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Viewing cable 10RANGOON50, BURMA: NGO EMPLOYEE IMPLICATED IN TRAFFICKING IN If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs Reference ID 10RANGOON50 Created 2010-01-26 10:22 Released 2011-08-30 01:44 Classification CONFIDENTIAL Origin Embassy Rangoon

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VZCZCXRO7879 PP RUEHCHI RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH DE RUEHGO #0050/01 0261022 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 261022Z JAN 10 FM AMEMBASSY RANGOON TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9773 INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 2468 RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 1924 RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2398 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUEKJCS/DIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 4733 RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 2813 C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 RANGOON 000050 SIPDIS STATE FOR INL/HSTC; EAP/MLS; G/TIP; INR/EAP BANGKOK FOR LABOR/TIP OFFICER PACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/02/2019 TAGS: PHUM EAID PGOV PREL ELAB SMIG KTIP BM SUBJECT: BURMA: NGO EMPLOYEE IMPLICATED IN TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS CASE RANGOON 00000050 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: Economic Officer Marc Porter for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) . Summary ------1. (C) A Burmese national Save the Children (STC) employee has reportedly trafficked at least five young people to the Wa Region for conscription into the United Wa State Army (UWSA). The employee was not working on a U.S. Government-funded STC project. The alleged perpetrator apparently acted out of political motivations rather than for financial gain. STC has suspended the employee without pay, launched an investigation, and briefed appropriate partners -- including donor countries, Burma Government officials and the UN Resident Coordinator. The GOB appears to be taking a measured response and has not yet blamed the incident on the presence of STC specifically, or on foreigners in general. Victims Conscripted into Wa Army -------------------------------2. (C) STC Country Director Andrew Kirkwood informed us January 22 "confidentially" that STC has obtained evidence indicating one of its Burmese employees trafficked five males (at least two of whom are under age 18) from Nam Kham village in Shan State (where STC has a presence) to the Wa region, where the five were conscripted into the UWSA. The incidents came to light when one victim escaped and returned to his hometown. To our knowledge, the STC employee was not working on activities funded by the USG. 3. (C) The victim who escaped reported that at least ten other young people from Nam Kham, and six from neighboring Nam Sam, were serving with him in the UWSA. He also reported that two of the five victims from Nam Kham escaped into China, where they are reportedly working. STC does not
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operate in Nam Sam and had no information about the reported victims from that village. Background on Alleged Perpetrator --------------------------------4. (C) STC hired the alleged perpetrator in September 2008 after he served as a volunteer for six years with a local community-based organization, the Palaung Literature and Culture Association, which received capacity building support from STC. Upon being hired, he was briefed, then reviewed, acknowledged and signed the code of conduct, which outlines each employee's obligations to safeguard the well-being of children and young people. Per standard practice, the employee participated in Child Safeguarding Training conducted by STC international and national staff. 5. (C) While STC acknowledges it has grounds for immediate dismissal, it has suspended the staff member without pay pending the outcome of its investigation and consultations with the STC board of directors. STC plans to fire the employee after obtaining his cooperation during the investigation, Kirkwood said. When STC staff visited the employee's home, his wife reported that the individual regrets his involvement and is traveling to Wa territory to try to gain the release of the victims. Political Motivations --------------------6. (C) According to all available information, the alleged perpetrator trafficked the victims for political reasons rather than for financial gain. All of the victims and the perpetrator are member of the Palaung ethnic group. There have been reports that the Palaung State Liberation Organization is allied with the UWSA, which may have levied manpower quotas. Kirkwood suggested that might be one explanation for the trafficking incident. Next Steps RANGOON 00000050 ---------7. (C) According to Kirkwood, the families of the victims do not want to press criminal charges until their children are returned. STC can press charges independently and will make that decision in consultation with its Board of Directors by January 27. STC management here is not inclined to press charges fearing that doing so will compromise efforts to locate the victims and return them to their families. GOB Reaction -----------8. (C) Upon first receiving reports January 15 of a possible trafficking incident, STC sent a crisis intervention team to Nam Kham to investigate the allegations. The team in Shan State informed the Burmese Anti-trafficking Task Forces (ATTFs) with jurisdiction in the area. STC also informed the Ministry of Health, with whom STC holds an MOU for project activities in the area, and the Ministry of Social Welfare, which has responsibilities for victim assistance and some anti-trafficking efforts. Based upon reporting from the STC team in Shan State, STC's country director briefed all major donors to STC in country, including the EU, which funds the activities in Shan State, the UK's Department for International Development, the UN Resident Coordinator, and the USG. STC also informed Japanese officials, as 'Save the Children Japan' is a registered entity in Burma. 9. (C) According to Kirkwood, GOB officials have displayed an appropriate level of concern but have not responded with condemnations of STC or its programs. Kirkwood indicated that GOB officials seemed to feel there are bound to be bad apples in any group of people and this was such a case. We have no details regarding ATTF or other GOB actions to locate the victims in either Wa territory or China. The GOB will be limited in its ability to act regarding any victims still in the UWSA as UWSA-controlled areas are essentially off-limits to the GOB. Comment ------002.2 OF 002

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10. (C) It appears that STC has acted promptly and appropriately in response to this disturbing news. They informed donors and the GOB and initiated an immediate investigation. The alleged perpetrator was well known to the organization and was trained in child protection issues. His apparent political motivations and the results of the forthcoming investigation may provide insight into how trafficking occurs in one of the most difficult to access regions of Burma. 11. (C) Thus far, the GOB has not seized upon this as an opportunity to lash out at NGOs or curtail their operations. For now, it appears that rational and practical approaches are prevailing. We will document this incident in our annual TIP report and provide follow-up reporting as details emerge. DINGER

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