MSF and the Rohingya 1992 - 2014 - Episode 6: Under pressure in Myanmar

Episode 6: Under pressure in Myanmar In January 2014, in Du Chee Yar Tan, Rakhine State, MSF OCA treats wounded Rohingya after a violent attack and issues a public statement. The Myanmar government denies the violence, pressures MSF for patient details, and accuses it of exaggeration. Over the following weeks, MSF issues cautious public statements emphasising neutrality and commitment to medical needs. Teams face harassment, protests, and accusations of misinformation from the Myanmar government. Negotiations over the renewal of MSF’s Memorandum of Understanding in the country collapse. On 27 February 2014, MSF OCA is ordered to close all programs in Myanmar.***This podcast series is adapted from the MSF Speaking Out Case Study “MSF and the Rohingya 1992 – 2014”.  It brings to light two decades of MSF advocacy activities as part of its humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar.  It examines the challenges that MSF teams in the field and headquarters encountered when deciding whether and how MSF could publicly speak out about the plight of the Rohingya facing persecutions and violence in Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the 1992-2014 period, MSF worked mostly through diplomatic channels “behind closed doors” to advocate about the Rohingya’s plight with foreign diplomats and United Nations agencies. This “silent advocacy” was challenged within MSF by those who felt that the lack of public speaking out meant MSF was abandoning a persecuted population.  To maintain an operational presence without speaking out publicly was not seen as an ethically justifiable option for an independent and impartial humanitarian organisation like MSF. Over 7 episodes, the podcast explores the challenges, dilemmas and internal disagreements underlying MSF’s humanitarian response to assist the Rohingya under the Myanmar authoritarian regime.  ***This podcast series is written, produced and mixed by Andrea Rangecroft.  Editorial direction is from Nancy Barrett and Laurence Binet. The narrator is Claire Lubert. Extracts are read by Clive Hayward and Lucy Scott  The voiceovers are by Kevin Halliwell, Charles Nove and Alex Vincent.  The music is by Lost Harmonies and Peter Sendberg.  Photo credits: Chris HubyA special thanks to Rian Landman   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.