"Humanitarian abusers" -- this could well happen in Burma

http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/05/27/charity.aidworkers/index.html

Save the Children releases report on humanitarian aid workers abuse of children they are supposed to be helping.

10 years ago I heard the story of a dissident who was "rescued" by a gay man, only to be forced into an abusive relationship in NY.

Unrelated to this, I wrote a play Shaman, which was a Pew Finalist Script the year it was written, has had a reading in Washington DC and a staged reading. This play has been read or seen by several theatre professionals and praised by Edward Albee.

I am now working on publishing Shaman and a stage production.

In Shaman a western (American) businessman saves a Burmese shaman (nat kadaw or spirit spouse") from the depredations of the junta, only to use her in a big American city.

In 2004 the retired diplomat and Shakespearean actor who played Carl Carpetbagger, the bad guy in my play, tried to find some good points in the character.

This Save the Children report shows that humanitarian aid workers themselves also need to be watched, and the children and other victims aided and protected.

Re-reading my play now after so many years, I see that C.C. is by no means an anomaly.

KMK