Free Burma Rangers
Encyclopedia
The Free Burma Rangers are a mainly Christian pro-active, pro-democracy humanitarian group who work throughout Burma (also known as Myanmar) but concentrate primarily on the heavily forested border region, delivering emergency medical assistance to sick and injured internally displaced people, or IDP's; a consequence of the long running campaign of violence by the military junta, the State Peace and Development Council
, against Burma's ethnic minorities.
FBR trains teams of men and women in frontline medical treatment and reconnaissance techniques. In addition to delivering humanitarian relief, a secondary role of the teams is to obtain evidence of military violence and human rights abuse. This information is then published in the form of online reports and / or released to larger international human rights groups, inter-governmental organisations such as the UN, and news agencies.
FBR is one of a number of grass roots organisations (see Mae Tao Clinic http://www.maetaoclinic.org/ & Back Pack Health Worker Team http://web.archive.org/web/20091027044634/http://geocities.com/maesothtml/bphwt/) which have emerged in response to the growing health needs of Burma’s persecuted ethnic underclass. FBR are not supported by either the Thai or Burmese authorities and their activity inside the Burmese border is clandestine.
. Villages were destroyed, people killed and more than 100,000 people forced from their homes in a program of violence which was designed to remove people from land in order to make way for developing business interests .
The history, character and on-going activity of the Rangers is closely linked to its American founder, Tha-U-Wah-A-Pah (his assumed Burmese pseudonym, henceforth TUWAP): a Fuller Theological Seminary
-educated Pastor and ex-member of the U.S. Special Forces. Having already spent a number of years as a missionary in Burma, in 1996, following a chance meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi
, the leader of the National League for Democracy
, TUWAP was inspired to initiate a ‘Global Day of Prayer’ http://www.prayforburma.org/IDX/Prayer/Day_of_Prayer/ and help to strengthen unity between the majority Burman population and the various minority ethnic groups . TUWAP was then in Burma during the Army Offensives of 1997, distributing medicine to those displaced by the conflict, and it was during this time that he decided to employ his broad mixture of skills to bring a unique brand of humanitarian relief to a greater number.
In the words of the FBR leader, “Burma is [...] a slow, creeping cancer, in which the regime is working to dominate, control, and radically assimilate all the ethnic peoples of the country.”
, Shan, Arakan
, Kachin (Jingpo) and other ethnic groups complete the intensive Ranger training.
The training program is delivered with the help of other specialist organisations, including the Mae Tao Clinic
and covers a diverse and comprehensive mix of practical relief, survival skills and socio-political awareness, including:
Break down of full-time relief teams by ethnic origin
Overview of FBR relief operations since 1997
Total teams trained: over 110
Relief missions conducted: over 350
Patients treated: over 360,000
People helped: over 700,000
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/About_Us/Teams/team_stats
was released worldwide in early 2008, with Sylvester Stallone
continuing his role as the eponymous hero. In it, a fictionalised Burmese military played the role of the 'evil oppressors' and, although the film didn't make it to Burmese cinema screens, it became a huge underground success amongst the Burmese population. It is interesting to note that research for the movie was obtained, in large part, from FBR field reports.
While there is a dearth of information about the atrocities taking place inside Burmese borders, the evidence which groups like FBR make available helps to build a case for the international community to take action against the regime.
State Peace and Development Council
The State Peace and Development Council was the official name of the military regime of Burma , which seized power in 1988. On 30 March 2011, Senior General Than Shwe signed a decree to officially dissolve the Council....
, against Burma's ethnic minorities.
FBR trains teams of men and women in frontline medical treatment and reconnaissance techniques. In addition to delivering humanitarian relief, a secondary role of the teams is to obtain evidence of military violence and human rights abuse. This information is then published in the form of online reports and / or released to larger international human rights groups, inter-governmental organisations such as the UN, and news agencies.
FBR is one of a number of grass roots organisations (see Mae Tao Clinic http://www.maetaoclinic.org/ & Back Pack Health Worker Team http://web.archive.org/web/20091027044634/http://geocities.com/maesothtml/bphwt/) which have emerged in response to the growing health needs of Burma’s persecuted ethnic underclass. FBR are not supported by either the Thai or Burmese authorities and their activity inside the Burmese border is clandestine.
Mission statement
‘To bring help, hope and love to people of all faiths and ethnicities in the war zones of Burma, to shine a light on the actions of the dictators' army, to stand with the oppressed, and to support leaders and organizations committed to liberty, justice and service.’
History
FBR was formed in the late 1990s following an escalation of Burmese military activity against the Karen peopleKaren people
The Karen or Kayin people , are a Sino-Tibetan language speaking ethnic group which resides primarily in southern and southeastern Burma . The Karen make up approximately 7 percent of the total Burmese population of approximately 50 million people...
. Villages were destroyed, people killed and more than 100,000 people forced from their homes in a program of violence which was designed to remove people from land in order to make way for developing business interests .
