The internal conflict in Burma is one of the world's longest-running civil wars and began

shortly after the country's attainment of independence from the United Kingdom (UK) in 1948;
[20]
successive central governments of Burma (or Myanmar) have fought a myriad of ethnic and
political rebellions.
Some of the earliest insurgencies were instigated by Burmese-dominated "multi-colored" leftwing groups and the Karen National Union (KNU); the KNU fought to create an independent
Karen state from a large section of Lower Burma (or Outer Myanmar). Other ethnic rebellions
started in the early 1960s after the central government refused to consider a federal government
structure. By the early 1980s, politically oriented armed insurgencies had largely withered away,
while ethnic-based insurgencies continued. After the Cold War, even though great powers
favored peaceful settlements, some ethnic armed groups in Burma which were rich natural
resources are still fighting with government forces. Both natural resources and identity issue
made more difficult to make negotiation between some ethnic groups and government [21] Ethnic
rebel groups have made peace negotiation with successive military government since 1962.
However, there were no political results. The conflicts between central government and ethnic
minorities who live in resource rich area of mountainous borderline has been intertwined with
the division of natural resources.[22] Under the current Burmese government, a three phase peace
process has being implemented by the government, signed by various factions. According to the
Myanmar Peace Monitor, 3 out of 17 ethnic armed groups are still fighting with the government.
[23]

In April 2015, a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement was finalised between representatives from 16
ethnic armed organizations, the army and the government.[24]

Contents

1 Background of Conflicts in Burma

2 Civil wars under parliamentary rule (1948-1962)

3 Civil wars in Cold War (19621988)

4 1988 Uprising

5 Civil wars in Post Cold War (1988present)

6 Main fronts
o 6.1 Kachin State
o 6.2 Kayah State
o 6.3 Kayin State

7 Human rights violation and crimes against humanity

8 The United Nations and International Responses

o 8.1 Rakhine State
o 8.2 Shan State

9 Foreign support
o 9.1 Thai involvement

10 National Reconciliation by Cease fire Agreements

11 National Reconciliation by Road Map

12 National Reconciliation under New Constitution

13 Different Oppositions' Different Approaches

14 See also

15 References

16 Further reading

17 External links

Background of Conflicts in Burma

Soon after Burma gained independence in 1948, insurgency broke out in Burma, in part because
of grievances over the perceived exclusion of ethnic minority groups in the governing of the
country post-independence.[25] Insurgencies spread and intensified, especially in the early 1960s
following the military coup. Burmese internal conflict is considered as divided into three parts:
civil wars under parliamentary rule (1948-1962), civil wars under military rule in Cold War
(1962-1988), civil wars military rule after Cold War (1988present). All of three periods of short
history favored military rule in Burma.

Civil wars under parliamentary rule (1948-1962)

The Communist and Karen ethnic group fought the Burmese government since Burma gained its
independence from England. Both groups were strong and large rebel groups and could control
all entire Burma except the capital city of Burma. Before Burma gained its independence, the
Communist group was one of the divisions which fought for independence. It had many

strongholds and became a large rebel group after Burma gained its independence. On the other
hand, the Karen ethnic group, which was second largest majority of Burma, was favored by
English during its colonial era. Therefore, it became a large rebel group after it turned to rebels.
Unfull-fledged parliamentary government had fought civil wars with very large rebel groups and
the role of military was the higher and higher in government. Nobody could refuse that the fate
of Burma depended on its military capability in those period because central government faced
the two largest rebel groups.

Civil wars in Cold War (19621988)

Then, by the time of three successive parliamentary government ruled in Burma in, there was
military coup d'tat and general Ne Win became the country's leader, followed by widespread
human rights violations in frontier areas. The cabinet of parliamentary government and ethnic
leaders were arrested and detained in prisons.[14] Other ethnic rebellions started in the early
1960s after the central government refused to consider a federal government structure. By the
early 1980s, politically oriented armed insurgencies were ended and ethnic-based insurgencies
continued. General Ne Win made peace talk with political parties and ethnic rebel groups in
1972, but he unilaterally reject to form multiparty system again. Then, he confiscated private
economy and formed Burmese Socialist Programmed Party (BSPP)in 1974. Under General Ne
Win's 26 years of ruling, Burma became isolation and one of the (LDC) Least Development
Countries in the world. When students protests broke out and spread throughout Burma in 1988,
(BSPP) was ousted and military coup took over Burma again.[15]

1988 Uprising
Main article: 1988 Uprising
On 8 August 1988, student demonstrations that included ochre-robed monks, young children,
housewives and doctors spread throughout Burma, as the country's citizens protested against the
regime.[26] The uprising ended on 18 September 1988 after a military coup was enacted by the
State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Authorities in Myanmar stated that around
350 people were killed[27][28] during the uprising and a high number of deaths have been attributed
to the military.[29][30][31] According to the Economist, 3000 or more people were killed in the public
uprising in Burma in 1988.[32] As a result of the uprising the new government agreed to sign
separate peace treaties with certain insurgent groups.
During the 1988 uprising, Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as a national icon. The military junta
arranged an election in 1990 and Aung San Suu Kyi's party the National League for Democracy
(NLD) won. However, the military junta refused to recognise the results and instead placed Aung
San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

