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“The international community needs to pressure the military council for the handover of the cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order that the military council can take accountability for all the crimes the soldiers committed.” Naw Htoo Htoo, Director of the KHRG

An interview with Naw Htoo Htoo, Director of the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG)

June 20th, 2022

On June 8th, the KHRG released a report on the Denied and Deprived: Local communities onfronting the humanitarian crisis and protection challenges in Southeast Burma.”

The following is an interview with Naw Htoo Htoo, Director of the KHRG.

Q: May I know the purpose of this report and which major point does the report want to spotlight?

A: This report presents how the IDPs in Karen State are confronting a humanitarian crisis, what are the challenges of local organizations which are providing humanitarian assistance, which points the organizations included in the report need to know and how these organizations should conduct review on the supply of humanitarian aid and the situations on the ground. So, it needs to spotlight the ground situations and review the funds. It also spotlights the fact how the military council disrupts the delivery of aid. The release of this report aims to enable the international community and donors to have more understanding about the ground situations.

Q: How do the IDPs face the denial of humanitarian aid and international protection?

A: The delivery of humanitarian aid in the conflict-affected area is not allowed. This is due to the military council, and Thailand has no burning desire. It is reviewed that the State Administration Council (SAC) and Thailand deny and neglect it. The SAC said humanitarian aid must be delivered through the military. Only local actors have to provide aid to the IDPs in the conflict-affected area. Why are the local organizations, international organizations, the NGOs and those who are working for humanitarian aid not allowed to enter the area? Because the military council bans and disrupts the delivery of aid, seizes aid and questions them. The military council suspiciously inspects where they will go and where the aid will be delivered. It is equal to threats. In addition, the delivery of aid can be done with the MoU and permission. There are many UN-level organizations which are providing humanitarian aid in places like the conflict-hit Lay Kay Kaw. Why does the military not allow them to perform their jobs? Because the military council wants to control it. There will be a lot of hindrances to the delivery of humanitarian aid as long as the military council continues to commit violence acts. There are a lot of humanitarian aid organizations in Thailand. Why are they not allowed to do their work? They have to do their work secretly. The military council also turns a blind eye to it. The military council wants to practice the four-cuts strategy as it fears that the aid may go to the People’s Defense Forces (PDFs), the CDMers or the EAOs. Thailand does not dare to provide aid openly. The IDPs are losing their rights and the rights to protect.

Q: May I know your view why the IDPs face denial?

A: From the view point of the SAC, the aid may go to the PDFs and the Karen National Union (KNU) in addition to the IDPs. So, the SAC does not allow the delivery of aid as it amounts to partly providing the opposition groups. Thailand worries that the military council doesn’t like the official cross-border aid delivery. Thailand doesn’t discuss it on the table openly and welcomes it as it is regarded as a very sensitive issue. I cannot say exactly as it is an internal affair. Thailand accommodated the IDPs at places like cow breeding farms. The people from Thaungyin River fled to Thailand. The places where the IDPs are accommodated are not safe. Even heavy shells landed on those places. The neighbouring countries have a lot of lapse in providing humanitarian aid.

Q: This report and many statements always include the demands for allowing the organizations like the international community, the ASEAN and the UN to allow cross-border aid delivery through local CBO/CSOs. Why do they make such demands?

A: In fact, only local CBO/CSOs can help the IDPs when there are conflicts. They are not like international organizations. They are not included in the decision-making processes. Big donors donate money to other big donors. Then, they allocate money to the unregistered small organizations like us. But their requirements are very authoritarian. The reason for why they are asking for cross-border aid delivery is that only local actors know the situations. They have a lot of experience. They have a lot of knowledge on how to go to the areas and make negotiations. Only the local organizations know the regional situations most. Some donors are not in a position to make cross-border donations. They can help the IDPs only on Thai soil. They cannot do cross-border aid delivery as they have not signed the MoU with Thailand. They donate money to small organizations like us as they cannot provide aid to the IDPs on the other bank. The INGOs in the country cannot go to the border area. So, we call for official cross-border travel without any restrictions. Donors have to help them secretly as Thailand has not given official permission to them. Due to it, our work faces hindrances and difficulties. So, all aid does not reach the IDPs.

Q: Why are the international organizations and local CBO/CSO not allowed to deliver such aid?

A: According to the ASEAN’s five-point consensus, the ASEAN AHA center in Indonesia will carry out the delivery of aid. The CBO/CSO showed opposition to this plan. The aid to be delivered by the AHA center will pass through Min Aung Hlaing. The international community needs to understand the situations on the ground. The international community has an unbiased principle in providing humanitarian aid. According to the unbiased principle, aid shall reach the IDPs under the control of the military council and the EAOs. The international community also calls for cross-border work. However, they can do nothing as long as Thailand, India and Bangladesh borders are closed. They cannot make decisions. They have agreed to the aid delivery according to the five-point consensus although they feel frustrated.

Q: We have heard the news that aid assessments are being made to implement the delivery of humanitarian aid by the UNOCHA and the ASEAN in cooperation with the military council. Do you assume that this project will achieve success as it is implemented without the inclusion of all stakeholders?

A: Other sides need to talk to other stakeholders like the National Unity Government (NUG) when they hold talks with the military council. Because the fact that it needs to hold talks with all stakeholders is included in the five-point consensus. We need to think about why the KNU refused to accept the OCHA’s assessment. The OCHA’s plan to cooperate with the military council makes our CBO/CSO worried.

Q: To what extent, how will the human rights violations against the IDPs become worse if the IDPs don’t get protection and humanitarian aid from the international community and neighbouring countries?

A: This is not the first time. In fact, the conflicts were reported. At that time, local CBO/CSO carried out emergency rescue operations. The organizations need to understand the methods done by the local CBO/CSO. The smooth flow of funds and providing assistance are required. Fighting may intensify on one hand and the delivery of humanitarian aid may get blocked on the other hand. The situation may become worse as there is no smooth flow of funds and the blockage of transborder.

Q: Do you have anything to add?

A: The international community needs to designate a safe zone for the displaced civilians in conformity with international norms and human rights norms. The international community needs to pressure the military council for the handover of the cases to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in order that the military council can take accountability for all the crimes the soldiers committed.”

Sent by the KIC.

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