One of the oldest NGOs in Myanmar is the Myanmar Writers and Journalists Association. In fact it may proudly claim to be the oldest if its origin is traced far back into the remote past. In the time of Myanmar kings, one of the court ceremonies was the awarding of titles, honours, fifes and municences to distinguished men of letters every year in the month of Nattaw (December). The ceremony was known as “Hpyin Htat Pwe” which literally means the ceremony of offering linen cloths to prominent literati by the king as a token of honour.

It was during the Second World War that Myanmar writer formed the Writers’ Association and they agreed to designate a literary day. On 8, March 1944, they held a meeting at which they unanimously decided to mark the first waxing moon day of Nattaw as Writers’ Day, in commemoration of the tradition of ‘Hpyin Htat Pwe’ held in Nattaw. Since then Writers’ Day has been observed annually on that day throughout the country by Myanmar Writers’ Associations, performing various literary functions such as holding talks on literature, reciting poems and staging plays.

In the past three decades other mediamen such as journalists and cartoonists joined the Writers’ Associations which therefore changed the name to Myanmar Writers’ and Journalists’ Association (MWJA). The first Conference of MWJA was convened in 1993. Head of State, Senior General Than Shwe visited and greeted the doyens of literati and delegates.