April 23 - May 1, 2015

Role of the Military in Politics

Joint State-owned / private media

Myanmar National Times – “Risk of military political role becoming ‘entrenched’: ICG” April 23rd, 2014.

• The military’s formal role in national politics has come under scrutiny, The International Crisis Group warns that there is a strong chance the military will seek to maintain its grip on 25% of parliamentary seats “longer than is healthy”. 
• The ICG published a report on April 22nd entitled Myanmar’s Military: Back to the Barracks? This report comes at a time of growing debate over military influence in politics.
  • The ICG report acknowledges that the military does not see its constitutional privileges as permanent.
• The international community argues that a constitution that gives so much power and control to the military is not one that is representative of the greater population and leaves little room for political reform. The international community warns Myanmar government that the path of democratic institutions with the entrenchment of certain articles of the constitution could deeply damage the country’s future.
• President U Thein Sein said that the military would continue to play a role in the political transition of the country but that this role would be steadily reduced as Myanmar’s democracy matures and progress is made on achieving peace with ethnic armed forces.

National Census

Joint state-owned / private media

Myanmar National Times – “Census collection winds down amid controversy” April 28, 2014

• Statistics show that nearly all of the data collection for the national census is set to end this week. Debate over the process is likely to continue.
• The major problems that were faced during the census occurred primarily in the Rakhine State, where enumerators refused to accept data from Muslims who wanted to be identified as Rohingya.
• The ministry of Immigration and Population said the issue of Muslims identifying as Rohingya could create serious problems because people would perceive the self-identification as a step toward granting the Rohingyas citizenship. 
• It is clear that the government will not consider any solution that will allow Muslims to identify as Rohingya.
• Elsewhere in the country, the census collection also faced some challenges. In the Kachin State the census could not be conducted in areas controlled by the Kachin Independence Army.
  • One incident saw the death of a Tatmadaw major as he attempted to lead a united into KIA territory in order to secure the area for the enumerators. This incident led to an eruption of fighting between the two sides that has displaced 5000 people so far. 
• The Ministry of Immigration and Population and the UNFPA stated that although some mistakes were made during the data collection, they do not believe that the problem is widespread enough to damage the integrity of the data collected.
• Complaints: Some people felt that answers to questions were often implied; others were not asked about their ethnicity or religion. In these cases, enumerators assumed the ethnicity and religion of the individuals.
• Nevertheless, international observers reported that the process went smoothly in most parts of the country.

Ethnic groups worried over US, UK military engagement with Burmese army

Private

The Irrawaddy – “Ethnic Groups Concerned Over US, UK Military Engagement with Burma” April 30th, 2014

• Kachin rebel leader General Gun Maw said that the ethnic rebel groups have doubts about US and UK military collaboration with the Burmese Army because the military has yet to prove that it will end its oppression of the country’s ethnic minorities and democratic opposition.
• Gun Maw stressed concern that remains over any type of engagement that would bolster the army’s capabilities in their ongoing fight against rebel groups. If this is the case, ethnic groups will have to speak out about it to the international community.
• The KIA and an armed Palaung group, the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) are the only two ethnic groups within Burma that have yet to sign the bilateral ceasefire with Naypyidaw. The KIA has not yet signed the bilateral agreement because the Burmese military is still heavily present in the political sector.
• Gun Maw recently visited the US where officials reiterated that the US and UK military will not enhance to combat skills of the Burmese army. 

Aid Distribution/Aid Agencies

Private

Democratic Voice of Burma – “Aid Workers Negotiate Terms in Arakan” May 1st, 2014.

• Representatives from UN agencies and NGOs met with the Arakan State Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) in Sittwe. This is the second formal discussion between the government-led body and the aid agencies since the suspension of most humanitarian operations in the state.
• Most humanitarian agencies with operations in Arakan have existing memoranda of understanding with line ministries in Naypyidaw.
• After the first meeting, it was said agencies would have to go through the ECC in order to operate. This raised fears that agencies will be forced to compromise on principles of humanitarian impartiality in order to be allowed to operate.
• The ECC is allowed to have final say over aid distribution. This raised fears that aid to the Rohingya in Arakan state may be denied or restricted.
• UNICEF reiterated its principles of neutrality, impartiality, and dignity: “We are providing our support based on needs, not based on ethnicity or religion,” said UNICEF’s top official in Burma. UNICEF is unwilling to compromise on the principles of humanitarian neutrality.

Reconciliation and Unity

State-owned media

New Light of Myanmar – “Magway Region Hosts Interfaith Dialogue for Peace, Unity” April 27th, 2014

• An interfaith dialogue for peace and unity took place in the Magway Region this past Sunday. It was an attempt to advocate for peace, tolerance and unity as Myanmar continues to face ethnic and religious tensions.
• Buddhist, Muslim, Hindu and Christian religious leaders were invited to attend.

New Light of Myanmar –  “Parliament focuses on legislative work, national unity and reconciliation” April 28th, 2014

• Speaker of the Union Parliament and People’s Parliament, Thura U Shwe Mann said in the Kayin State that the parliament is now looking towards working on consolidating national unity and reconciliation to achieve national peace.
• He stressed the importance of the creation of township/war/village committees, support committees and development communities. He believes that this bottom-up approach would create a more people centered administration and enhance development and security.

Ethnic Women ‘Ignored, Abused And Victimized'

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Burma News International – “Ethnic Women ‘Ignored, Abused And Victimized” April 24, 2014

•  In a recent interview, the Secretary of the Karen Women’s Organization (KWO), a community based organization representing more than 49,000 women inside Burma, stated that ethnic women were second-class citizens in their own country. 
• “We are not only ignored, we are being abused and victimized. The peace talks don’t include a significant or meaningful level of women participants on the Burmese side or the ethnic side.”
• The KWO advocates for an international investigation into rape and sexual abuse perpetrated by the Burmese Army is essential for justice.
• The Kachin National Organization said it had documented cases of sexual violence as recently as April 10th, however, as Naw K’nyaw Paw explains, much of the sexual violence conducted against women by all levels of society goes unreported.
• There is obvious mistrust and decreasing support for the Burmese military. Yet their hold on the parliament make reforms difficult to pass if it is not in the interest of the army.