Civil Conflict
This page will talk about the civil conflicts going on in Myanmar (Burma)
Overview
The civil war in Burma started in 1948 (when independence in the country was declared) and the war is still going on today. The war consists of a couple different states (One for each major ethnic group) fighting against the Myanmar (Burma) ethnic group and military (Who hold 40% of the land mass and are 60% of the population). Some of the major ethnic states are the Arakan state (Also known as the Rakhine state) , the Shan state, the Chin state, the Kachin state, the Karen state (also known as the Kayin state), the Karenni state (also known as the Kayah state), and the Mon state.
Information retained from: http://www.conflictmap.org |
Reasons for the Civil Conflict
These are the reasons why there is a war going on in Myanmar currently:
- The Burman ethnic group feels as if they should have all the power over the social, ethical, and political parts of the country. (This is because they make up most of the population and take up more of the land mass than any other ethnic group.)
- Other ethnic groups want the power over these subjects to be shared and equal. They also want to have rights to their culture, language, and religion and also have protection over them. Lastly, they want to have a right to be involved in judicial, executive, and legislative powers and to have the government be a democracy.
- Outward protests of equality and fairness from the other ethnic groups has now turned into conflict between the ethnic states and the Myanmar military and government.
Effects of the Conflict on the People of Myanmar
Because of the war in Myanmar between the Burman ethnic group and the other ethnic states there have been many consequences resulting from the conflict. First off, the Burman ethnic group cannot hold anymore alliances with the other ethnic states which is something that would used to commonly happen within Myanmar. It is also the reason why Myanmar is now split into different states that are all fighting the Burman ethnic group. This war is relocating people by the thousands because many of them want to find safety in other countries located around Myanmar. Some of these countries that people are trying to escape to are Thailand, China, and Bangladesh.
Information retained from: http://www.conflictmap.org |
Battle Strategy
Picture Credit: http://old.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=202034
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Here is the battle strategy that the Burman ethnic group will attempt to use when fighting the other ethnic states with:
The Burman groups strategy is nicknamed "The Four Cuts". The plan is to cut off the other states access to food, funding, information, and recruits/reinforcements. This way the Burman ethnic group can shut down their major sources that are helping them fight and then ultimately help them close in on the states and force either a surrender or a victory through battle between the states because the states will be much weaker and easier targets without these necessary supplies and information. Information retained from: http://www.conflictmap.org |
Timeline:
1948-Independence for the country is declared and president Nu takes position.
1949-Non-Burmese groups start to be discriminated by the Burman ethnic group.
1955-Opposition unifies (under the nation united front also known as the UNF).
1958-Nu resigns and Ne Win becomes the president.
1960-Nu retakes his position as president.
1962-Ne Win takes over as president once again. He starts to nationalize the economy, closes the universities, represses the students, starts to cut freedom by banning free press and restricting travel. Lastly, he becomes allies with drug traders.
1969-Myanmar now has bad relations with China and Nu starts to make a government in Thailand.
1974-Ne Win gains powers from the new Constitution and also Ne Win gets rid of the protection of the minorities in the country.
1980-The government declares to bring pardon; 2000 rebels are forced to surrender which soon makes peace negotiations fall apart.
1986-Burma is given helicopters by the United States and herbicide is used to fight the drug protection in what is called the Guerilla areas.
1987-Ne Win changes the currency; students start rioting which soon makes the government respond with violence.
1988-Ang San Suu Kyi forms something called the NLD while a demonstration named SLORC takes over the country.
1989-The demonstration named CPB is taken over and becomes non-existent, while NLD leaders are arrested. Meanwhile SLORC renames the country from Burma to Myanmar.
1990-NLD wins elections but SLORC disapproves and instead arrests more NLD leaders.
1991-Ang San Suu Kyi recieves a Nobel Peace Prize; The UN and ILO as well as other governments start to criticize Myanmar.
