New Delhi - The New York based Human Rights Watch on Wednesday urged donors helping Burma's cyclone victims to form an independent monitoring body to ensure that their relief material is not manipulated by the repressive Burmese regime.
Brad Adams, HRW's Asia director, in a statement, said with the complex nature and exceptional challenges faced by the donor community in funding, implementing, and monitoring humanitarian and reconstruction projects in Burma, donors should establish an 'Independent Monitoring Body.'
"This body should be co-managed by the donor community and the United Nations to ensure the integrity of the reconstruction and humanitarian effort, and to provide transparency and accountability in the effort," Adams added.
"We believe that such a body could help ensure that all relief to Burma is transparent and reaches the right people," said David Scott Mathieson, HRW's Burma consultant.
HRW, in an open letter to donors, said they should consult affected communities, monitor reconstruction efforts, to avoid working with Burmese officials under international sanctions and to establish an independent monitoring body.
Mathieson said such a body will help in balancing all the sides, and "then the aid donors would feel more confident in giving money."
He added that it is important for both donors and victims to have such a monitoring body to ensure that there are no irregularities on the part of the Burmese military junta, also known as State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), and see that the money goes to the right people in the right community.
Recently, the Australian government pledged to contribute a further US$ 30 million and New Zealand US$ 2 million for relief and reconstruction work in Burma's Irrawaddy delta.
Mathieson said transparency and accountability of relief distribution could help in raising funds from donor countries as it will be clear to all on how the funds are being used.
"We have concerns that there could be corruption [on aid distribution] or irregularity that's why we call for an independent monitoring body," said Mathieson.
The HRW also urged donors to use reconstruction projects to promote human rights in Burma, to agree on basic principles of aid and to press the Burmese military junta to adhere to them.
"For many years, Burma's generals have hindered rather than helped the delivery of aid," said Brad Adams, Asia director at Human Rights Watch in the press statement.
"Basic principles should be agreed upon by donors, and they must press the government to adhere to them every step of the way," added Adams.
The HRW condemned the Burmese junta for arresting several local aid workers and volunteers who are helping cyclone survivors in the Irrawaddy delta.
In early June, the junta arrested and detained a well known Burmese actor and comedian Zarganer, and a former sports journal editor Zaw Thet Htwe, while they were distributing aid and helping cyclone victims.
Besides, the junta also arrested several other volunteers including Ma Sizar, Ko Zaw, Tin Maung Oo, Ma Ni Moe Hlaing and Toe Kyaw Hlaing who were helping cyclone survivors.
While condemning the arrest, Mathieson said the monitoring body should investigate into such arrests and bring about transparency, and apply internationally followed norms in aid distribution.
"We believe that if this monitoring body is created there could be more room for credibility and reaching part of the US$ 481 million," Mathieson said.
