| Burmese military bans civil groups
May 16, 2007 (DVB)—The Burmese government released a statement today outlawing 24 civil organisations in the country and threatening them with potential legal action.
The Ministry of Home Affairs said the civil groups, which included the Free Funeral Service Society and the Guru Nanak Hospital, would not be issued new registration licenses.
U Win Naing, the founder of the FFSS, told DVB today that while the government had not physically forced the organisation to close, they had forced it into a position of illegality.
"We received the letter sent via post-mail yesterday afternoon. As it mentioned all the 24 groups in general, we have no idea who had problem or whose work has gone wrong," U Win Naing said.
"For other organisations, it may be possible for them to put on hold of their work and discuss the matter. But our service society holds about 30 to 50 funerals every day. We are not in a position where we can stop these services and have a think," he said.
While news of the government's plan to stop the groups' activities first circulated about a week ago, most organisations named by the Ministry of Home Affairs are, for the time being, still operating.
But a representative from a charity named by the ministry, who wished to remain anonymous, told DVB that if the government removed the groups' official legal status, it would be impossible for them to continue their work without facing arrest.
"If the State said we can't do it and forced us to close down, as for us, we have no difficulties. But the public we face difficulties as we are working for free," the source said.
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