BURMA: BUILDING GRASSROOTS AWARENESS OF DEMOCRACY

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000060 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP, DRL AND IO; E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2019 TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BM SUBJECT: BURMA: BUILDING GRASSROOTS AWARENESS OF DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS REF: 08 RANGOON 356 RANGOON 00000060 001.2 OF 002 Classified By: Pol Officer Chelsia Wheeler for Reasons 1.4 (b) & (d) SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. (C) Despite Burma's closely controlled operating environment, a few groups at the grassroots level have used USG support to raise awareness of human rights and democracy issues in their communities. These groups work at significant risk to their personal security, but employ basic precautions -- such as organizing in loose networks, preparing cover stories, and holding meetings in large urban centers -- while promoting their causes. End Summary. DEMOCRACY AWARENESS LOW AMONG THE POPULACE -------------- ¶2. (C) Throughout Burma, particularly in rural areas, awareness of human rights and democracy issues remains extremely low. The regime's May 2008 constitutional referendum demonstrated that people across the country have little understanding of why ballots should be s ecret, let alone what a s ecret ballot entails (Reftel): many people went to the polls believing that their only option was to approve the proposed constitution, not that they had a choice. Only a small percentage of the population has spare time, money, and information to learn about the democratic process. Materials and information on the topic are scarce. Many of our contacts note that political issues are far from the minds of average people as they struggle to survive. Nevertheless, we have observed during countrywide travels that people from Rangoon to the most remote villages tune in to VOA and BBC on shortwave radios to listen to the news. While there may be little room to act, there is an interest in politics, human rights, and democracy in some quarters even in the midst of the regime's ongoing repression. PROMOTING AWARENESS AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL -------------- ¶3. (C) Using USG support, a few Burmese groups have succeeded in conducting human rights and democracy awareness programs in and outside of Rangoon. The Hsai Pen Media Group organized a conference in Thibaw Township for Shan youth from around Burma under the cover of the late-November Shan New Year celebration. During the conference, participants discussed how Shan youth should respond to the GOB's planned 
2010 elections. They decided by a vote (approximately 90 percent in support) to encourage ceasefire groups and political parties to boycott the 2010 elections and instead focus attention and resources on building capacity and awareness of rights and the democratic process among Shan people. ¶4. (C) More important than the conference's conclusion, however, was the process, according to project director Sai Aung Thein. Conference participants formed a close network of people dedicated to promoting awareness within their communities. It was the first time that Shan youth could gather in such numbers (approximately 90 participants) and speak freely to one another about political issues. Hsai Pen Media Group and other participants are committed to continuing their work. They plan to translate human rights and democracy materials into the Shan language to conduct small workshops in their home communities. ¶5. (C) Also with USG support, the Burma Laws Study Group trained 20 peasants and laborers from Rangoon Division and Rakhine State on labor laws and rights in Rangoon before sending them back to their home communities to conduct labor workshops. The project reached over 130 farmers and workers. Project director Khin Hla provided and explained to trainees RANGOON 00000060 002.2 OF 002 the Memorandum of Understanding between the Burmese government and the ILO as well as Burmese labor laws. During her trip to monitor training in Rakhine State, she documented children who worked long hours to earn a few cents per day and collected evidence of land confiscation by the government. (Note: We are facilitating a meeting between Khin Hla and ILO Liaison Officer Steve Marshall.) Khin Hla noted an acute lack of awareness of labor rights among the people she observed. ¶6. (C) Other groups have incorporated human rights and democracy training into their work through our small grants program. Gateway to Unified Free Speech (GUFS) has brought together ethnic minority youth in Rangoon 15 times since September 2007 for workshops on democracy, gender equality, human rights, and globalization. Kyi Pyar Chit Saw of Action for People Living with HIV/AIDS has incorporated human rights education into her tailoring training courses. U Kyaw Zaw Naing of the Global Green Group travels throughout Burma to give "street law" workshops to explain Burmese laws to average people. In the past two years, he has conducted workshops in every state and division and organized pro bono law consultants in each project area. SECURITY REMAINS A CONCERN -------------- ¶7. (C) Any group that provides information on human rights and democracy to the public operates with significant risks to its members' security. The groups with which we have worked have developed several strategies to mitigate those risks. Many project directors say that bringing participants to a central location, ideally in populated areas, helps mask the true nature of workshops. Khin Hla, for example, brought her participants to Rangoon, where, she said, groups of people gathering on a regular basis do not attract as much attention as they would in Rakhine State. Groups working on sensitive topics also create cover stories or take other steps to disguise their activities. The Hsai Pen Media Group used Shan New Year as an excuse to gather and held their workshop in an area controlled by the Shan State Army North, which guaranteed their security. Kyi Pyar Chit Saw uses her sewing workshops to promote human rights awareness. Other groups tell authorities that they are conducting business development workshops. The networks created through these types of activities generally remain loose and undocumented, with members of groups communicating primarily through telephone and the internet and minimizing personal meetings. COMMENT -------------- ¶8. (C) Despite oppressive security conditions and the regime's ongoing arrests and sentencing of activists, dedicated groups continue to raise awareness of human rights and democracy. These groups must operate under the radar of the media and the outside world or risk imprisonment. Using the networks created through these groups, we are constantly seeking other similar groups to help build community-based organizations that will be fundamental to laying the groundwork for any future democratic transition in Burma. Although groups such as these do not employ the blatant opposition tactics of their more famous counterparts such as the NLD and 88 Generation Students, they play a key role in preparing the Burmese people to participate responsibly in a democratic future. DINGER