NAYPYITAW—The Myanmar Army will not allow the Free Burma Rangers (FBR) to enter the country, military spokesperson Brigadier-General Zaw Min Tun said. His comments came in response to the group’s announcement that it plans to help displaced persons in Rakhine State, where the Myanmar military and the Arakan Army (AA) are fighting.
Radio Free Asia (RFA) reported that the FBR, a group founded by a former U.S. Army special forces officer, plans to assist displaced persons in Rakhine State. The group describes itself as a humanitarian assistance organization but the Myanmar military (or Tatmadaw) accuses it of providing military training to ethnic armed groups.
Brig-Gen. Zaw Min Tun said the FBR previously entered Karen State on the pretext of providing assistance to refugees, but in reality provided military training to the Karen National Union (KNU).
“We have seen posts on Arakanese [social media] pages that call for support for [the FBR]. It is risky. Their arrival would not improve the situation. It would only worsen it. And the government would not allow it. Also, the group is not an official INGO,” he said, meaning an international non-governmental organization.
David Eubank, the founder of the FBR, told RFA on June 7 that his group would help those affected by the fighting, and that his Rakhine relief team had already started working.
“Our role is to help the refugees. We will help them, wherever they are from and whoever they are,” he said.
Based in Karen State, the FBR was founded 25 years ago. It says its aim is to provide assistance, especially medical assistance, to sick and injured internally displaced people, and claims that it has to date trained over 300 teams with around 70 currently operating.
Global News 
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