What the near miss underlined, however, is the countrys urgent need for criminal justice reform. Since 1994, Open Society has supported more than 5,000 Myanmar students with full scholarships to study at top international universities. that affects your company, organization or interest. Copyright 2012 - 2023 | TLB Project LLC, First EU Country to Lock Down Unvaccinated Hit By Mass Protests [VIDEOS], Nobel Prize-winning Virologist and Outspoken Critic of COVID Vaccine Mandates Dies at 89, Germany Investigates Russia Supporters, Especially for *That* Letter. Read the latest from our staff, grantees, and partners about how were working around the world to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. In 2010 a new quasi-civilian government under President Thein Sein and reform-minded ministers bowed to internal and external pressures for change, and began a process of reform. Every year the Open Society Foundations give thousands of grants to groups and individuals that work on the issues we focus onpromoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate. Read the full disclaimer here. In Nepal, for instance, we have supported efforts to ensure that women and Dalits are included as candidates for local authority positions. In education, Open Society Myanmar has worked since 2014 to analyze and support the education sector, including an assessment of the quality of monastic education, helping to upgrade a national vocational education and skills training program, and delivering a postgraduate diploma course in early childhood development at the Yangon University of Education. The Open Society Foundations and George Soros. Some newly un-censored publications have reported the possible hacking of journalists email accounts by the government. (ER: squeaky clean ) The military regime has seized control of the bank accounts of billionaire George Soros' Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Myanmar and announced that it will take legal action against the foundation, which is accused of violating restrictions on the activities of such organizations.. On Monday, military-controlled MRTV announced that the military had issued arrest warrants for . Join millions of professionals in business, industry, and government who By continuing to browse this site, you agree to this use. By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. equality. Please register for a regular account. To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy. The continuing tradition of philanthropic giving by successful businessmen in the U.S. dates back to individuals such as Andrew Carnegie and the Rockefeller and Ford families. Looking at the topics on its site, as well as its coverage of this story, we would say it smacks of MSM. George Soros, chairman of Open Society Foundation, met with Daw Aung San Suu Kyi for the first time in New York, the United States, on September 24, 2016. Elsewhere, moves from military to civilian rule allowed us to open foundations in Indonesia in 2000, in Pakistan in 2008, and in Myanmar in 2015. Open Society Myanmar's Head Office was opened at the Myanmar Centre Tower in Bahan Township. 02 The first foundation was established in Hungary in 1984, and the newest opened in Myanmar in 2016. Read more about our Ukraine Democracy Fund and our history in the country. To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy. Grantees include exile and ethnic media organizations such as Democratic Voice of Burma, one of the most respected sources on Burma, and Burma News International, a network of ethnic media groups that helps build its members capacity to report accurately on issues of concern in Burmas ethnic states. Foundation Open Society InstitutePakistan. The Burma Project, established by the Open Society Foundations in 1994, is dedicated to increasing international awareness of conditions in Burma and helping the country make a successful transition from a closed to an open society. Nazi occupation, which resulted in the murder of over 500,000 Hungarian Jews. . Open Society Foundations sending of US$5 million to the SMED Bank did not send documentation to and seek permission from the foreign currency management department of the Central Bank of Myanmar. Our Asia Pacific Regional Office coordinates our work, which ranges from ensuring protections to migrant laborers to supporting human rights and a independent media. 