Women sidelined from Burma’s fledgling peace process
15 October 2012: Burma is going through a process of unprecedented change. Central to the long-term viability of this “new Burma,” are efforts to bring about national reconciliation and secure a lasting peace between the Burma military and the many non-state armed groups that have been fighting for self-determination for decades. Women could play a key role in this process, however so far their voices have been sidelined.
Burma (also known as Myanmar) is going through a process of unprecedented change that has seen the election to parliament of democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi, the release of hundreds of political prisoners, the repeal of oppressive censorship laws and many other reforms that are helping this once pariah state emerge from the shadows. Central to the long-term viability of this “new Burma,” however, are efforts to bring about national reconciliation and secure a lasting peace between the Burma military and the many non-state armed groups that have been fighting for self-determination for decades. The military-backed government has managed to secure tentative ceasefires with almost all armed rebel groups and many hope the current ceasefires will lead eventually into a genuine peacebuilding process.
The international community is projecting a rosy view of the reform process, but many civil society groups, and the rebel groups themselves, are not so optimistic. The situation in the commercial capital of Rangoon is a million miles from the reality in the country’s isolated ethnic areas. As the KWAT report shows, large-scale fighting continues in Kachin State causing mass displacement, and Burmese Tatmadaw forces remain entrenched in ethnic areas, where reports of widespread human rights abuses and armed clashes continue. Many say the ethnic groups have yet to see any evidence that the military is open to genuine dialogue that will lead to peace.
“The fighting is getting more and more serious. Some IDPs are fleeing to Myityina and surrounding areas, but others cannot get out. They are trapped in their villages, surrounded by Burmese troops and they have no access to food or supplies,” said Moon Nay Li.
“Also in northern Shan state, the offensive is ongoing and more government troops are being sent into the area. That is a big problem for us. The regime talks about ceasefires, but their actions and implementation are contradictory to that.”
There are also concerns that the tens of thousands of refugees, who have lived in camps on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border for decades, will be forcibly repatriated before they, or Burma, is ready. European Union funding for these camps has already been slashed.
Furthermore, many fear the recent lifting of sanctions will pave the way for an influx of foreign investment and large-scale loans from international financial institutions. Recent reports suggest the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and the Asian Development Bank are set to offer loans of nearly USD $1 billion between them for development projects. There is also increasing concern that the destructive economic patterns seen elsewhere in the developing world, from Brazil to the Congo, will be repeated in Burma.
In addition, critics warn that a gold rush on Burma’s natural resources will further complicate efforts to establish a national peace process, rather than help it. Local community voices are being ignored, say activists, to the detriment of what could be Burma’s greatest opportunity for achieving peace in over half a century.
In a recent briefing on the peace process, the Burma Partnership said: “For the people of Kachin State, who experienced 17 years of a fragile ceasefire that other ethnic groups are experiencing now, the lack of political dialogue is the main obstacle to a cessation in clashes. During the previous ceasefire period, Kachin State faced the kind of development projects being discussed for current ceasefire areas such as logging, mining and large dams. The consequences were huge: environmental damage, economic exploitation and t