US embassy cable - 05RANGOON730

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