140 Broadway 46th Floor We are similar to Google News but focus on news tracking by country, Communists took power, Soros left Budapest for London and then emigrated to the United States, There are a couple of strong indications below that it is most likely a supporter of Soros. His philanthropic organisation has been active in Myanmar since the 1990s, and set up a local foundation in 2017, when Aung San Suu Kyi was in power. You can share relevant news on your website, The military junta in Myanmar has seized control of the bank accounts of billionaire George Soros' Open Society Foundation (OSF) accusing it of funding the massive protests that has gripped the . On a local level, OSF implements a range of initiatives to support the rule of law, education, public health, and independent media. In 2020, Open Society committed more than $500,000 to support civil society organizations working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar by distributing health kits, while also providing $25,000 in legal aid services to migrant workers who were unable to earn a living due to the virus. The executions, which were unanimously condemned by the UN Security Council on July 27, mark a further regression in the already dire human rights situation that has prevailed in Myanmar since the military coup of February 2021. So, while there is cause for optimism about Burmas future, there are still enormous challenges to overcome. Recently, anti-Muslim rhetoric and violence has spread to central Burma, where riots have left at least 44 people dead. Read the latest from our staff, grantees, and partners about how were working around the world to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. To promote economic justice, the foundation has invested $5 million in small- and medium-sized enterprises since 2018. It said OSF deputy chair Alexander Soros met Daw Aung San Suu Kyi six times from 2017 to 2020. Get an unlimited news experience With a focus on supporting marginalized groups such as Burma's ethnic communities, women, and youth, we have helped foster a generation of civil society and media leaders who represent one of the best hopes for a peaceful transition to democracy. NEW YORKThe Open Society Foundations are appalled and deeply saddened by the recent horrific executions by the military regime in Myanmar of former NLD Member of Parliament Phyo Zeya Thaw, prominent activist Kyaw MinYu, as well as Aung Thura Zaw, and Hla Myo Aung. To our knowledge, the military coup in Myanmar is in response to what is believed to be yet another stolen election as per what went down in the USA last November, involving flipping the result through machine tallying. Every year the Open Society Foundations give thousands of grants to groups and individuals that work on the issues we focus onpromoting tolerance, transparency, and open debate. While the government preaches peace and national reconciliation, the Burmese military launched offensives against Kachin and Shan communities in Eastern Burma, ending a 17-year ceasefire with the Kachins and displacing approximately 100,000 civilians. An elected official from Nepal who represents members of the Dalit community, which has historically been considered untouchable., Kishor Sharma/Majority World for the Open Society Foundations. intranet, workgroup or mobile device. Open Society calls on the international community to step up its efforts to end the crisis in the country, with steps including: Open Society is also calling on Myanmar to allow unimpeded access to UN investigators and human rights monitors, and urges the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to adopt a more effective diplomatic response to the crisis, drawing on support from civil society and humanitarian groups. Environmental Conservation and Climate Change, Open Society Myanmar: Accepting Proposals from Local Organizations, Foundations and Networks, Click here to Get Email Alerts about the Latest Grants. Featured image: Myanmar State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi holds talks with George Soros, founder and chairman of the Open Society Foundation, in New York in September 2016. While nationwide protests in 1988 and 2007 revealed a widespread desire for democracy and an end to government oppression, each was followed by violent crackdowns, which left many dead, imprisoned, and exiled. I always seem to find something i missed out in the real fake world. In Eurasia, a region of politically diverse states with widely differing levels of democratic development, the Open Society Foundations seek to promote citizen engagement in everyday issues such as local government and education. The deposit amount was only US$5 million from 2018 to 2021 and no further deposit was found, the Myawady TV news said. New York, NY 10005 In 1962, a military coup thrust Burma into a half century of military dictatorship, which decimated public institutions, isolated the international community, and saw the continuation of decades-long wars with several of the countrys many ethnic groups. South Koreas response to the coronavirus pandemic has been cited as a model in the international press. In October 2018, officials from Open Society Myanmar arrived at SMED Bank in Wadan Street in Yangon opened a bank account with US$100. User Agreement. Since 2015, Open Society has invested $1.2 million to support at least 13 grassroots media outlets. Nine facts about our work in Nepal: In 2012, Nepal had no permanent constitution, no representatives, no electoral process. In the United States, the Open Society Foundations work with organizations and individuals who seek to address profound racial, economic, and political inequalities, while funding efforts to prepare for the policy challenges of the future. Blast occurs in front of house of ex-minister of Mon State Security Affairs, 4.4 