Ints 304: Conflict Management and Strategic Negotiation

“Myanmar: Ethnic Conflict and the Revived Civil War”

Submitted to:

Mr. Aryamier B. Ismael

IntS 304: Conflict Management

And Strategic Negotiation, Instructor

Submitted by:

Gillian Cristel D. Vicente

AB Ints III

August 31, 2012

Background of the Conflict

Before the British colonization in 1885, of the place we now refer to as Burma or Myanmar was dotted with power struggle between the Mon, Shan, and the Burmese. All these major rivalries at one time or another and also resulted to further drift and separation of one ethnic tribe to form another one.

The modern day drifts came almost lately after the end of the Second World War.

Inner Burma or simply Burma, Karenni States and the Shan States combined into as what we all know as the present- day Myanmar. The Shans and the Karennis joined Burma in their struggle for autonomy and determination to attain independence from the British which they successfully gained on January 05, 1948. During this time, the Arakan/ Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, and Mon were not yet given the title ethnic states or administrative statuses as one of Myanmar’s states, even though they lived there in their respective territories long ago.

However, after the World War II the Burmese militia rose to power because of coup and abolished the Union Constitution which unites the former separated states. With that, that time’s member of the military regime terminated the only existing legal bond between them and the other ethnic states. As a result of the termination of the constitution the 3 major ethnic groups got tangled into several conflicts with one another and other smaller ethnic groups to which the Burmese military regime responded with violence and oppression- domination. The ethnic groups on their part responded a strong resistance and even waging a war to free them from the Burmese oppression and at the same time to achieve ethnic superiority in Burma.

The civil war that had harmed Myanmar from 1947 had a break since early to mid-90’s consequent to a series of cease fire agreements entered into by the military junta with 17 ethnic armed groups between 1989- 1997. The hopes of the ethnic groups for a political solution faded when the military started pressuring the ethnic groups from April 2009 onwards in an attempt to disarm and transform them into border guards under the Myanmar army.

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

Above, shows a map of the ethnic groups’ respective territories in Myanmar.

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

About 40% of Myanmar’s population is composed of ethnic minorities often about referred to as ethnic nationalities. Officially there are135 national races through the major ethnic groups are seven in number—the Arakan/ Rakhine, Chin, Kachin, Karenni, Karen, Mon and Shahn/ Shan. The Burman majority ruling the country and holding key positions in all walks of life accounts 60% of the population. The ethnic groups are located in the mountainous areas of the countries as well as near its political boundaries occupying almost 60% of the land area while the majority Burmans are in the inland plains.

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

Legend:

Good Relationship

Bad Relationship

Alliance

Tension

Conflict

Government of Myanmar

Chin National Army

Democratic Karen Buddhist Army

Kachin Independence Army

Kerenni / NDAA

United Wa State Army

New Mon State Party

Shan State Army

Border Guard Force (BGF)

Karen National Liberation Army

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

The seven major ethnic groups are the following; 1) Arakan/ Rakhine, 2) Kachin, 3) Chin, 4) Karen, 5) Mon, 6) Karenni, and 7) the Shan/ Shahn. On 1947, Aung San (father of Aung San Suu Kyi), the Kachin, Chin, and Shan/ Shahn leaders joined the majority in 1947 in seeking independence for the nation as a whole.

Although the 1947 Pangalong Conference agreement was signed, still, each of the ethnic groups has their “own” military power such that it gives the other ethnic groups the sense of threat. Somewhat like of the Conflict Spiral but in this case, I think that it is both defensive and retaliatory.

Major Ethnic Armed Groups and their Strength:

1) United Wa State Army (UWSA) – troops of 20,000 to 25, 000, the largest ethnic armed group in Myanmar, ceasefire agreement in 1989, rejected the Border Guard Force (BGF) proposal.

