Comments on: How Can International Assistance to Burma Avoid Mistakes of the Past? http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2012/05/09/how-can-international-assistance-to-burma-avoid-mistakes-of-the-past/ Weekly Insight and Features from Asia Tue, 21 May 2013 11:17:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Ye Soe http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2012/05/09/how-can-international-assistance-to-burma-avoid-mistakes-of-the-past/comment-page-1/#comment-3664 Ye Soe Fri, 11 May 2012 09:00:44 +0000 http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/?p=13963#comment-3664 I wish to add a few points. Whereas Lesson 4 is generally acceptable, we should not forget that the " conflict areas" especially in Kachin and North-eastern Shan States are under China's control. Anyone who has been to Mong-la, Kokoang and Lashio will know how large number of Chinese cheap labourers coming in daily to work at jade mines and for logging. As KIO and KIA are funded by and supplied with ammunition from China, such activities are never reported. Please bear in mind that the Central Government has no control whatsoever in those areas but KIO and KIA (for Kachin); UWA ( for Wa region) and SSA North ( for Kokang). International scholars and experts should make an effort to know the real situation on the ground. Next, I would like to add that transparent and systematic procedure/management mechanism needs to be established ensuring accountability, and M &E. It should be created under auspices of the Parliament or under the Office of President. Either way, representatives from both Parliaments ( after careful selection) and relevant Ministries should be involved. What we are seeing now is- everyone is vying to get the attention from the donor community and to assert their political weight. This will creates confusion and may be frustration as many claim they should be consulted in the matter of funding assistance. Finally, all parties, big or small, are now at the Parliament. They should speak collectively and with the shared goals and visions. I wish to add a few points. Whereas Lesson 4 is generally acceptable, we should not forget that the ” conflict areas” especially in Kachin and North-eastern Shan States are under China’s control. Anyone who has been to Mong-la, Kokoang and Lashio will know how large number of Chinese cheap labourers coming in daily to work at jade mines and for logging. As KIO and KIA are funded by and supplied with ammunition from China, such activities are never reported. Please bear in mind that the Central Government has no control whatsoever in those areas but KIO and KIA (for Kachin); UWA ( for Wa region) and SSA North ( for Kokang).

International scholars and experts should make an effort to know the real situation on the ground.

Next, I would like to add that transparent and systematic procedure/management mechanism needs to be established ensuring accountability, and M &E. It should be created under auspices of the Parliament or under the Office of President. Either way, representatives from both Parliaments ( after careful selection) and relevant Ministries should be involved.

What we are seeing now is- everyone is vying to get the attention from the donor community and to assert their political weight. This will creates confusion and may be frustration as many claim they should be consulted in the matter of funding assistance.

Finally, all parties, big or small, are now at the Parliament. They should speak collectively and with the shared goals and visions.

]]> By: Nai Banya Hongsar http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2012/05/09/how-can-international-assistance-to-burma-avoid-mistakes-of-the-past/comment-page-1/#comment-3662 Nai Banya Hongsar Fri, 11 May 2012 03:15:08 +0000 http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/?p=13963#comment-3662 If US, EU and Australia's Civil Society, NGOs and other business leaders establish good network with local Burma's community based organizations, and community based ethnic Civil Society for the next 2-3 years, the flow of aid assistance shall be managed with public accountability. Ais assistance shall be monitored independently by local and national MPs, and also shall be reported to the donor as shadow report if the corruption case in invlived. Rural development is the key for the process. Aid assistance shall be rached to rual poor and ethnic areas where the population has been isolated from aid assistance for the last many years. Civil Society Network among Burma's NGOs and INGOs shall be priority for 2012. Technicial assistance on good aid management, good community governance and strong community leadershio capacity shall be in placed by 2013. If local NGOs and INGOs share the skills, resoruce and capacity building are underway, Burma's road to development shall be emerged by 2015. INGOs shall be looking the right place and the right local NGOs for better links and build the network. In short, if 100,000 Burma's population, our new generation are able to read and understand English language, it is much easier for INGOs to do business with them. Therefore, English langauge learning centre shall be given a priority for 2012 Aid budget. If the aid money again flows into the pocket of wealthy miliratyman, what else can we develop. Thank the writer for his note. If US, EU and Australia’s Civil Society, NGOs and other business leaders establish good network with local Burma’s community based organizations, and community based ethnic Civil Society for the next 2-3 years, the flow of aid assistance shall be managed with public accountability.

Ais assistance shall be monitored independently by local and national MPs, and also shall be reported to the donor as shadow report if the corruption case in invlived.

Rural development is the key for the process. Aid assistance shall be rached to rual poor and ethnic areas where the population has been isolated from aid assistance for the last many years.

Civil Society Network among Burma’s NGOs and INGOs shall be priority for 2012.

Technicial assistance on good aid management, good community governance and strong community leadershio capacity shall be in placed by 2013.

If local NGOs and INGOs share the skills, resoruce and capacity building are underway, Burma’s road to development shall be emerged by 2015.

INGOs shall be looking the right place and the right local NGOs for better links and build the network.

In short, if 100,000 Burma’s population, our new generation are able to read and understand English language, it is much easier for INGOs to do business with them.

Therefore, English langauge learning centre shall be given a priority for 2012 Aid budget.

If the aid money again flows into the pocket of wealthy miliratyman, what else can we develop.

Thank the writer for his note.

]]> By: Joy M http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/2012/05/09/how-can-international-assistance-to-burma-avoid-mistakes-of-the-past/comment-page-1/#comment-3655 Joy M Thu, 10 May 2012 03:49:51 +0000 http://asiafoundation.org/in-asia/?p=13963#comment-3655 There is much to agree with in the lessons you draw, however Lesson 3 seems to be a rather sweeping statement. While some international best practices are not going to be the right fit for Burma at this point in its transition (very important point), others may be critical components of an appropriate solution (very important neglected point). The challenge facing donors is going to be reading the political situation and determining where funding the transfer of best practice serves as a stabilizing, constructive factor or where it does not. There is much to agree with in the lessons you draw, however Lesson 3 seems to be a rather sweeping statement. While some international best practices are not going to be the right fit for Burma at this point in its transition (very important point), others may be critical components of an appropriate solution (very important neglected point). The challenge facing donors is going to be reading the political situation and determining where funding the transfer of best practice serves as a stabilizing, constructive factor or where it does not.

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