Burma Civilian Radio Network
"Before the soldiers left the village, they planted landmines, one of them in front of the church. An old man, maybe 70 years-old, stepped on a landmine and was killed...I lost everything-kitchen, furniture, rice stocks-not a single piece of paper was left. The same happened to the 19 other families whose houses were burned."
-Female rice farmer from Tantabin township
Source: Amnesty International
Why Burma?
Genocide Intervention Network currently monitors eight areas of concern around the world, and have supported a range of protection activities in Darfur. The scale of the atrocities against ethnic minority groups in Burma, combined with our potential impact in lessening that violence, made Burma an important area of focus.
Current Situation
Since the early fall of 2007, government troops have been abusing civilians in connection with large-scale pro-democracy protests led by Buddhist monks. In May 2008 in the aftermath of Cyclone Nargis, the world again saw the repressive nature of the Burmese regime which withheld aid from its own people, while attempting to use the tragedy to line the regime's pockets and fill their army's food surplus with what aid they did allow in.
Background on Eastern Burma
Since taking control of the country in 1962, the Burmese military government has continually launched major counter-insurgency campaigns against ethnic minorities in the eastern states, leading to gross human rights violations. In order to devastate and terrify targeted populations, the government has committed thousands of documented cases of summary executions, torture, rape, forced labor, forced relocation, and burning down churches, schools, and entire villages.
How Civilians Cope
Fleeing and hiding is the principle way that civilians have stayed alive in areas under attack. To survive a military assault, it is critical that village communities have as much information as possible, as early as possible. The trouble is getting this warning information to villages. Even when people in one area spot government army troops advancing, getting that information to targeted villages is often difficult and dangerous.
Early Warning System
Working with a local implementing partner, Genocide Intervention's Civilian Radio Network links villages to a regional network that helps send and receive messages about impending attack by the Burmese military, and enables civilians to send distress calls. By providing civilians with the necessary tools, individuals are able to protect themselves and prepare for attack. This innovative program has touched hundreds of villages.
