Recently I put pen to paper on a long analysis of Burma’s peacebuilding challenges. It was published by Inside Story. I begin by suggesting that:
With its manicured grounds, vast government compounds, sprawling hotels and eye-popping religious sites, Burma’s new capital, Naypyidaw, was built for giants. Twelve-lane motorways intersect with oversized ornamental roundabouts. Battalions of gardeners are kept busy trimming miles of hedges and tending millions of flowers and trees. Official motorcades whiz past gleaming monuments to dictatorial pirouettes and democratic transition.
The city, knowingly called “our Canberra” by some government insiders, is at the heart of an unprecedented effort to bring popular participation into Burmese politics and to develop a modern economy. This audacious national repositioning is behind the billion-dollar investments that have seen Naypyidaw cut from the scrub and paddy fields of the country’s central plains.
And I end by arguing:
From his office in Naypyidaw President Thein Sein governs from a city built on a monumental scale. As the first president of the reformist era — the man entrusted with getting Burma’s new electoral system off to a promising start — the ethnic conflicts remain his most significant challenge.
The international community also recognises the historic opportunity of Naypyidaw’s parliamentary era. In 2012 Thein Sein was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. One of the reasons the nomination was premature is that ethnic conflicts, like the one in Kachin State, continue to rage.
But whoever manages to resolve these persistent enmities will surely deserve the highest accolades. Thein Sein and his colleagues are working to seize this chance for peace, but they may only have until 2015 when the National League for Democracy is likely to come to power. In that sense, the clock is ticking. If they succeed, Naypyidaw has more than enough room to erect statues of peace-making giants.
The full text is available here.
Nich
Thanks for this exposé, long overdue.
A far cry from few years ago when articles on arming the opposing groups and killing the Burmese seem to be more popular here at New Mandala.
As long as the west as well as all ethnic groups within and without do not see or promote a common destiny of brothers/one citizenry within Myanmar then the quagmire the remnant of colonial legacy will continue.
Promoting harmony among brothers require concessions by both the stronger group as well as the others.
Prompting and bridging this neglected vast divide through concerted economic undertaking /activities will eventually lessen desire armed conflict over negotiation.
This will require an international inputs/help beyond of divisive business as usual, knee jerk blame one party approach.
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An optimistic and (I think) realistic analysis.
Myanmar’s conflicts are similar to, but less resolved than those in Thailand and many places. Small, isolated cultures of the hills are increasingly mixing with the bigger cultures of the plains where the infrastructure of trade and governance is better developed. The spread of this infrastructure into hitherto less accessible regions, and the resulting cultural mixing is inevitable. If there is to be a successful national culture, it has to be a greatly enriched one that incorporates all the useful and delightful aspects of the small and large cultures, and extinguishes their petty xenophobia, chauvinism, cruelties, and destructive follies.
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History is full of examples/reminders of ‘the common enemy’ that has forged unity among different ethnic groups that subsequently gone on to ethnic strife such as within Myanmar.
Myanmar has at least 8 major significant ethnic groups with the Bamar as the largest one since the time of Anawretha 1040 AD.
The common enemy being the British then and the subsequent resulting Kayin Bamar and other strives, some that are political in nature.
The political strife of Burma Communist Party vs then U Nu/Ne Win subsequently ended due to NO support, from the west for the BCP and Ne Win’s 4 cut strategy.
This present continual Kayin vs Bamar is the result of the West periodic perfunctory interferences.
These interferences varied from offer of misguided sympathy to false outcry of religious persecution, from the threat of Hague to out right arming both sides when ever expedient to the west geo-political flavor dujour. Not surprising to see ingrained intransigence in ALL parties.
The just ended useless careless sanction exemplify all the above quality that fueled the ongoing strives.
It is surprising under all these onerous condition that only a few significant strives remain in Myanmar that has at least 100 ethic groups.
The West know well about Myanmar history
ALWAYS exemplify unity/PROSPERITY under the benevolence of the stronger Bamar over all other smaller ethnic groups.
THIS IS THE COMMON DESTINY.
After decades long conflicts that has produced litany of wrongdoing, moving on everyone need to promote ‘a common destiny’ instead of ‘a common enemy’ to again make Myanmar a nation of ethnic brothers.
The 1st step to promote this aspect now is relentlessly promoting common prosperity.
Common prosperity?
Begin with Education, Healthcare and Economic well being.
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Nich
There are at least 1/2 dozen CBOs of purely Kayin effort, in the delta alone, that the administration/military is relying on to accomplish the business of rebuilding and continuing assistance to the Nargis victims.
There are also well know Kayin initiated providing medical services teams to numerous corners of rural region that are actively supported by this military regime for years.
These are the example of “a common destiny” accepted among Kayin and Bamar.
Unless absolutely ignorant the West must be aware of these joint undertaking that will invariably promote reconciliation and unify brothers.
Yet every time Kayin fate is described, have to be KNU vs Tamadaw, or related example of unending enduring animosity.
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When Plan B talks in his sleep, it’s, “Blame the West. Blame the West”.
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