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The politics of NGOs in Burma under



Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1998 17:53:13 -0500
To: free-burma@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Inside Update on the on-going student protests:  Kiosk 9/4
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The politics of NGOs in Burma under the junta: Personal Narrative

Compiler's note:

The writer is a Burmese living in Rangoon who is currently involved in NGO
matters.  This firsthand account is a rebuttal of the argument that foreign
NGOs can (conceivably) make a difference by creating a civic space for
democracy movement.

Here are some information about NGOs in Burma.  NGOs started to flourish in
Burma in 1993 when UN gave a project called Human Development Initiative
(HDI).  The condition in this project was not to directly support government
agencies.  UNDP during previous time, never involved in project
implementation but supported government agencies financially and provided
technical assistance.  With the new projects, HDI, UNOPS (United Nations
Operation and Project Support) became active in project
formulation , project implementation even at the grassroot level.  This
type of works were formally done by government agencies.  

In reality, it is not possible UNDP to do these works and there was strongly
need for
role of NGOs.  As there were no local NGOs in Burma, some international
NGOs, both legitimate and the faked ones, jumped into Burma to get
sub-contract from UN.

Most of the NGOs currently working in Burma are under sub-contracts with
UNDP.  Health and social welfare NGOs are the largest in number.  

To the best of my knowledge, the following NGOs are still in Burma.  Some
are very active and some are waiting for better situation.  Save the
Children Fund (U.K), World Vision International, Care (International),
Medicine Du Morur (MDM)(French name
but I am not sure about the spelling), MSF(Medicine Service Frong)(Holland) and
MSF(France), Wildlife Conservation Society (Newyork Zoological Society),
OISCA(Organization of industry, social and cultrual association)(Japan),
ACF (France), Population Service International (USA) and some small
church-oriented NGOs.  

Save the Children (USA) and Smithsonian Institute have withdraw their
programs last year.  Save the children Fund (UK) has no MOU and can not move
as they wish.  This NGO is likely to withdraw soon.  The most active NGOs
are France NGOs but their impact is very small as far as rural communities.
To my personal feeling, they come for their survival and for their foot
print/turf.  

NGOs in Burma need to have  MOU(Memorandum of Understanding) with  one of
the government agencies.  If they do not have MOU they  need to get
sub-contract  from UN agencies like UNDP, UNICEF, UNESCO.  Some
gonvernment influenced so-called NGOs are also getting some contracts from
UN agencies.  Some NGOs such as "Save the Children Fund (U.K.)" tried to exit on
its own.  

Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association (MMCWA) is government
NGO.  Khin Win Shwe, wife of Khin Nyunt is deputy chairwoman.  It is no doubt
Khin Win Shwe has more power and more figure.  Union Solidarity and
Development Association of the Army (these fellows were nick-named Kyant
Phut) is also
standing  as  local NGO.  

The strategies adopted by international NGOs are interesting.  They tried to
get the projects in some  politically hot area like  Buthetaung Maungtaw
(Rakhine State, Western Burma), Kokant area (Shan State, Eastern Burma).
The government allowed the movement of NGOs only under the close watch of
Military Intelligence (MI).  For example, NGOs and UNHCR in Buthetaung
Maungtaw  were closely watched by MIs  who were operating under the disguise
of Immigration Officers.  

(More to come on this topics.)

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