Episode 1: Bangladesh in the 1990s

In 1991–1992, Myanmar’s military repression forces over 250,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh, where they settle in refugee camps. In the camps near Cox’s Bazar, MSF observes dire living conditions and violence, while Bangladeshi authorities limit aid and force repatriations. MSF engages in “silent advocacy,” raising concerns only with political stakeholders in order to maintain activities in the camps. This episode highlights enduring dilemmas in MSF’s humanitarian approach with the Rohingya: publicly speaking out versus staying silent to preserve access.

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This podcast series is adapted from the MSF Speaking Out Case Study “MSF and the Rohingya 1992 – 2014”.

It brings to light two decades of MSF advocacy activities as part of its humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

It examines the challenges that MSF teams in the field and headquarters encountered when deciding whether and how MSF could publicly speak out about the plight of the Rohingya facing persecutions and violence in Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the 1992-2014 period, MSF worked mostly through diplomatic channels “behind closed doors” to advocate about the Rohingya’s plight with foreign diplomats and United Nations agencies. This “silent advocacy” was challenged within MSF by those who felt that the lack of public speaking out meant MSF was abandoning a persecuted population. To maintain an operational presence without speaking out publicly was not seen as an ethically justifiable option for an independent and impartial humanitarian organisation like MSF.

Over 7 episodes, the podcast explores the challenges, dilemmas and internal disagreements underlying MSF’s humanitarian response to assist the Rohingya under the Myanmar authoritarian regime.

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This podcast series is written, produced and mixed by Andrea Rangecroft.

Editorial direction is from Nancy Barrett and Laurence Binet.

The narrator is Claire Lubert.

Extracts are read by Clive Hayward and Lucy Scott

The voiceovers are by Kevin Halliwell, Charles Nove and Alex Vincent.

The music is by Lost Harmonies and Peter Sandberg.

Photo crédits: Generic MSF

A special thanks to Rian Landman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 2: Years of growth and silence

In Myanmar an increasingly authoritarian regime is taking shape, inhibiting the return of refugees and making the lives of the Rohingya who’ve remained in Rakhine State increasingly difficult. MSF documents systematic persecution but is divided over how to approach the dilemma of access versus speaking out. While from 1994, MSF Holland opts for “silent diplomacy” in order to expand its malaria and HIV/AIDs programmes in Myanmar, MSF France decides to withdraw in 2006, denouncing the authorities lack of transparency.

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*

*

This podcast series is adapted from the MSF Speaking Out Case Study “MSF and the Rohingya 1992 – 2014”.

It brings to light two decades of MSF advocacy activities as part of its humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

It examines the challenges that MSF teams in the field and headquarters encountered when deciding whether and how MSF could publicly speak out about the plight of the Rohingya facing persecutions and violence in Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the 1992-2014 period, MSF worked mostly through diplomatic channels “behind closed doors” to advocate about the Rohingya’s plight with foreign diplomats and United Nations agencies. This “silent advocacy” was challenged within MSF by those who felt that the lack of public speaking out meant MSF was abandoning a persecuted population. To maintain an operational presence without speaking out publicly was not seen as an ethically justifiable option for an independent and impartial humanitarian organisation like MSF.

Over 7 episodes, the podcast explores the challenges, dilemmas and internal disagreements underlying MSF’s humanitarian response to assist the Rohingya under the Myanmar authoritarian regime.

*

*

*

This podcast series is written, produced and mixed by Andrea Rangecroft.

Editorial direction is from Nancy Barrett and Laurence Binet.

The narrator is Claire Lubert.

Extracts are read by Clive Hayward and Lucy Scott

The voiceovers are by Kevin Halliwell, Charles Nove and Alex Vincent.

The music is by Lost Harmonies and Peter Sandberg.

Photo crédits: Carlos Quarenghi

A special thanks to Rian Landman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Episode 3: A slow opening at MSF

In 2006, following MSF’s internal reorganisation, MSF Operational Centre Amsterdam (OCA) refocuses advocacy on the Rohingya marking a shift in its approach to testimony. To bypass Myanmar’s restrictions, strengthened through violent crackdowns on protesters after 2007’s Saffron Revolution, most of the speaking out concerns the fate of unregistered refugees in Bangladesh. Nonetheless, in Myanmar, MSF OCA speaks out on the humanitarian consequences of state-sponsored discrimination, repression, and lack of access to healthcare for both the Rohingya and people living with AIDS.

*

*

*

This podcast series is adapted from the MSF Speaking Out Case Study “MSF and the Rohingya 1992 – 2014”.

It brings to light two decades of MSF advocacy activities as part of its humanitarian assistance to the Rohingya people in Bangladesh and Myanmar.

It examines the challenges that MSF teams in the field and headquarters encountered when deciding whether and how MSF could publicly speak out about the plight of the Rohingya facing persecutions and violence in Myanmar and Bangladesh. During the 1992-2014 period, MSF worked mostly through diplomatic channels “behind closed doors” to advocate about the Rohingya’s plight with foreign diplomats and United Nations agencies. This “silent advocacy” was challenged within MSF by those who felt that the lack of public speaking out meant MSF was abandoning a persecuted population. To maintain an operational presence without speaking out publicly was not seen as an ethically justifiable option for an independent and impartial humanitarian organisation like MSF.

Over 7 episodes, the podcast explores the challenges, dilemmas and internal disagreements underlying MSF’s humanitarian response to assist the Rohingya under the Myanmar authoritarian regime.

*

*

*

This podcast series is written, produced and mixed by Andrea Rangecroft.

Editorial direction is from Nancy Barrett and Laurence Binet.

The narrator is Claire Lubert.

Extracts are read by Clive Hayward and Lucy Scott

The voiceovers are by Kevin Halliwell, Charles Nove and Alex Vincent.

The music is by Lost Harmonies and Peter Sandberg.

Photo crédits: Giulio Di Sturco

A special thanks to Rian Landman

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.