10.12.2006
.
.
READING JUNTA’S PRESSURE ON ICRC
_ By Ko Sala
Last month, the Burmese military junta ordered the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) to seize its operation of five field offices. In its press release, the organisation’s seems to be loosing its patience with the military junta. It did not give any reasons for such a move by junta and perhaps the junta gave no reasons for its action. It is also needless to say that for an unaccountable government there is no reason for its action but the paradox is that there is always hidden reason for its action.
The International Committee of Red Cross is renowned for its discretion and impartiality and it has managed to work with least tractable governments around the world. The organisation never enjoyed stable working environment in Burma. The sceptics in the democracy movement within and outside Burma were initially wary of its activities in Burma and the insecure junta treated it suspiciously. The pro-democracy activists doubted the ICRC’s presence in Burma. They questioned how it would improve the situations of prisoners in Burma. How freely would it be able to operate in Burma? The critics of military regime went as far as arguing that the presence of ICRC in Burma would give a PR plug to the junta. On the other hand, at times the paranoid Rangoon junta viewed ICRC as spying cover for US and UK government.
In my assessment the ICRC in Burma jealously maintained it’s neutrality and discretion to an extent that it almost once came across as a secret organisation and bewildered many of it’s tangible achievements in the country. It tactfully helped the political prisoners by distancing itself from politics or human rights activists of Burma. It never gave opportunity to junta to accuse the organisation of flirting with democracy or human rights politics of the country. The ICRC’s negotiators in Burma deserve praise for working with an unworkable regime which covertly attempts to hinder their work with a catalogue of bureaucratic restrictions.
A noteworthy achievement of ICRC in Burma is the rights of prisons to write letters to their family members within Burma and abroad. A political prisoner in Burma tested the newly acquired rights to write letters by posting a letter to abroad. The letter did reach it’s destination; of course the political phrases were censored. No doubt ICRC is not a subsidiary of UN body but the latest assault on ICRC’s operational work appear to be a warning shot for UN and other international institutions trying to pressure military junta. If it cannot tolerate the scrupulously apolitical ICRC, it seems improbable that it will accept any form of international intervention, advice or mediation.
The junta seems to be move even deeper into isolation by itself. A loony pro junta ranting Burmese academic in London recently wrote in the News Statement magazine arguing that entire world should not isolate the military junta and he wants us to go and engage with the junta. The curb on ICRC’s operation is a manifestation of self isolation but not an inflicted isolation. Lastly but not the least I would like to urge ICRC not announce job losses for local staff as a result of closure of five field offices.
Your Comments here_ please do not use symbols "(:/\<>!|{]@~#$)"
Request: If you can kindly volunteer to translate BURMA DIGEST English articles into Burmese, please let us know burmadigest@tayzathuria.org.uk .
.
Last week's English articles