The history, character and on-going activity of the Rangers is closely linked to its American founder, Tha-U-Wah-A-Pah (his assumed Burmese pseudonym, henceforth TUWAP): a Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary
Fuller Theological Seminary is an accredited Christian educational institute with its main campus in Pasadena, California and several satellite campuses in the western United States...
-educated Pastor and ex-member of the U.S. Special Forces. Having already spent a number of years as a missionary in Burma, in 1996, following a chance meeting with Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi
Aung San Suu Kyi, AC is a Burmese opposition politician and the General Secretary of the National League for Democracy. In the 1990 general election, her National League for Democracy party won 59% of the national votes and 81% of the seats in Parliament. She had, however, already been detained...
, the leader of the National League for Democracy
National League for Democracy
The National League for Democracy is a Burmese political party founded on 27 September 1988. Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi serves as its General Secretary. The party won a substantial parliamentary majority in the 1990 Burmese general election. However, the ruling military junta...
, TUWAP was inspired to initiate a ‘Global Day of Prayer’ http://www.prayforburma.org/IDX/Prayer/Day_of_Prayer/ and help to strengthen unity between the majority Burman population and the various minority ethnic groups . TUWAP was then in Burma during the Army Offensives of 1997, distributing medicine to those displaced by the conflict, and it was during this time that he decided to employ his broad mixture of skills to bring a unique brand of humanitarian relief to a greater number.
In the words of the FBR leader, “Burma is [...] a slow, creeping cancer, in which the regime is working to dominate, control, and radically assimilate all the ethnic peoples of the country.”
FBR Teams
Every year about 15 multi-ethnic teams, including representatives from the Karen, KarenniKarenni
Red Karen also known as Karenni, is a subgroup of the Karen people, a Sino-Tibetan people living mostly in Kayah State of Burma....
, Shan, Arakan
Rakhine State
Rakhine State is a Burmese state. Situated on the western coast, it is bordered by Chin State in the north, Magway Region, Bago Region and Ayeyarwady Region in the east, the Bay of Bengal to the west, and the Chittagong Division of Bangladesh to the northwest. It is located approximately between...
, Kachin (Jingpo) and other ethnic groups complete the intensive Ranger training.
The training program is delivered with the help of other specialist organisations, including the Mae Tao Clinic
Mae Tao Clinic
The Mae Tao Clinic , also known as Dr. Cynthia’s clinic after its founder Dr. Cynthia Maung, is a community hospital which has provided good quality healthcare to the Burmese refugee population in Western Thailand since 1989...
and covers a diverse and comprehensive mix of practical relief, survival skills and socio-political awareness, including:
- ethnic issues
- ethics
- conflict resolution
- public health
- first aid
- advanced medical and basic dental care
- human rights interviewing and documentation
- reporting
- counselling
Break down of full-time relief teams by ethnic origin
|
Overview of FBR relief operations since 1997
Total teams trained: over 110
Relief missions conducted: over 350
Patients treated: over 360,000
People helped: over 700,000
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/About_Us/Teams/team_stats
Free Burma Rangers and Rambo
The film Rambo 4Rambo (film)
Rambo is a 2008 German/American Action film starring Sylvester Stallone returning and reprising his famous role as legendary Cold War/Vietnam veteran John Rambo. Stallone also co-wrote and directed the film. It is the fourth and most recent installment in the Rambo franchise, twenty years since...
was released worldwide in early 2008, with Sylvester Stallone
Sylvester Stallone
Michael Sylvester Gardenzio Stallone , commonly known as Sylvester Stallone, and nicknamed Sly Stallone, is an American actor, filmmaker, screenwriter, film director and occasional painter. Stallone is known for his machismo and Hollywood action roles. Two of the notable characters he has portrayed...
continuing his role as the eponymous hero. In it, a fictionalised Burmese military played the role of the 'evil oppressors' and, although the film didn't make it to Burmese cinema screens, it became a huge underground success amongst the Burmese population. It is interesting to note that research for the movie was obtained, in large part, from FBR field reports.
While there is a dearth of information about the atrocities taking place inside Burmese borders, the evidence which groups like FBR make available helps to build a case for the international community to take action against the regime.
External links
- Free Burma Rangers http://www.freeburmarangers.org/
- Mae Tao Clinic http://www.maetaoclinic.org/
- Burma Campaign UKBurma Campaign UKBurma Campaign UK founded in 1991 is a London based Non Governmental Organisation that aims to achieve the 'restoration of human rights and democracy in Burma . BCUK campaigns on behalf of the Burmese pro-democracy movement and is the largest campaigning organisation for Burma in Europe...
- Partners Relief and Development http://www.partnersworld.org/
- Audio Interview With Director of the Free Burma Rangers http://www.cccdt.org/pages/westside_cafe_fbr_special
News and other related media
- Mizara, S. 'Free Burma Rangers'. http://www.stefaniamizara.com/index.php?module=content&cid=002004
- Samuels, L., 2007.'Burma's other Struggle'. Newsweek, 5 October http://www.newsweek.com/id/42402
- You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=free+burma+rangers&search_type=&aq=f. NB. Please be warned that some of the films contain disturbing images.