Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 07CHIANGMAI129, AN OVERVIEW OF BURMA-RELATED CIVIL SOCIETY TRAINING PROGRAMS

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

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #07CHIANGMAI129.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
07CHIANGMAI129 2007-07-18 01:55 2011-08-25 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED Consulate Chiang Mai
VZCZCXRO5472
RR RUEHDT RUEHHM RUEHNH
DE RUEHCHI #0129/01 1990155
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180155Z JUL 07
FM AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0524
INFO RUCNASE/ASEAN MEMBER COLLECTIVE
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 0049
RUEHCI/AMCONSUL CALCUTTA
RUEHCN/AMCONSUL CHENGDU 0056
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 0573
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA 0007
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0026
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI 0015
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHINGTON DC
RHHJJPI/PACOM IDHS HONOLULU HI
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK NY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 CHIANG MAI 000129 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PHUM ECPS OEXC TH BM
SUBJECT: AN OVERVIEW OF BURMA-RELATED CIVIL SOCIETY TRAINING PROGRAMS 
IN CHIANG MAI 
 
REF: CHIANG MAI 32 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000129  001.2 OF 003 
 
 
1. SUMMARY. Exile political and social activists from Burma are 
using Chiang Mai as a base for the training and development of a 
new generation of leaders. Like their counterparts in the media 
(reftel), political exiles have found Chiang Mai to be a 
convenient and relatively safe harbor from which to engage in 
activities restricted by Burma's ruling junta. With help from 
foreign government funding and implicit RTG permission to 
operate on Thai soil, organizations here have created a shadow 
educational and professional development system for hundreds of 
young activists. End Summary. 
 
2. Leadership training NGOs that have established roots in 
Chiang Mai in recent years include the Foreign Affairs Training 
program for political activists, the Community Development and 
Civic Empower program for social development workers, and the 
School for Shan State Nationalities Youth for younger leaders 
from underserved communities. Like other civil society training 
groups in the city, these organizations cite Chiang Mai's 
proximity to Burma, low cost of living, and good connectivity 
with the outside world as top draws. Western governments and 
foundations provide most funding, while Thai officials 
sympathetic to these programs' causes are willing to host their 
schools in Thailand -- although security concerns usually prompt 
the organizations to operate out of unmarked compounds on the 
edge of town. 
 
3. Security issues mean most students keep a low profile as well 
and say they rarely interact with their Thai neighbors. Some 
tell of slipping across the border in the middle of the night or 
trekking through the Burmese jungle for several days in order to 
reach Chiang Mai in time for their program's start date. When 
they arrive, they find themselves in a microcosm of the Burma 
that could have been - a dynamic mix of ethnicities living and 
working together toward shared goals. Here in the classroom and 
on the compounds, English and Burmese are more likely to unite 
the students than their own native languages and dialects, and 
many students admit to forming their first positive impressions 
of other ethnic groups via their experience in Chiang Mai. 
 
4. ConGen Chiang Mai has supported these groups through book 
donations, speaking at class graduations, and inviting students 
to the consulate for discussions on U.S. foreign policy,. At the 
same time, students and staff have become valuable sources for 
information on Burma and border security issues. Most USG 
Burma-related funding in Thailand concentrates on health issues 
or on activities along the border, but even programs not 
receiving U.S. grants are overwhelmingly pro-American. 
Instructors draw inspiration from U.S. models on everything from 
political development to educational testing. 
 
5. The following three organizations represent the variety of 
programs -- political activism, community development, and 
professional skills - present in Chiang Mai. The programs are 
different in scope and mission, but all produce similar results: 
students gain skills and inspiration to pursue careers that 
likely would be denied to them in Burma. 
 
Political Exiles Get Crash Course on International Human Rights 
Advocacy 
 
6. The FOREIGN AFFAIRS TRAINING (FAT) program is sponsored by 
the National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), a 
multi-ethnic, Thailand-based political exile group that supports 
democracy building and reconciliation efforts in Burma. The 
program, now on its fifth class, receives money primarily 
through an NCUB grant via the Dutch government. Other EU 
governments assist with logistical support. FAT brings together 
up to two dozen young leaders from Burma-focused NGOs for 
training sessions on international relations, history, English, 
and professional skills. For nine months, the students, most 
aged 21-25, receive a crash course in the liberal arts with a 
focus on Burma affairs and using their knowledge for public 
advocacy. Each FAT class draws from a variety of Burmese groups, 
both inside and outside of Burma. The current class represents 
several ethnicities, including Burman, Karen, Karenni, Mon, and 
Kachin. 
 
