Burma is a majority Buddhist nation of about 52 million people. Two-thirds of the population belongs to the “Burman” ethnic group while the remaining third belong to over 100 different other ethnic groups. Conflict exists between the Burmese regime and the various ethnic nationalities and has affected the lives of millions of civilians.

In 1884, the British gained complete control over Burma. At that time, Burma consisted of territory inhabited by several different ethnic groups, including the Burman, Shan, Karen, Kachin, Karenni, Chin, Mon, Rakhaing, and others. As was the norm when creating colonies, ethnic groups were unified into one “state” without regard for previous sovereignty or territoral boundaries. Tensions were further aggravated as certain ethnic groups were favored over others. General Aung San led the independence movement, with Burma gaining independence in January 1948. General Aung San was assassinated with shortly thereafter, creating instability in the years to follow. Upset with what they considered nonexistent and an eroding sense of autonomy, several ethnic groups formed their own armies during this time period.

In 1962, the military staged a coup which took over the government and has subsequently ruled the country ever since. Instituting the “Burmese Way to Socialism,” the military junta expelled foreign investors to economically isolate the country. This caused Burma, home to many natural resources including rubies, land, water, natural gas, coal and petroleum to become one of the least developed countries in the world. As the Burmese economy collapsed in 1987, protests against the military regime became the norm with the largest protests held on August 8, 1988. Aung San Suu Kyi (daughter of General Aung San) emerged as a prominent leader in the movement for democracy. Elections were held in 1990, but the military junta ignored how Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, the National Leage for Democracy, won with 82% of the vote. The junta refused to relinquish power and placed many democracy leaders under house arrest, including Aung San Suu Kyi, who went on to receive the Nobel Peace Prize.

Meanwhile, armed resistance groups from various ethnic states have continued to fight the junta. They have responded by sending the Burmese army to implement the “Four Cuts strategy” – cutting off: 1) food; 2) funds; 3) intelligence; and 4) recruits to the insurgents. The campaign has used murder, systematic rape, forced labor, forced relocation, landmines, and the destruction of villages, crops and food supplies as weapons to devastate and demoralize the targeted population.

3,200 villages have been destroyed and 650,000 people have been displaced in ethnic minority states (notably the Karen, Karenni, and Shan states). There are almost 700,000 registered refugees from Burma and potentially millions more unregistered, having fled to Thailand.

Current Situation

Since January 27, 1995, the Burmese army significantly stepped up their efforts to dominate the ethnic minority states after taking over the headquarters of the Karen National Union, the most powerful resistance group. The government has been sending over 400,000 government soldiers that receive over 50% of the nation’s budget to invade villages and systematically destroy the lives and livelihoods of the inhabitants.

Regardless of how it has been public information for over a decade that these incidents have become a routine part of life in eastern Burma, the international community has yet to fulfill its Responsibility to Protect civilians in Burma.

Information used with permission from STANDnow.org.