Civil wars in Post Cold War (1988present)

During the public uprising in 1988, Aung San Su Kyi became a national icon for her leading role
in opposition groups. The second generation of military junta held elections in 1990 and her

party, The National League for Democracy (NLD) won with a landslide victory. However, the
military junta refused to honor the election results and Aung San Su Kyi was placed under house
arrest for the next 15 years. On the other hand, ethnics rebel groups were out of support from
both of the wings (left and right). They were severely fought by government forces and lose their
main bases in 1990s. In 2007, hundred thousands of monks defied the government, but were
severely crushed down by government. In 2010, government introduced its new Constitution and
Aung San Su Kyi, and thousands of political prisoners, were released.
In November 2005, the military junta began transferring the government away from Yangon to a
location near Kyatpyay, just outside Pyinmana, for the purpose of designating a new capital city.
On Armed Forces Day (27 March 2006), the capital was officially named Naypyidaw Myodaw
("Royal City of the Seat of Kings"), but is commonly called Naypyidaw.[citation needed]
Since 2006, a Burmese army offensive has been enacted against the KNU in Karen State, and has
resulted in the displacement of a high number of people. One estimate has identified
approximately half a million people who have been displaced within eastern Burma due to armed
conflict and the forcible relocation of villages.[33]
In August 2007, approximately 160,000 Burmese refugees fled to the Thai boundary provinces of
Chiang Mai and Ratchaburi and refugee camps have been established; the camps are mostly
located near the BurmaThailand border. Approximately 62 percent of the refugee population
consists of Karen people. Humanitarian organizations have been formed to assist and support the
refugees.[citation needed] Now, United Nations estimated around 120,000 refugees remain in the
refugees camps located on the Thai-Burma border.[34] In 2011, the Burmese army initiated a
military operation called "Zwe Man Hein" ( ) to combat the rebel groups in Shan State.[35]
During the operation, the Burmese army captured the territory of the National Democratic
Alliance Army and Shan State Army (North), with the Shan State Army involved in most of the
violent conflict. The offensive was a response from the Burmese army, as the rebel groups
refused to accept Burma's 'One Nation One Army' policy.[36][37][38][39][40][41] During six decades of
civil war, both Burmese Army and ethnic rebels groups used thousands of children soldiers. Even
though, Burmese government and seven non-state armed groups signed with UNICEF in 2012,
International Labor Organization guessed it is still on going problem. According to ILO,
Burmese Army discharged of hundreds of child soldiers since 2012, it still received about 340
cases of recruitment of child soldiers in 2013 and 2014.[42]
On 19 November 2014, Myanmar troop attacked a Kachin Independence Army headquarters
near Laiza, killing at least 22 insurgents.[43]

Main fronts
Kachin State
Main article: Kachin conflict
The Kachin ethnic group of Northern Burma have fought a political struggle against the central
government for regional autonomy since 1961. Ceasefires agreements have been signed by the

Kachin Independence Army and the government, but fighting has always resumed. There were
two negotiations between Kachin rebels and government in 1962 and 1994. Burmese military
government refused multi-party system in 1962 and the agreement was abolished. After cease
fire agreement with second generation of military government in 1994, there was 17 years of
peace between Kachin rebels and government. In 2012 fighting between the KIA and the
government claimed at least 2500 lives.[44][45] The abundance of natural resources in Kachin state
increase the duration of war because If resources are located inside the actual conflict zone and
the duration of conflict is doubled. According to Paivi Lujala, the location of resources is crucial
to their impact on conflict duration [46] In compare with Myanmar population, the Kachin
population is 1 million out of 55 million of Myanmar population. However, the Kachin
Independence Army (KIA) has around 4000 troops. Most of Kachin people are Christians while
most of Burmese are Buddhists [47] There were large scale of people displacement in Kachin state
because of wars between government troops and KIA. Around 100,000 were displaced between
1960s and 1990s. Nowadays, there were around 67,000 internally displaced since the wars have
broken out in 2011[48] Before the end of the Cold War, successful rebel groups in the developing
world were typically financed by one of the great powers. Since the Cold War ended, insurgent
groups have been forced to find other ways to bankroll themselves; many have turned to the
natural resource sector.[49] In post-cold war period, other ethnic rebel groups were weak for the
lack of supporting from great powers, Kachin rebels have strong army for its richest natural
resource. On the other hand, it is the most difficult state to make peace between government and
rebel group. Natural resources in Kachin state increases the duration of war between armed
forces. According to Ross, natural resources heighten the danger that a civil war will break out,
and once it breaks out, that conflict will be more difficult to resolve.[50] Additionally, it is not only
natural resource case, but also identity issue, therefore, it is harder to compromise between two
parties. According to Licklider, wars concerned with identity issue are more intense and harder to
negotiate because it provokes deeper levels of commitment [51]

