Irrawaddy founder wins 2010 Claus Fund Award
Applications for 2011 awards now open
A Burmese journalist-in-exile running a Thailand-based newsmagazine won the 2010 Prince Claus Fund award for journalism.
Aung Zaw, founder and editor of The Irrawaddy news magazine won under the journalism category with Iranian filmmaker Mehrdad Oskouei and Yoani Sanchez.
Zaw has lived in exile since 1988. Exile, however, has not stopped him from remaining vigilant about his country. In 1993, he founded The Irrawaddy together with fellow Burmese journalists in exile. The newsmagazine, published in Thailand, provides updates on the political situation of military-ruled Burma.
In his acceptance speech, Zaw said he was sharing the award with the journalists inside Burma who have taken the risk of reporting events there despite restrictions on the pressĀ underĀ military rule. The country has been under a military junta since 1962 after the coup led by General Ne Win overthrew the then 14-year-old democratic government.
Meanwhile, applications for the 2011 Prince Claus awards are ongoing. Mechanics and application forms are available at the Claus Fund Awards page.
Named in honor of Prince Claus of The Netherlands, The Claus Fund Awards have recognized individuals and organizations in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean whose works and contributions tackle cultureās role in the development of their home countries. Other categories are the visual arts, film/photography, literature and architecture.
The Claus Fund Awards started in 1997, with financial support from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
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