2009 Annual Report

Burma

A. Internal Organizing and Coalition-Building

American Center for International Labor Solidarity
$300,000*
To promote worker rights and democracy in Burma. From its Washington, D.C. office, the organization will educate workers and other citizens both inside Burma and in exile about labor rights and democracy, document violations of internationally recognized labor rights, and support the development of civil society organizations in ethnic areas.

International Republican Institute
$400,000
To support and strengthen the activities of prodemocracy activists. IRI will hold political leadership trainings, provide opportunities for Burmese women party activists to improve their political skills, and provide support for a prodemocracy political organization.

International Republican Institute (IRI)
$300,000*
To strengthen the capacity of the democratic opposition and civil society groups to engage in non-violent political action inside Burma. IRI will continue to support a coalition of democracy groups that coordinates non-violent political struggle inside Burma. IRI and its partner will work to strengthen the capacity of democracy forces inside Burma, improve coordination and information sharing among activists, and provide political and programmatic analysis and advice for the democracy movement.

$23,000
To support the human rights aspirations of monks and lay Buddhists in Burma. The organization will produce and distribute material, including pamphlets, stickers, and calendars on human rights and democracy, and support efforts to organize the Buddhist community inside Burma.

$20,000*
To raise awareness, strengthen local networks, and mobilize activists in resource extraction affected areas of Western Burma. The organization will train local field researchers in information documentation and community mobilization methods and raise awareness internationally and within the affected areas about the military’s natural resource extraction projects.

$85,000*
To assist civil society actors and democracy activists inside Burma. The organization will provide assistance to human rights defenders and student and youth groups, support legal aid and community libraries.

$36,000*
To support the nonviolent prodemocracy activities of the Buddhist monastic community and to provide emergency assistance to Burmese monks who are under threat or are currently in prison due to their prodemocracy activities. The organization will support information and outreach campaigns for both the monastic community and the general public, organize technical assistance training workshops for monks to improve their ability to participate in the democracy movement, and provide emergency assistance to monks.

$80,000*
To support the organizing efforts of prodemocracy groups in Burma. The organization will distribute human rights and democracy materials inside Burma, train party activists in techniques of nonviolent political action, and provide humanitarian support for democracy activists inside Burma.

$45,000*
To strengthen the ability of the Burmese people to participate in peaceful efforts to promote democracy and political reconciliation in Burma. The organization will conduct community-organizing training courses for participants from inside Burma to begin the process of building an independent civil society inside the country. The organization will also conduct human rights and political defiance education workshops.

$33,000*
To raise awareness among the Burmese general population and youth in particular about human rights and democracy in an effort to encourage participation in the democracy movement. The organization will provide support for a variety of campaigns and initiatives designed to encourage the peaceful, nonviolent participation of Burmese youth in the democracy movement and for a series of strategic planning and organizational development workshops for its members.

$49,400*
To raise awareness among the general population and youth in particular about human rights and democracy in an effort to encourage their participation in the democracy movement in Burma. The organization will provide support for information and outreach campaigns and to allow activists to organize and network among themselves.

$30,000*
To support the development of small-scale civil society initiatives and to strengthen the reporting and video production skills of independent journalists inside Burma. The organization will support civil society initiatives run by democracy activists and organize journalism and human rights training workshops.

$75,000*
To strengthen civil society in Burma. The organization will work with partners inside Burma to run two institutions that provide educational opportunities and modern communication facilities, and continue an emergency medical support fund for activists and former political prisoners.

$55,360*
To support the nonviolent prodemocracy activities of the Buddhist monastic community and to provide emergency assistance to Burmese monks who are under threat or are currently in prison due to their prodemocracy activities. The organization will support information and outreach campaigns for both the monastic community and the general public and provide support to allow monks to network among themselves as well as emergency assistance to monks who are either in prison or currently in hiding.

$28,400*
To assist civil society actors and democracy activists inside Burma. The organization will support a project providing critical assistance to HIV/AIDS patients. Assistance will be provided to enable civil society members to help patients obtain the treatments that they need, purchase food and other necessities for patients, and facilitate transportation for patients from rural areas.

B. Independent Media
$26,359*
To support increased access to information inside Burma by promoting the use of information and communication technology. The organization will provide technology training to Burmese journalists, distribute news and information inside Burma through the internet, transcribe information into Burmese Unicode, and provide a secure website for users in Burma to share information.

