Civil Society is that realm of organized social life that is voluntary, self generating, (largely) self supporting, autonomous from the state and bound by a legal order or a set of shared rules. In this context, citizens act collectively in a public sphere to express their interests, passions, and ideas, exchange information, achieve mutual goals, make demands on the state and hold state offices. Civil Society protects the rights of the various social, political, and economical organizations under democratic governments and helps to promote and encourage the formation of democratic institutions under authoritarian regimes. There is abundant evidence in history and contemporary societies to support our belief that Civil Society and the vigorous associational skills it fosters are the bedrock of democracy. Civil Society in the western sense has no equivalent in the Burmese lexicon. Yet there was free and voluntary associational life in Burma both during the colonial period and again during the brief democratic interlude, albeit centered around religion and politics. Unfortunately, four decades of authoritarian rule has wiped out all vestiges of Civil Society as it existed in the Burmese society. Regimentation and the pervasive use of a state-sponsored network of spies and informers undermined the trust and bonds of social fabric. It is our belief that promotion of the concept of Civil Society and development of associational skills among the citizenry is a sine qua non to successful democratization in Burma.

CSB seeks to foster and promote the understanding of the concept of Civil Society and facilitate the enhancement of associational skills among overseas and inland Burmese communities.

CSB will help all Burmese pro-democracy groups in any way possible. Among the different pro-democracy groups, CSB will attempt to foster mutual understanding and unity. This will be accomplished by exploring common ground for cooperation and promoting family spirit and loving kindness for the foundation of a stable society.

To establish a Burmese Refugee Center in New York City and a joint office in Bangkok, Thailand for providing educational and orientational services to Burmese refugees waiting for departure to host countries. To assists those Burmese refugees whose applications for resettlement in third countries have been rejected.

To campaign for the Student Union in Burma and assist student activists, political prisoners and their families whose health conditions are deteriorating and need medical assistance.

To establish a publication system for informing the Burmese communities inside and outside Burma about Burma's present situation and engage them in the political, economical and social matters of Burma.

Condemned by the United Nations and other international bodies as one of the most repressive regimes in the world, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) has intensified its assault on democracy activists and ethnic minorities. Offensives by the Burmese military against ethnic Karenni, Karen, and Shan have resulted in an increased flow of refugees into neighboring countries. New refugees arriving into both Thailand and Bangladesh prompted Refugee International missions to these countries in 1996. Based on information received December 30th 1997, thousands of refugees living in the seven border districts of the northern province are to be moved to four major camps deeper inside Thailand for security reasons. Mae Hong Son governor Phakdi Chomphuming said on December 29th 1997 that the province had recently been given 1.5 million baht from the Defence Ministry to evacuate some 30,000 refugees from areas prone to attacks. The evacuation follows a series of attacks by members of the renegade Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and illegal logging activities in Salween Wildlife Sanctuary. The province has sought help from the Third Army Region to deploy extra troops along the border to ensure the safety of the people living there. United Nation High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has also designated a new category of Burmese refugees the "Border Case", which involves placing refugees in unsafe border areas instead of the UNHCR recognized Burmese student safe camp. Most CSB members have personal experience as refugees, and they are willing to help the Burmese refugees and willing to solve the problems between Burmese and Thai communities.

Concerning the student refugees under the military regime's socialist educational system, students did not get an internationally competitive education even though they were university graduates. Because they did not get a proper education they did not become qualified for a profession. As a result, when they left Burma for foreign countries, they were only able to get "under the table" jobs. Worse than this, many of the refugee students who had fled to the jungle never finished their formal education. Because Burma was an isolated system for many years, it is difficult for the young people to deal with foreigners. When students arrive in the USA they need help with orientation, language training, professional skill training, moral support and at the very least a warm welcome by having someone who listens to them.

Moreover, the overseas Burmese people living in the USA face their own problems owing to many factors such as cultural diversity, lack of language proficiency and lack of information. CSB gives community assistance in various ways such as residence application, educational assistance, employment counseling, and social problem solving. CSB will assist overseas Burmese to integrate into the countries granting their residency.

The Open Society Institute (OSI) has awarded some scholarships, but most students and activists from the border do not fulfill the requirements of the OSI. Many OSI scholarships have been awarded to educated people who left Burma for the USA holding Burmese passports, so OSI is only of marginal value for refugee students and activists. CSB believes that it is necessary to give scholarships to every Burmese citizen except to those who openly endorse the military rule. CSB will assist OSI in identifying those students wanting higher education and in facilitating the grant application process, because most students have little experience in this area. CSB members have more expertise in these areas, we want to contribute our service to activists in the US and in the border areas.

To establish a Burmese Refugee Center in the USA and a joint office in Thailand to assist Burmese refugees for departure to host countries.

To encourage the formation of independent organizations such as Student Unions, Labor Unions, and Farmer associations.

To find and assist those students who could qualify for OSI scholarships.

To establish the structure for solving the social problems of refugees who have resettled in host countries.

To encourage the foreign and domestic NGOs to work inside Burma.

CSB is headed U Htun Aung Gyaw (President). He holds a Master of Arts degree in Asian Studies from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Rangoon Arts and Science University, Burma. He was a prominent student leader in 1974-75. Also Htun was a political prisoner from 1975-80, and former Chairman and a founder of All Burma Students' Democratic Front (ABSDF). He has many followers in Burma and in the USA. Assisting Htun is U Soe Nyunt, in running CSB. He was a student leader and a Vice Chairman of the 1974 U Thant uprising. He holds a Bachelor of Economics from Rangoon Institute of Economics. He was elected as the Chairman of ABSDF Wankha camp. He also served as the Chairman of Student Safe camp in Ratchburi province in Thailand. Additionally, former ABSDF members and activists work as volunteers for CSB activities.

- Htun Aung Gyaw