Can Burma’s President Persuade Army To End Ethnic War? – OpEd

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By Zin Linn

On 1 March, 2012, President of Burma (Myanmar) Thein Sein delivers a speech at Parliament in capital Naypyitaw. The president started his speech by saying that his government is a turning point to a historic beginning for the next generations and the ‘extent of success, stability and durability of the transition process of the present government’ will become the legacy for the future succeeding governments.

Thein Sein said Thursday that his government will make available the comprehensive reforms that set in motion over the last year. The government will make an effort to encourage disbelievers at home and abroad that it is beyond doubt faithful to democratic reforms.

He said, “If we compare our situation with the current global situation, our democratization process is a successful transition which the people can take as a model with great admiration. Who deserves credit? Not only the government, but also all the stakeholders including political parties, civil societies, members of the houses, the judicial pillar, the fourth estate media, national race leaders, and the armed forces have been harmoniously taking part in the respective sectors to reach this situation.”

However, in an exclusive interview, the Nation Group Editor in Chief Suthichai Yoon asked the Lady whether the reform process in Burma is irreversible.

Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi responded, “I do not know whether the army is behind the reform. We do not know where the army stands in regard to the reforms and I’ve always said that until we know that the army is solidly behind the reform movement, we cannot say the process is irreversible.”

After nearly one year in office as head of a military-backed civilian government, his speech to Parliament has come out by saying changes consist of release political prisoners, signing cease-fires with ethnic armed rebel groups, easing limitations on the media and opening a talk with key opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Since then, Thein Sein has run a few remarkable changes that taken aback of some journalists who watch closely on Burma. Those changes include freeing political prisoners, signing cease-fires with armed rebel groups, easing restrictions on the press and opening a dialogue with opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The president also said that as Burma is a Union, the participation of all national races in nation-building process on equal terms is an obligation. He said misunderstandings and doubts appeared due to lack of close relations among ethnic tribes. The president emphasized that Bamar is also one of the nationalities of the Union similar to Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Chin, Mon, Rakhine and Shan.

“The aspiration of the national races to share the rights among all and enjoy equality is also the desire of our government,” Thein Sein said.

If it is true, people will welcome the president statement. On the contrary, the respective ethnic minorities have constantly demanded for their self-sufficiency since 1948. But successive governments in Burma use military might to govern ethnic minorities. If one looks back to 1960-61, many leaders from ethnic states criticized the flaws of the constitution as well as the government’s failure to acknowledge the political autonomy of the ethnic minorities.

The ethnic groups accused the central government of not allowing the representatives of ethnic states to handle their own affairs in areas of the economy, judiciary, education, and customs and so on. The central government ruled the ethnic areas as vassal states.

The president explained the issue concerning battles in Kachin State. he said heordered the Armed Forces to terminate all military offensives or attacks except self-defense purposes. According to his comment on Kachin warfare, the remaining skirmishes will not end just by pointing a finger at one another. Both sides ought to stop all hostilities to start a political dialogue. There must be mutual assurances and pledges to end all hostilities, he said.

“It is the duty of our government and the Kachin leaders to fulfill the aspirations and hopes of the people,” Thein Sein underlined in his speech.

On the other hand, several ethnic leaders including the Kachin leadership asserted that they don’t have faith in the planned 2010 election where they are likely to have limited opportunities which is not likely to create a genuinely peaceful federal union as the Burmese armed-forces take 25 percent of all seats and also seize additional 77 percent through junta-backed parties in the latest parliaments as set by the 2008 Constitution.

In such a parliament, dominated by the military and former military, ethnic representatives have little or no chance to drive the autonomy and equal rank issues in parliament. In addition, even dependable ethnic representatives have no opportunity to occupy enough seats in the military bloc monopolized-parliament to form an effective coalition.

So, many analysts consider Thein Sein’s view on ethnic issue is still far away from pragmatic process. As major responsibility is in the hand of the government, he should not lay the blame on the ethnic rebels, especially on the Kachin Independence Organization.

Without addressing and honoring the ethnic people’s demand for self-determination, the military-based Thein Sein government may not stop political and civil strife in ethnic regions. In reality, ethnic people’s demand of equal rights is not a new one but already stated in the 1947-Panglong agreement.

Asian Correspondent

Asian Correspondent is an English-language liberal news, blogs and commentary online newspaper serving all of the Asia-Pacific region. The website covers asian business, politics, technology, the environment, education, new media and Asia society issues.

One thought on “Can Burma’s President Persuade Army To End Ethnic War? – OpEd

  • March 4, 2012 at 6:30 am
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    Joining the nit-picking world, it must be pointed out that the actual speech in Burmese (or is it Myanmarese?, of course without simultaneous translation of 131 languages of the country) at 26 minutes in it, he recounted the government as himself, the President, then the two vice’s and then military officers and then the ministers and so on.Those judiciary guys- (Or imitation thereof in real life) came nearer last as after thought.

    The professional writers of these versions have obviously calculated the real military people might not like to have them counted nearer the end in Burmese whereas the enlightened “West” would enjoy seeing the judiciary crowd right up there justifying their misplaced support of the camouflaged military and giving hope for possible protection of the investment money they are keen to put in.

    He did read it well. And in thin, rather suitably pathetic voice to his credit. All nicely done.

    And carefully did not give away anything. If he submits such speech as high school essay he will definitely score well. Well done Ko Ko Hlaing.

    But the “minorities” who will be referred from now on in different names, are blamed for the continuing war.

    The war ( most vicious, aggressive, cruel and extensive one in modern history- a fact all “Burmese Observers” keep quiet) is of course easily stopped by simply bringing the Bamar Sit-tut back.

    There has never been any attempt by the Kachin to come and massacre the civilians in Maik-hti-la. They are too much of a gentleman to do such acts.

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