2) Kachin Independence Army (KIA) – troops of 10,000, founded in 1961, second largest and considered the best organized ethnic group, Kachin Independence Organization (KIO) is the political wing, one of the parties that signed the Pangalong agreement, ceasefire agreement in 1994, has rejected the Border Guard Force (BGF) plan.

3) Shan State Army (SSA) – troops of 6,000 to 10,000, Political wing is the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP). The two factions Shan State Army- South which did not enter to a ceasefire agreement and Shan State Army- North which entered into a ceasefire agreement in 1989 have been integrated into a combine force since May 2011. Some units of the SSA-N faction have joined the Border Guard Force (BGF).

4) National democratic Alliance Army (NDAA) – troops of 1,200, also called the Mongla Group. Signed the ceasefire agreement in 1989.

5) Chin National Army – troops of 500- 1,000, Political wing is the Chin National Front.

6) Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) — troops of 2,000 to 12,000, Political wing is the Karen National Union (KNU), did not enter to any ceasefire agreement.

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

7) Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) – also known as the Kokang Group. This group was attacked in August 2009 by the Myanmar Army and their capital Laogai seized 30, 000 residents reportedly fled to China.

8) Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) — troops of 6,000, split from the parent organization Karen National Union (KNU) in the late 1994. Its political wing is the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organization (DKBO), first ethnic armed group to join the Border Guard Force (BGF).

9) New Mon State Party (NMSP) – troops of almost 700, ceasefire agreement was signed during the mid- 1995. Also, rejected to be transformed into a member of the Border Guard Force (BGF).

The Relationship between the government and the ethnic groups and its own military force;

As said by Aung San (Aung San Suu Kyi’s father), the government after independence, went back to its obligation to provide autonomy to these ethnic groups on them, joining the Union of Myanmar.

The government’s military force steadily increased since 1962. The Myanmar Tatmandaw or Myanmar Armed Forces which has a strength of around 400,000 military forces as of 2009 estimate, making the Myanmar Tatmandaw the second largest military force in South East Asia next to that of Vietnam’s.

Civil War from 1947- early 90’s

Separation of an Ethnic Group to form another tribe

Human Rights Violation

Ethnic Clashes

Nationalistic Sentiments

Majority- Minority Set- up

Out-groupings Constitutional Confusion/ Crisis

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

Ethnic Identity Threats

Continued Majority- Minority Mind- set

Ethnic Identity Threats

Ceasefire Agreements

Stereotyping

2008 Constitution Peace projects

Cutting off of resources

The Who, What, and How of the Conflict

Factors

Escalating

Conflict

Factors

Promoting

Peace

Conflict Map

After the Second World War the Burmese military forces rose to power because of coup they imposed during that time and also because of the abolishing of the Union Constitution that unifies the former separated Burma, the Shan states, and the Karenni states. The military regime ended the only existing legal bond between them and the other ethnic states. As a result of the termination of the constitution the major ethnic groups got tangled into several conflicts with one another and other smaller ethnic groups to which the Burmese military regime responded with violence and oppression- domination. The ethnic groups on their part responded a strong resistance and even waging a war to free them from the Burmese oppression and at the same time to achieve ethnic superiority in Burma in the latter.

The conflict between the different ethnic groups with each other mostly occurs if not in the boundary, near the boundary or within the ethnic groups’ territory or in their borders. Before the 2008 Constitution, most of the people in Myanmar suffered from hunger because of the government’s so- called “strategy”. They also cut- off their allocated funds for the members of the ethnic groups. Another is, stereotyping. This is the most common but probably the least noticeable. Knowing the mind of the members of the ethnic groups, they have instilled in their minds the “mine is better than yours.” With that, they stir to each other’s nerves. Lastly, Ethnic identity threats. This is where the “former” members who belong in the same tribe are separated or separates for some reasons just like the division of the Karen.

The conflict over time has remained the same, like its not aggravated nor unprovoked. But for the ethnic groups the conflict has escalated and some are building tensions with other ethnic states and the Border Guard Force (BGF).