The Free Burma Rangers (FBR) is a multi-ethnic humanitarian service
movement. They bring help, hope and love to people in the war zones of
Burma. Ethnic pro-democracy groups send teams to FBR to be trained, supplied
and sent into the areas under attack to provide emergency medical care,
shelter, food, clothing and human rights documentation. The teams also
operate a communication and information network inside Burma that provides
real time information from areas under attack.
In addition to relief and reporting, other results of the teams' actions
are the development of leadership capacity, civil society and the strengthening
of inter-ethnic unity. The teams are to avoid contact with the Burma
Army and operate under the protection of the ethnic resistance armies.
However, they cannot run away if the people they are helping cannot
escape the Burma Army. Men and women of many ethnic groups and religions
are part of FBR.
There are only three requirements for team members;
1. Love- Each person strives to do this for the love of the people
and no one is paid. They still belong to their parent organizations.
2. Ability to read and write - due to the medical, documentation and
other skills needed, literacy in at least one language is required.
3. Physical and moral courage- they have to have the physical strength
and endurance to be able to walk to crisis areas, and the moral courage
to be with people under attack and to stand with them if they cannot
flee.
Since 1997, FBR has trained over 110 multi-ethnic relief teams and
there are 48 full time teams active in the Karen, Karenni, Shan, Pa'O,
Arakan, Kachin, Chin and Lahu areas of Burma. The teams have conducted
over 350 humanitarian missions of 1-2 months into the war zones of Burma.
On average between 1,000-2,000 patients are treated per mission with
2,000 more people helped in some way. The teams have treated over 360,000
patients and helped over 750,000 people.
Vision, Mission, Objectives
VISION:
To free the oppressed and to stand
for human dignity, justice and reconciliation in Burma.
MISSION:
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.
OBJECTIVES:
1) To inspire, train and equip people in Burma to bring positive
change through acts of love and service.
2) To provide immediate medical assistance, shelter, food, clothing,
educational materials and other humanitarian aid in the war zones
and to improve logistics and medical evacuation.
3) To develop the Information Network of Burma that documents,
reports and disseminates accounts of human rights violations and
provides an early warning system of Burma Army attacks.
4) To provide prayer and counseling for victims of human rights
abuses and to support programs for women and children.
5) To train, equip and sustain indigenous humanitarian relief
teams in the field.
Action, History, and Relationship with Other Organizations
Actions:
The Free Burma Rangers (FBR), conduct relief,
advocacy, leadership development and unity missions among the people
of Burma.
Relief: FBR
teams provide emergency medical, educational, spiritual, material
and general assistance to people who suffer under the oppression
of the dictators of Burma. Teams move through out the conflict areas
to give aid and comfort and also conduct leadership training, as
well as medical, educational, reporting and general capacity building
for people inside Burma. Teams also document human rights violations
and report to the relevant authorities. Priority of assistance goes
to the Internally Displaced People (IDP), of Burma as well as to
those who's villages have recently been attacked by the Burma Army.
FBR teams stand in solidarity with those who suffer and assist people
of all races and faiths.
Advocacy:FBR
reports regularly on the situation inside Burma, sending information
to supporters, news media, other NGOs and governments. In addition,
FBR supports the annual Global Day of Prayer for Burma.
Leadership: In
addition to relief and reporting, other results of the teams' actions
are the development of leadership capacity, civil society and the
strengthening of inter-ethnic unity. The FBR conducts leadership
development and communications training in order to strengthen civil
society, build leadership capacity and develop communications. Communications
tools such as radio broadcasts, cassette tapes, print media are
used in the ongoing effort for reconciliation and unity.
Ethnic Unity:FBR
helps coordinate annual seminars between the ethnic groups of Burma
as well as the pro-democracy Burmans.
History:
The Free Burma Rangers were formed during
the Burma Army offensives in Karen State in 1997, when villages were
destroyed, people killed and over 100,000 fled their homes. Over one
million people are now displaced inside Burma. In the face of the
overwhelming force of the dictators' army, the Free Burma Rangers
organized with the idea that no one can stop people from giving love
and serving each other.
Relationship with Other Organizations:
FBR coordinates
their activities with all relevant organizations and conducts missions
in areas where their presence is requested. They operate with the
pro-democracy authorities in their operational areas. The teams trained
and resourced, belong to the relevant pro-democracy organizations
and areas that the teams serve in. "de oppresso liber"
