Burma Link was set up to address vital unmet needs affecting the people of Burma, stemming from the observation that the myriad organisations and vulnerable populations on the Thailand-Burma border were being silenced by the international community’s praise for the Burma Government’s recent reforms, the need for the marginalised people of Burma to have their voices heard at this critical time of change in the country’s political landscape, and a lack of easy access to information regarding the conflict and displacement situation in Burma and on the Thailand-Burma border.

At this critical time of change, upholding the voices of Burma’s conflict-affected communities is more important than ever. In order for Burma to transform to a peaceful and federal democratic country based on freedom and justice, the the voices of Burma’s marginalised ethnic nationalities and displaced conflict-affected communities must be heard and included in the process. Democracy is all about people’s voices, and the best way to measure the extent of reforms and progress is to listen to the people, particularly these disempowered and disenfranchised populations to ensure that the re-building of Burma includes the diverse and unheard perspectives of the conflict-affected communities on the ground. Burma Link promotes unity and national reconciliation through storytelling and facilitating information exchange between different peoples of Burma so as to create a common understanding and a shared vision for the future. Burma Link also provides national and international actors with easy access to in depth information and voices from the ground in order to promote genuine peace and rights-based policy.

The recent changes in Burma’s political landscape, loudly praised by the international community and mainstream media, have yet to reach the country’s vulnerable ethnic populations who remain hiding in the jungle living in fear, or externally displaced outside the country’s borders living in a limbo. The voices of Burma’s ethnic nationalities have been silenced and suppressed for over 70 years as they have fought a desperate struggle for survival against an overwhelming enemy; consecutive military governments and the state army. While the ethnic struggle for a federal democratic Burma continues, their plight is increasingly ignored as the world has turned its attention exclusively towards central Burma. At this critical time of change, ethnic voices have been silenced like never before. Burma Link amplifies the voices of these disempowered and disenfranchised populations and projects them into local and global conversations to ensure that the re-building of Burma includes the diverse and unheard perspectives of the conflict-affected communities on the ground.