Kayah State
The aim of the Karenni Army is to secure the independence of the Karenni State (Kayah State).
[52]
According to a pro-Karenni Army website, the group's grievances include: "Exploitation and
rapid depletion of the natural resources, forced sale of agricultural products, extortion, forced
labour, forced relocation of whole villages and crops, destruction of houses, planting of mines
around crops and villages, torture, rape, extra-judicial killings, burning of villages, expropriation
of food supplies and livestock, arrest without charge, false accusations and exploitation of the
poor." [52] The Karenni Army is currently led by General Bee Htoo[52] and consists of between 800
and 1,500 soldiers.[10]

Kayin State
Main article: The Karen Conflict
The Karen people is one of Burma's largest ethnic minority populations and it has 7% out of 55
millions of Burmese population. Karen ethnic group has struggled for independence since 1949
after the Army Chief of Staff, General Smith Dun, a Karen, was fired and replaced by Ne Win, a
Burmese nationalist.[53] The initial aim of the KNU (Karen National Union) was independence,

but since 1976 the people has called for a federal system rather than an independent Karen state.
However, all were refused by successive Burmese government. Early 1995, the headquarter and
main bases of Karen ethnic rebels were lost and 3500 to 4000 men remained under arms. Thai
government gave up the old policy of encouraging ethnic minority rebels and on the other hand,
it favored Burmese government for its energy needs. According to a 30-year gas supply deal
between two governments, Thai government would supply natural gas to its growing cities and
industrial sectors and on the other hand, Burmese government would gain $400 million annually.
[54]

Human rights violation and crimes against humanity

Over 100 ethnic groups have being live in Burma and they have different languages and dialects.
Different geographical locations made such diversities. According to Chizom Ekeh and Martin
Smith, such rich diversity forced Burma political violence, tension between and within ethnic
groups, ethnic and religious discrimination and persecution, and violation of human rights [55]
Civilians living in ethnic areas are the worst affected by the countrys 60-year-old war,
constituting the majority of its victims. The UNGS Special Rapporteur said that between 1996
and 2006 the war generated an estimated 1 million internally displaced persons (IDPs) many of
whom were drawn from ethnic nationalities.[56] Two third of Burmese population was Burman
majority and 80% of minority nationalities were Christians.[57] Moreover, the about one-third of
ethnic nationalities who live mainly in the resource-rich border areas have been forcibly removed
from their homes by the military-backed government as it confiscates land for development
projects and resource exploitation.[58] Burma's government has fought countless battles with
ethnic minority groups and the conflict has resulted in a high number of both deaths and
refugees; refugees have fled to Western Thailand and have mainly settled around the Tak
Province. It was like Japanese invasion of Burma in WWII, Burmese military government has
pursued a "scorched earth" policy in the region, and has attempted to depopulate Karen
communities and repopulate these areas with the Bamar people.[59] Many villagers in Karen state
have been forced to work as porters for several months; they are deliberately starved, and
regularly beaten, raped, or murdered. When the Burmese soldiers entered a village, they shot the
villagers who try to escape. Some of villagers have been accused of helping the local ethnic
rebels and then have been killed. In certain areas, the villagers have been forced to leave their
villages and have been moved to camps on the border line. According to UNHCR, there are over
230,000 IDPs remain displaced in south-east of Myanmar. Moreover, it is estimated that 128,000
refugees live in temporary sheltering areas on the Thai-Burma border [60] The clashes between
majority Buddhists and Rohingya Muslim left at least 89 dead and about 90,000 displaced.[61]
According to UNICEF, the living condition of Rohinga refugees camps in Rakhine state are
wholly inadequate access to basic services [62] In the past, the persecution of Burmese Indians and
other ethnic groups after the military coup headed by General Ne Win in 1962 led to the
expulsion or emigration of 300,000 people.[63] More than 200,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled
to Bangladesh over the last 20 years to escape persecution [64] Therefore, the United Nation
describes Rohingya from Burma as "among the world's least wanted" and "one of the world's
most persecuted minorities.".[65] Recently, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri threaten to
Burma that the terror network has expanded its jihad to India, Bangladesh and Burma and the
security was increased in Rangoon, the capital of Burma [66] In past half century, successive
Myanmar (Burma) military leaders usually raises up nationalism to attempt to control the natural

resources from ethnic minorities and such resources competition suffers the most marginalize
unrecognized minority group.[22] According to Simpson, resource competition in Burma forms
two groups: those who gain social advantages (Barman majority military elites groups) and those
who are marginalized and unrecognized group (Muslim Rohinga group).

The United Nations and International Responses

Under military rule over Burma, the United Nations General Assembly has called on Burmese
military government to respect human rights for more than dozen times . According to the
General Assembly resolution in November 2009, Burmese military juntas was condemned for
the sys