magnitude slight earthquake hits in Mdy. Read the latest from our staff, grantees, and partners about how were working around the world to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. Over the past three decades, our giving has focused on supporting people who are trying to make their communities fairer, freer, and more harmonious. And so easy to use. Most significantly, the government allowed for the development of a more open political environment in which Daw Aung Suu Kyi and her party, the National League for Democracy, won a landslide victory in parliamentary by-elections. of expression, transparency, accountable government, and for societies that promote justice and Since 1999, the Open Society Foundations have worked with civil society groups in India to defend human rights and improve public health. Still, challenges remain. The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving it for research and educational purposes. Proposals must be submitted at the address given on the website. This giving has often focused on those who face discrimination purely for who they are, Our U.S. programs account for around 17% of our funding work, which includes supporting reform of the criminal justice system and drug laws, strengthening democratic participation, and supporting humane immigration laws. Thanks to the heroic efforts of civil society groups, prisoners in Pakistan did not suffer a mass outbreak of COVID-19. have relied on EIN News since 1995. Twenty four banks in Myanmar came under scrutiny to control accounts flow of Open Society Myanmar. OSF has been supporting Myanmar's democratic transition and promoting human rights, including those of marginalized groups, since 1994. We have also been a long-term supporter of human rights documentation and advocacy organizations such as the ND-Burma, a human rights documentation network that uses accurate, systematic documentation of human rights abuses for advocacy and information purposes. / Ministry of Information, The Liberty Beacon Project is now expanding at a near exponential rate, and for this we are grateful and excited! By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. . George Soros began his philanthropic work in Africa in 1979. Premium Sign up Copyright Policy 2023 Open Society Foundations, some rights reserved. Since 2017, the foundation has devoted $ 1.2 million to at least five national think tanks. In 2020, Open Society committed more than $500,000 to support civil society organizations working to combat the COVID-19 pandemic in Myanmar by distributing health kits, while also providing $25,000 in legal aid services to migrant workers who were unable to earn a living due to the virus. Thank Liberty Beacon. the Soros story in Myanmar was outstanding . The military continues to commit human rights abuses, using child soldiers, forced labor, land mines, and extrajudicial killing in its operations. By entering your email address and clicking Submit, you agree to receive updates from the Open Society Foundations about our work. OSM is a locally based foundation with staff and board drawn from the country. On Monday, military-controlled MRTV . Additionally, a gold rush of foreign investment threatens to exacerbate Burmas perennial issues of cronyism, ethnic conflict, environmental destruction, and land-grabbing. To bolster the ability of the government to raise revenues and strengthen the provision of government services, Open Society has provided technical assistance on tax reform and the natural resource policy to Myanmars Ministry of Planning and Finance, the Internal Revenue Department, and the National Economic Coordinating Committee, with the aim of promoting fiscal responsibility. "The Open Society Foundations are deeply concerned about reports that an OSM (Open Society Myanmar) staff member has been detained in Myanmar. We include this observation issued on Telegram from Italian journalist, Cesare Sacchetti: The military regime has seized control of the bank accounts of billionaire George Soros Open Society Foundation (OSF) in Myanmar and announced that it will take legal action against the foundation, which is accused of violating restrictions on the activities of such organizations. In 2010, Burmas military government defied all expectations by taking tentative steps towards democratic reform. We call for her immediate release. On Monday, military-controlled MRTV announced that the military had issued arrest warrants for 11 staff members of OSF Myanmar, including its head and deputy head, on suspicion of giving financial support to the civil disobedience movement against the military junta. The Open Society Foundations work in the Middle East and North Africa seeks to promote democratic governance and to protect human rights amid entrenched regional conflicts and political restrictions. philanthropists, who since 1984 has given away $14 billion of a personal fortune made in the The Open Society Foundations (OSF), a private operating and grantmaking foundation, aims to shape public policy to promote democratic governance, human rights, and economic, legal, and social reform. Open Society Myanmar has continued to work with governmental and civil society actors to expand inclusive education and access to health care, support drug policy reform, protect the rights of ethnic and religious minorities, and support a new generation of political leaders who will help secure the countrys democratic reforms. We also helped with the introduction of a professional development program for teachers that links curriculum reform, textbook development, and the assessment system. Harm reduction refers to a range of services and policies that lessen the adverse consequences of drug use and protect public health. 