The [him] moderator has recently received several emails from people who are part of civil society groups. These commenters do not want their emails posted but have asked for a summary of their points to be posted.

Here is an edited summary: There are two mail points. 1) One is UN system organisations and their lack of support to civil society organisations and 2) The other is the National AIDS programme and the way that it controls rather than governs the response to HIV.

The commenters say that whenever civil society representatives ask for anything, UN staff reply that they are working on this with the government but these representatives of key populations are having trouble finding anything that the UN did during the past years that made their lives better. Of course they arranged lots of meetings and developed posters.

There are complaints about the role of the National AIDS Programme, especially in Mandalay. There civil society groups working on HIV are controlled by the former military medical officer who tries to control community groups to his will and sucks bribes in various forms. Those who no longer tolerate his demands are 'black listed'. Most small groups do not know what his authority, role, and rights are.

Thanks to these anonymous commenters.

[him] moderator