1995-Ang San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest after six whole years.
2000-Asian countries start to blame Myanmar for the increased drug use in Asia.
2001-Thailand and Myanmar start to openly fight; meanwhile SLORC releases some NLD leaders and also put Ang San Suu Kyi under house arrest once again.
2002-Ang San Suu Kyi is released once again; meanwhile the relations with Thailand become better.
2007-Thousands of people protest about the war. Violent military crackdown is a result of the protests.
2009-Over 250 homes that belong to the Kutupalong Makeshift Camp are destroyed (population is around 20,000).
2010-The Kutupalong Makeshift Camp grows to a population of 34,000. When military crackdown ends a couple thousand rebels are arrested.
2011-The government turns into a parliamentary democracy with Thein Sein as the Prime Minister with new elections.
2014-Even though there is a different government other ethnic groups still aren't getting the rights that they have originally wanted, mainly the Rohingya group. Also, the Tatmadaw are still posing a threat to people in Burma/Myanmar. The government still hasn't filled its job in protecting the people and their rights and there will need to be an act of change that will end all this conflict and discrimination soon enough before the conflict becomes more and more of a threat.
Information retained from: http://www.peri.umass.edu and http://www.globalr2p.org
1949-Non-Burmese groups start to be discriminated by the Burman ethnic group.
1955-Opposition unifies (under the nation united front also known as the UNF).
1958-Nu resigns and Ne Win becomes the president.
1960-Nu retakes his position as president.
1962-Ne Win takes over as president once again. He starts to nationalize the economy, closes the universities, represses the students, starts to cut freedom by banning free press and restricting travel. Lastly, he becomes allies with drug traders.
1969-Myanmar now has bad relations with China and Nu starts to make a government in Thailand.
1974-Ne Win gains powers from the new Constitution and also Ne Win gets rid of the protection of the minorities in the country.
1980-The government declares to bring pardon; 2000 rebels are forced to surrender which soon makes peace negotiations fall apart.
1986-Burma is given helicopters by the United States and herbicide is used to fight the drug protection in what is called the Guerilla areas.
1987-Ne Win changes the currency; students start rioting which soon makes the government respond with violence.
1988-Ang San Suu Kyi forms something called the NLD while a demonstration named SLORC takes over the country.
1989-The demonstration named CPB is taken over and becomes non-existent, while NLD leaders are arrested. Meanwhile SLORC renames the country from Burma to Myanmar.
1990-NLD wins elections but SLORC disapproves and instead arrests more NLD leaders.
1991-Ang San Suu Kyi recieves a Nobel Peace Prize; The UN and ILO as well as other governments start to criticize Myanmar.
1995-Ang San Suu Kyi is released from house arrest after six whole years.
2000-Asian countries start to blame Myanmar for the increased drug use in Asia.
2001-Thailand and Myanmar start to openly fight; meanwhile SLORC releases some NLD leaders and also put Ang San Suu Kyi under house arrest once again.
2002-Ang San Suu Kyi is released once again; meanwhile the relations with Thailand become better.
2007-Thousands of people protest about the war. Violent military crackdown is a result of the protests.
2009-Over 250 homes that belong to the Kutupalong Makeshift Camp are destroyed (population is around 20,000).
2010-The Kutupalong Makeshift Camp grows to a population of 34,000. When military crackdown ends a couple thousand rebels are arrested.
2011-The government turns into a parliamentary democracy with Thein Sein as the Prime Minister with new elections.
2014-Even though there is a different government other ethnic groups still aren't getting the rights that they have originally wanted, mainly the Rohingya group. Also, the Tatmadaw are still posing a threat to people in Burma/Myanmar. The government still hasn't filled its job in protecting the people and their rights and there will need to be an act of change that will end all this conflict and discrimination soon enough before the conflict becomes more and more of a threat.
Information retained from: http://www.peri.umass.edu and http://www.globalr2p.org