7. Following formal studies at a Chiang Mai compound, FAT 
graduates serve in one-year internships at human rights NGOs 
around the world. Previous students have worked in the United 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000129  002.2 OF 003 
 
 
Kingdom, Czech Republic, Poland, and South Africa. They return 
to their original sponsoring NGOs, such as the Karen Women's 
Organization or Ethnic Nationalities Council, with the aim of 
taking on more leadership responsibilities. FAT graduates have 
briefed visiting USG officials, spoken at international peace 
building conferences, and placed op-eds in regional media. One, 
a Thai citizen, received an International Visitor program grant 
to study NGOs and civil society in the United States. 
 
Community Leaders Learn Development Skills to Bring Back Home 
 
8. The COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AND CIVIC EMPOWERMENT (CDCE) 
program also organized by the NCUB, focuses on building 
grassroots organizing skills to help support social services 
lacking in many Burmese communities. CDCE's three-month program 
includes specialized skill training for social services, such as 
grant writing, budgeting, and participatory development. The 
program is now on its second class of 30 students and charges a 
$2,500 tuition fee, which has allowed it to nearly cover its 
operating costs (students usually receive grants from other 
donor agencies to attend). The Dutch, Norwegian, and Swiss 
governments provided funds for the initial start-up costs. 
 
9. Organizers say they intentionally avoid political issues, 
both to appease nervous administrators at Chiang Mai 
University's Faculty of Social Sciences, which hosts the 
program, and to protect graduates, who return to their villages 
in Burma to take on high-profile roles. Although a few students 
have been former political prisoners, most participants have 
non-political backgrounds. Most are under age 40 and have had 
prior experience in civic development. CMU officials have asked 
that future sessions be expanded to include participants from 
other underdeveloped areas, such as Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and 
Yunnan Province, China. 
 
Shan State Youth Get Exposure to the Outside World and Their 
Neighbors 
 
10. The School for Shan State Nationalities Youth (SSSNY), one 
of more than 30 Chiang Mai NGOs receiving funds from the New 
York-based Open Society Institute, provides capacity building 
and educational opportunities for Shan State residents. The 
school recruits students aged 18-22 from a variety of ethnic 
groups living in Shan State, including Shan, Kachin, Palaung, 
Lahu, and Pao. Like the NCUB's FAT, the Shan Women's Action 
Network (SWAN) designed the program to train the next generation 
of leaders who would otherwise be unlikely to find opportunities 
for professional development and political advocacy inside 
Burma, or in Thailand, where the RTG denies refugee services to 
ethnic Shan. However, SSSNY recruits younger students primarily 
from severely underdeveloped areas in Shan State. Unlike their 
FAT counterparts, students here have little prior exposure to 
higher education or NGO advocacy. 
 
11. Instructors at the school - primarily American and Canadian 
- teach English, computers, and history, but also offer advice 
and guidance on professional development, such as Western styles 
of dress and etiquette. Organizers say overcoming the lack of 
quality secondary education and cultural barriers among the 
multi-ethnic student body are significant challenges for the 
students. One instructor noted during the most recent class's 
opening ceremony that several students spoke three to four 
languages fluently, but had tasted ice cream for the first time 
the night before. SWAN leader Charm Tong, who founded SSSNY in 
2001, said the program has graduated more than 190 students, 
most of whom have returned to Shan State or the Thai-Burma 
border area to work with NGOs as community health workers and 
teachers. 
 
COMMENT: A Great Start for Education, But Long-Term Staying 
Power Unknown 
 
12. As the current generation of exile leaders moves into 
retirement or resettles in foreign countries, communities inside 
Burma and along the Thai border are in serious need for capable 
and well-trained staff to continue political struggles and 
provide humanitarian aid. Burma's instability has pushed these 
training programs into Thailand and created the shadow 
educational system that now exists. Many former students have 
already taken on larger responsibilities in political and civil 
society organizations, but some fear that too much exposure to 
 
CHIANG MAI 00000129  003.2 OF 003 
 
 
the outside world pushes others into careers and personal lives 
away from the troubles of Burma, a choice made easier the longer 
they are separated from relatives and communities inside Burma. 
While initial job placement rates are impressive, most programs 
have only just begun to track alumni and analyze the impact of 
their work. 
CAMP