Chiang Mai – Burmese activists in exile at a workshop discussed ways to on how best to respond to International Financial Institutions (IFIs), who are likely to enter the country with aid.

During a workshop held in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand from September 3 to 5 activists discussed on how to respond to the Burmese junta's monopoly over the IFIs aids when it enters Burma.

"In the current situation, the IFIs will enter Burma and the junta will be strengthened. So we need to study the working of these IFIs," Yuki Akimoto, moderator of the workshop, told Mizzima.

Yuki Akimoto, a lawyer working for environmental issues and opportunities of aid for development in Burma, said it is very much likely that the IFIs will make an effort to help the country in the near future.

Yuki said, the likelihood of the IFIs entering into Burma is more particularly following the natural catastrophe caused by Cyclone Nargis in early May, Yuki said.

According to her, the IFIs include the Asia Development Bank, World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, all of which had terminated new loans to Burma since the late 1980s.

"IFIs might enter Burma following the 2010 general elections and the political change thereafter. We discussed our stand on this possible scenario and how to respond, what our future plans should be and how to present the real situation to the IFIs," Ma Khin Ohnmar from 'Project Team for Exploration of Alternative Development Mode ' said.

The participants deliberated on publicizing IFIs' activities in Burma, urging IFIs to reconsider their planned loans which will strengthen the junta's position, to let all players of Burma at home and abroad have a say in these loan plans among others.

The participants in the workshop focused on the survey prepared by PONJA as information was withheld in this survey by the junta and cyclone victims did not get enough assistance.

The result of this workshop will be sent to the World Bank, Asia Development Bank and the International Monetary Fund, organisers said.