International doctors warned to stay away from Myanmar politics
The international medical group Medicins Sans FrontieresHolland (MSF) or Doctors Without Borders (MSF) was warned to stay away from politics if it resumes aid operations in western Myanmar, local media reported Sunday.
Rakhine state's chief minister said many local residents do not trust the organisation, and said it should tread lightly in the fragile social environment.
"MSF should very carefully resume aid operations here and stay away from any movement like lobbying for a group or individuals," Maung Maung Ohme said. "They should better focus on humanitarian efforts and build trust(with local people) with accountability and transparency," he said.
The minister met Saturday with the group's representatives and the local emergency coordination committee set up in March by local Buddhists to monitor the work of international aid groups.
MSF-Holland was ordered to suspend its operations in Rakhine State on February 26, following rising anger towards the NGO by ethnic Rakhine residents who said it was biased in its delivery of services towards the state’s Muslim minority.
MSF had been providing services to more than 2,000 people with HIV/AIDS, as well as tuberculosis patients. It had been the state’s main NGO combatting malaria. It also provided medical aid to about 60,000 residents of camps for internally displaced persons, as well as maternal and child healthcare.
On July 24, the government invited MSF to resume its work in the state.
The health department under the Ministry of Health signed an agreement on September 18 with MSF-Holland in Nay Pyi Taw allowing it to resume its healthcare services in Rakhine.
MSF will resume operations in Rakhine State at the invitation of a Rakhine State Government committee in cooperation with the Ministry of Health, an announcement said. The announcement said the Rakhine government committee “appreciated” MSF’s plans to return to the state.
Under the agreement, MSF can resume healthcare services in Rakhine, and continue them in Chin, Kachin and Shan states as well as in Yangon Region under the two-year agreement. It will spend about US$29.7 million to combat tuberculosis, malaria, and HIV/AIDS. It will also provide maternal and child healthcare services. All services will be conducted in cooperation with the Ministry of Health.
Residents of Rakhine State’s capital, Sittwe, then threatened to protest the return.
“Although the government is allowing MSF to resume operations, local people will not accept them,” said Soe Naing from Sittwe Township. He added that city residents had released a statement on August 25 saying they “absolutely rejected” any attempt by MSF to resume its work in the state.