$45,000
To improve the professional capacity of Burmese journalists and facilitate cooperation among Burma-related media groups. The organization will organize and convene the seventh annual Burma Media Conference, a three-day conference that brings together approximately 130 journalists who cover Burma for radio and television stations, internet websites, and print publications.

$400,000*
To support Burmese- and ethnic-language radio and satellite television broadcasts of independent news and opinion. The organization will improve the quality of its programs, invest in advanced training and education for its staff, and maintain regional infrastructure for its broadcasts.

$14,500
To increase access to and knowledge of information communication technology in Burma to enhance information flow and communication within Burma as well as between Burmese and the international community. The organization will establish an internet café in Burma that provides affordable access to the internet and training in information communication and technology.

$20,000*
To inform people in Burma about news and events in eastern Burma and to expose them to basic principles of human rights and democracy. Funds will support an independent monthly Burmese- and Karenni- language newspaper covering news and issues for the Karenni community in Burma, in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border, and for ethnic and democracy groups in exile.

$17,750*
To inform Karen people in Burma about events and news and to expose them to basic principles of human rights and democracy. The organization will publish a newsletter in Burmese and Karen that provides an alternative news source for Karen in Burma, in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma border, and for ethnic and democracy groups in exile.

$60,000*
To provide independent and accurate information about Burma. The organization will produce a daily electronic information service that covers developments in Burma, India, Thailand, and the Thai- and India-Burma borders; maintain a Burmese- and English-language website; publish a monthly Burmese-language newspaper; and run a journalism internship program.

$20,000*
To publish accurate and reliable information about political, social, and economic developments in Arakan State. The organization will operate a daily news service in English and Burmese concentrating on current events and human rights in Arakan State.

$100,000*
To support independent media in Burma. The organization will maintain a Burmese-language website focusing on the struggle for human rights and democracy.

$33,000
To provide accurate and reliable information to the Shan and wider Burmese communities, as well as Thai and international audiences, about political, social, and economic developments in Shan State. The organization will publish a bi-lingual monthly newspaper, providing information about the efforts of prodemocracy, student, ethnic, and labor organizations to promote peace and democracy in Burma.

$95,000*
To publish independent news and information about Burma and events in Southeast Asia. The organization will produce a monthly English-language news magazine; distribute a daily electronic news bulletin; and maintain a Burmese- and English-language website.

C. Human Rights Education, Documentation, and Advocacy
$200,000*
To support human rights in Burma by raising awareness about and supporting political prisoners. The organization will research and document the situation of political prisoners inside Burma; provide assistance to political prisoners, former political prisoners, and their families; and raise international awareness about the human rights crisis inside Burma.

$60,000*
To promote respect for human rights and the rule of law in Burma. The organization will promote legal reform and civil society development in Burma through legal assistance, publications, analysis of laws and legal cases, and the continuation of an advanced internship program to train ethnic youth in law and democracy.

$20,000*
To train political activists from Burma in human rights, democracy, international politics, and foreign affairs work so they can effectively promote the Burmese democracy movement and human rights within their communities and abroad. The ten-month course will also includemese concentrating on current events and human rights in Arakan State.

$100,000*
To support independent media in Burma. The organization will maintain a Burmese-language website focusing on the struggle for human rights and democracy.

$33,000
To provide accurate and reliable information to the Shan and wider Burmese communities, as well as Thai and international audiences, about political, social, and economic developments in Shan State. The organization will publish a bi-lingual monthly newspaper, providing information about the efforts of prodemocracy, student, ethnic, and labor organizations to promote peace and democracy in Burma.

$95,000*
To publish independent news and information about Burma and events in Southeast Asia. The organization will produce a monthly English-language news magazine; distribute a daily electronic news bulletin; and maintain a Burmese- and English-language website.

C. Human Rights Education, Documentation, and Advocacy
$200,000*
To support human rights in Burma by raising awareness about and supporting political prisoners. The organization will research and document the situation of political prisoners inside Burma; provide assistance to political prisoners, former political prisoners, and their families; and raise international awareness about the human rights crisis inside Burma.

$60,000*
To promote respect for human rights and the rule of law in Burma. The organization will promote legal reform and civil society development in Burma through legal assistance, publications, analysis of laws and legal cases, and the continuation of an advanced internship program to train ethnic youth in law and democracy.

$20,000*
To train political activists from Burma in human rights, democracy, international politics, and foreign affairs work so they can effectively promote the Burmese democracy movement and human rights within their communities and abroad. The ten-month course will also include an ongoing peace-advocacy program.

* Indicates Department of State funding beyond NED's annual appropriation