2023 Open Society Foundations, some rights reserved. 2020 expenditures for Latin America and the Caribbean, 2020 expenditures for Middle East and North Africa. OSM worked in a range of areas including. On its website, the Open Society Foundations says it is the world's largest private funder of independent groups working for justice, democratic governance, and human rights. That was a great lead to a new day . By supporting a broad range of civil society organizations operating in different fields, we hope to promote open society values during the countrys transition. Goal: EURASIA REVIEW NEWS & ANALYSIS ABOUT MYANMAR About Eurasia Review journal& Think Tank Vision Eurasia Review (ISSN 2330-717X) believes a greater understanding of cultural differences is the . Read the latest from our staff, grantees, and partners about how were working around the world to build vibrant and inclusive democracies whose governments are accountable and open to the participation of all people. In Pakistan, we have worked with the largest network of NGOs to train women as community-based paralegal advisors in remote villages. Open Society Foundation is providing financial support to NGO, INGOs and CSOs across the world. Repeat offenders may be blocked or permanently banned without prior warning. Our involvement in Myanmar followed many years providing scholarships and support for Myanmar students who had fled into exile after the military refused to cede power after elections in 1990. Check out our short video and The Open Society Foundations were founded by George Soros, one of the world's foremost . From the beginning, Open Society has supported democratic development in Asia, particularly in countries where democratic ideals remains contested. Following accusations of fraud in the Nov. 8 elections in Myanmar, which Human Rights Watch called "fundamentally flawed", the military assumed power on Feb. 1 . To learn more about how we use and protect your personal data, please view our privacy policy. Disclaimer: TLB websites contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. For more information, please visithttp://themimu.info/calls-for-proposals, Terms of Use The foundation has provided technical advice to the government to improve electricity provision across the country, particularly in remote and rural areas. The Open Society Foundations have been expanding and deepening its work in Asiaengaging on pressing local and regional issues, from ensuring protections for migrant workers to supporting independent journalism and human rights advocates. The following organizations, entities and activities are not eligible: Political parties or organizations that have affiliation with political parties, Government departments and institutions except universities and associated councils, faculties, and university student/ teacher associations, Organizational reserves or endowment requests, Organizations on the United Nations (UN) Security Council Terrorist List, Organizations listed under Myanmar Counter Terrorism Act and Unlawful Association Act. His son Alexander Soros, deputy chair of the Open Society Foundation, visited Myanmar seven times from January 2017 to January 2020 and met with Aung San Suu Kyi six times. Supporting Citizen Engagement State-run media in Myanmar reported a staffer affiliated with the Open Society Foundations, the philanthropic outfit founded by billionaire George Soros, has been detained and questioned. Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email. Despite sending a report under electronic reporting system (ERS) after permission had been granted, mixed reporting was made under ERS. Then, it is found that US$3.81 million and Ks375 million were deposited in four banks namely KBZ Bank, AYA Bank, SME Bank and CB Bank. Workers take a lunch break in Doha, Qatar on February 25, 2009. Visitors are advised to use it at their own discretion. check in with us to start right now. To this end we support efforts to build the capacity of civil society groups and other key stakeholders to advocate for a transparent and accountable government, responsible foreign aid and investment practices, and universal access to education, health care, information, and justice in Burma. Nothing mentioned is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. 2023 Open Society Foundations, some rights reserved. vast array of new efforts to create more accountable, transparent, and democratic societies. 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