Ko Wai Hun Aung posted on his Facebook page: “Today I hand over K1.3 million to the family of Ma Khaing Phyu Win, who is selling flowers near Lawkananda Pagoda. The money is donated by Malaysia-based ‘Lay Yat Waddy 17 townships New Generation Youths’ for her to pursue her education as schools are reopened. I wish she will become an educated person. I wish she will become a teacher as is her aim.”

Ma Su Hlaing Win and her 2-year-old daughter are also struggling with poverty. They are living in a small hut at Paik Thae ward in Kyauktaw town.

Her husband Ko Oo Kyaw Hlaing was arrested by the Myanmar military and his dismembered body was later found along the banks of the Kaladan River. She is seeking justice for him by lodging complaints to police and human rights advocates.

DMG reported on the difficulties of her life, and Ko Aung Ko Ko Paing from Nadi Aung Lan family business in Maei town donated K500,000 to her through the Center for Rural Research and Development.

The CRRD posted on its Facebook: “Ko Aung Ko Ko Paing (Nadi Aung Lan family business, Maei town), owner of Facebook account Pine Aung Ko Ko Pine, sent K500,000 as they heard family members of Ko Oo Kyaw Hlaing, who was arrested and killed last year, in Paik Thae ward in Kyauktaw town are facing difficulties for their living. We provided the money to the family concerned once we received them today. We wish for the donor family to be happy and healthy.”

Ma Su Hlaing Win’s story on DMG’s Weekly TV News programme garnered more than 1 million views within a week. The DMG editorial team said the news outlet had not had a video attract so many views, so quickly, in almost 10 years of existence.

“I was so glad when I heard those who are suffering troubles and difficulties received financial aid after their hardships were covered by DMG,” said U Aung Marm Oo, executive director and editor-in-chief of DMG.

“DMG reports about the difficulties of the family members of victims in the armed conflict in Arakan State,” he continued. “Some families have lost their husbands and loved ones. Some family members have been detained. Some families do not get back their family members’ bodies. And the remaining families are facing difficulties for their living, education and health. We cover such situations as much as we can to let the public know. We help them through the media profession even though we cannot help them directly.”

He said people in Arakan State are facing economic crisis though there is no armed conflict, suffering the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic and the military coup, adding that DMG would continue to tell their stories.

One of DMG’s newsroom policies is to present information and produce TV programmes about politics, economics, social and cultural heritage, natural resources and environmental conservation in an effort to foster stability in Arakan State, achieve sustainable development across sectors and inculcate the values of a society that upholds human rights, equality and justice.