The Mon State Civil Society Forum, held on July 26th and 27that the Shwe Myint Moe Htun Hotel in Moulmein, Mon State, welcomed attendance of 287 representatives from 203 society organizations, Mon State Hluttaw chairmen, as well as members from State government and representatives from State Hluttaw.
Mon State Hluttaw representative Dr. Aung Naing Oo attributes the lack of cooperation between State government and civil society organizations to an absence of a legal framework in which the two sectors can work together.
“Because there are [not] yet legal laws,” says Dr. Aung Naing Oo, “for the government, there seem[s] to be some weakness in cooperating with civil society organizations. On the side of the society organizations, not many organizations have registered as legal groups or organizations, in accordance with laws. Many civil organizations are founded without making registration.”
At this weekend’s forum, Dr. Aung Naing Oo remarked that the Mon State government does not hold the activities of society organizations in much regard, while society organizations do not have much knowledge of state laws. Dr. Aung Naing Oo notes that the two sectors should be working together.
“The authorities do not give permission easily when civil society organizations [hold] meetings or trainings; they want to ban [those activities], and the society organizations face threats [sic]. We pointed out these matters again [at the forum]. The government should have understandings for these matters,” said Mon State Civil Society Forum organizer Min Aung Htoo.
Min Aung Htoo also added that state authorities are concerned that the number of civil society organizations will increase, and compete with the state government.
“A year ago, an NGO group came to provide training in Chaungzone Township. Its [request] was already submitted to township administration to do the training, but after doing the training for 1-2 days, the authorities came to stop the training,” said Dr. Aung Naing Oo.
Dr. Aung Naing Oo notes that currently, actions applied by the former military government to ban activities of civil society organizations, remain in use by local authorities. Dr. Aung Naing Oo indicates that local authorities do not know of recent changes and reforms which have been occurring in the country.
President Thein Sein has signed a law relating to the formation and establishment of civil associations and organizations on July 18th, of which the Union Hluttaw has approved. However, the law cannot be enacted until further laws are passed.
Once this law is enacted, civil society organizations can lawfully register with government offices as official organizations in respective township, districts, or divisions.
According to a statement released on the last day of the Forum, the objectives of holding the Mon State Civil Society Forum were to improve capacity-building for civil society organizations, to build networks among organizations, and to improve essential civil society organizations in the sector of national reforms.
Society organizations in Mon State held the Mon State Civil Society Forum with financial support from the United National Development Program (UNDP).
