BURMA: TRAVEL RESTRICTED FOR NGOS AND UN

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000730

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

STATE PASS USAID/ANE
STATE FOR EAP/BCLTV, G, AND IO
BANGKOK FOR USAID/RDM
USPACOM FOR FPA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EAID SOCI PGOV BM NGO
SUBJECT: BURMA: TRAVEL RESTRICTED FOR NGOS AND UN

REF: A. 04 RANGOON 1375 AND PREVIOUS

B. RANGOON 658 AND PREVIOUS


1. (SBU) Summary: Since three bombs rocked Rangoon in early
May, the GOB has made it clear to INGOs and UN agencies that
free travel of expats is a thing of the past. Though there
is nothing in writing, and the new policy is not being
consistently applied, the Minister of Health briefed NGO
workers that expat staff can no longer travel to Burma's
seven ethnic states or its more politically sensitive
divisions. There are several possible reasons for this
abrupt shift in policy. Whatever the reality, the apparent
inclusion of UN agencies in this travel ban, and the
inability of INGO foreign staff to travel to many of their
project sites, could have a significant impact on USG
programs and our insight into the goings on in Burma's
remoter regions. End summary.

No More NGO Expat Traveling


2. (SBU) According to numerous contacts from Rangoon-based
international NGOs (INGOs),the GOB has since the May 7
triple bombing in Rangoon (ref A) made it difficult for INGO
expats to travel to any of Burma's seven states as well as
Sagaing and Tanintharyi Divisions. In most cases, INGO
programs in these areas would be allowed to continue, though
with only local Burmese staff. According to two health INGO
representatives, the restrictions seem targeted in particular
at those INGOs that have a MOU with the Ministry of Health
(MOH). In early May the Minister of Health addressed all
INGOs with Ministry MOUs and, sheepishly by all accounts,
explained the new restrictions and apologized for what he
promised would only be a "temporary" situation. There has
not been any written policy or explanation.


3. (SBU) The travel ban does not appear completely limited to
MOH-affiliated groups, however. A source from a food
assistance NGO operating in Wa territory in Shan State told
us that the Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) had recently
denied requests for expat travel in the region. UNODC
reported that its GOB counterpart had also turned down one of
UNODC's recent requests to travel in the Wa region.

UNHCR: Go Back from Whence You Came


4. (SBU) As we will report in more detail septel, UNHCR told
us that the Ministry of Home Affairs has made it clear that
the agency's recently granted access to the Thai border areas
(ref B) is in jeopardy. Though UNHCR has no formal MOU with
the MOHA, the two have an "exchange of letters" allowing work
in sensitive regions. According to the UNHCR acting country
coordinator, the MOHA told UNHCR in mid-May that it could no
longer travel to Karen, Karenni, and Mon States and
Tanintharyi Division. Though the Ministry subsequently
relented on an already-planned trip, future trips are in
doubt, the coordinator told us. Interestingly, UNHCR told us
that its long-standing activities in northern Rakhine State
have not been challenged. One health NGO working in Rakhine
State echoed this, saying the NGO's activities there and the
ability to travel there freely, with GOB permission, have not
changed.

Comment: Why Now?


5. (SBU) The GOB gave no reasons for the new travel
restrictions, which thus far have not been formally extended
to diplomats or tourists. However, we see at least two
possibilities. The first is fear, post May 7 bombings, that
expats in the remote countryside would be beyond reliable GOB
supervision and thus potential targets for attack -- or
potential collaborators with "external destructionists"
planning their next move. Another possibility is concern at
the top of the SPDC ladder of increased activity by
foreigners in the countryside. INGOs have been very pleased
with the current Health Minister's constructive and
permissive attitude toward their work in previous off-limits
areas. It could be the Defense Ministry has taken a sudden
disliking to this cozy relationship with foreigners and is
reasserting its always supreme authority over all
travel-related rules. In any event, these new restrictions
(if they stick) could have a major impact on INGOs' and UN
agencies' ability to do their work properly, especially
monitoring and assessment, and thus on current USAID and
proposed Global Fund programs outside of Rangoon and
Mandalay. End comment.
McMullen