U.S. Policy and Burma Protracted Conflicts

By Nehginpao Kipgen *

In just over a month from the announcement of the Obama administration's 9-month long policy review on Burma, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and his deputy will pay a two-day visit to the military-ruled country from November 3 to 4.

Kurt Campbell and Scott Marciel are expected to meet with senior military junta officials and members of the opposition, including detained Aung San Suu Kyi as well as representatives of ethnic minority groups. The administration announced on September 23 that it will pursue a direct and high-level engagement with Burma, while retaining sanctions. Though the visit is a short one, it will be a test of the engagement-sanction policy.

There are critics who argue that the U.S. high-level attention validates the brutality of the junta that has waged war against its own people and imprisoned more than 2,200 political prisoners. Proponents of engagement, however, argue that the policy is a way forward to democratization for the country that has been under military rule since 1962.

The good news is that Suu Kyi, the opposition leader, welcomes engagement for the fact that it is designed to be inclusive of the State Peace and Development Council, the National League for Democracy, and the ethnic minorities.

As the first high-level talks is set to begin, the U.S. government and other international players need to understand the historical nature of conflicts in this ethnically diverse nation where there are "135 races" as per the government statistics, which is primarily based on dialectical variations.

Before the British colonization in 1886, the territories of ethnic minorities (Frontier Areas) were not part of the Burma proper. For example, the Shans were ruled by their own sawbwas (princes), and the Chins and Kachins were ruled by their own chiefs. The 1947 Panglong agreement served as the basis for the formation of the 'Union of Burma', and the country's independence from the British in 1948.

Many have often failed to understand the complexity of the conflicts in this Southeast Asian nation. Until recently, many thought the conflicts are entirely between the Burmese military junta and the opposition on the question of democracy.

The conflicts are largely the consequences of mistrust and misunderstanding between the majority ethnic Burman-led central government and other ethnic minorities because of the failure to implement the 1947 Panglong agreement. One significant agreement was granting "full autonomy" to the Frontier Areas, which has not materialized until today.

The failure to implement this historic agreement has increased mistrust and misunderstanding between the successive ethnic Burman-led military governments and other ethnic nationalities. Autonomy has been the core demand of minorities for over 50 years since 1947, and continues to remain the fundamental issue.

Successful conflict resolution depends on the facilitation of open dialogue on the basis of equality between all the interested parties. Such open dialogue will yield result if the rights of all ethnic groups are respected, irrespective of political and religious affiliations. Equality of rights is one fundamental democratic principle which is missing in the Burmese society today.

Burma's ethnic minorities are neither secessionists nor separatists, but are striving for autonomy in their respective territories within the Union of Burma. The minorities believe that self-determination would give them an opportunity to preserve their culture, language, and tradition.

There needs to be an environment where everyone receives equal treatment in the eyes of the law, regardless of the size of population. Under the military dictatorship, ethnic minorities are alienated and less privileged. This does not, however, advocate that ethnic Burmans do not suffer under the military regime.

In the run up to the proposed 2010 general election, the junta has stepped up military campaigns against ethnic minorities. The dismantling of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army, an ethnic Kokang armed group, in late September was an example. With its sizeable army of over 400,000, and without foreign enemy, the junta has the power to cripple minorities militarily, but not necessarily the spirit of their core demand, which is autonomy.

To bring a long lasting solution to the decades-old conflicts, it needs the sincerity, honesty and the participation of all ethnic groups. Different ethnic groups should be brought into confidence, and their legitimate demands should be looked into. The country needs reformation in various sectors – both private and public. Political problems need to be resolved by political means.

Because of the protracted nature of the conflicts, there will be no quick fix or a magical solution to the conflicts. It will require in-depth analysis, a systematic approach, and comprehensive remedial measures, including mediation and negotiation.

Because of its economic, political, military power, and the wide reception by the Burmese military junta and the opposition alike, the United States has the best leverage to help restore democracy in Burma. Any solution should somehow address the concerns of ethnic minorities, including a fundamental question on autonomy.

The article first appeared in Journal of Turkish Weekly, The Brunei Times and Asian Tribune .

Nehginpao Kipgen

* Nehginpao Kipgen is the General Secretary of U.S.-based Kuki International Forum (www.kukiforum.com) and a researcher on the rise of political conflicts in modern Burma (1947-2004). He can be contacted at nehginpao(at)yahoo(dot)com . This article was webcasted on November 04, 2009.