Free Burma Rangers

The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) are a 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 miltary 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://www.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".’

[http://www.freeburmarangers.org/About_Us/]

History

FBR was formed in the late 1990’s following an escalation of Burmese military activity against the Karen people. Villages were destroyed, people killed and more than 100,000 people forced from their homes [http://www.freeburmarangers.org/About_Us/] in a program of violence which was designed to remove people from land in order to make way for developing business interests [http://www.burmaissues.org/En/reports/1997offensive.html] .

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 [(p.186) Rogers, B., 2004. 'A Land Without Evil: Stopping the Genocide of Burma's Karen People'. Michigan, US: Kregel Publications] . 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.” [http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/200809/burma/2]

FBR Teams

Every year about 15 multi-ethnic teams, including representatives from the Karen, Karenni, 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:
*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

[http://www.freeburmarangers.org/About_Us/Teams/team_stats]

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 4 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 [http://www.bangkokpost.com/topstories/topstories.php?id=125671] . It is interesting to note that research for the movie was obtained, to large part, from the highly detailed FBR field reports [http://www.coventrytelegraph.net/whats-on-coventry-warwickshire/cinema-film/2008/02/22/sly-muscles-back-in-on-the-rambo-franchise-92746-20511428/] .

Where there is a dearth information about the atrocities taking place inside Burmese borders, the evidence which groups like FBR make available help to build a case for the international community to take action against the regime.

Links

*Free Burma Rangers [http://www.freeburmarangers.org/]
*Mae Tao Clinic [http://www.maetaoclinic.org/]
*Back Pack Health Worker Team [http://www.geocities.com/maesothtml/bphwt/]
*Burma Campaign UK

News and other related media

*Samuels, L., 2007.'Burma's other Struggle'. Newsweek, 5th 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.

Notes