Violent confrontations between Muslims and Buddhists in Burma are causing continuing friction between Ottawa-based Canadian Friends of Burma and Inter Pares, a social justice organization.
Tin Muang Htoo, executive director of CFOB, posted an action alert on the CFOB website several days ago condemning Inter Pares, saying the organization “consistently put pressure on CFOB to stand with Rohingya Muslims, to the extent that they cut off their funding and even blocked the funding coming from other sources.”
Htoo says he thinks Inter Pares has jeopardized its position in Burma (also known as Myanmar) as a result.
In a statement, Inter Pares denies all allegations and says it has never asked CFOB to promote the Rohingya’s position and has not blocked funding.
Inter Pares suspended CFOB from a group of NGOs in July over concerns that its leadership was not supporting people equally in Burma’s Araken state.
Htoo’s comments have caused friction, with some Friends members anxious to distance themselves from his views.
“The majority of the (CFOB) board many months ago asked Tin to resign because of the position he has taken in regard to the Rohingya/Arakan state issue. Tin has refused to resign,” says Paul Copeland, a member of the CFOB advisory board.
Htoo, however, claims that Inter Pares was “directly advising and providing incentive to some CFOB board members to get rid of me, as the organizations executive director. When they failed, Inter Pares blamed CFOB’s governance structure.”
In a news release, Inter Pares said it raised concerns about claims CFOB made in the action alert that were at times biased and inflammatory towards the Muslim community.
Inter Pares also has a $15-million agreement with the Canadian International Development Agency to help fund work in Burma.
Htoo claims the money was intended for work with the Rohingya muslim community in Burma.
But Rita Morbia, executive director of Inter Pares, says her group supports all ethnic groups regardless of race or religion.