Nathan TannerEmily Burke Dylan Haller

Aubrey LaVasseur Courtney Shutes

Internal Conflict in Burma 

Group Presentation Breakdown Here are some of the suggested topics that your group may answer/address:

●        How and when did this conflict begin?

●        How many lives have been lost?  How many have been injured?  How many have fled the area, gone missing and/or been displaced (and potentially emigrated to another nation)?

●        Who are the different groups involved?

●        What is the government’s role?  Specify the government’s “side” and its goals/purpose for involving the military. 

●        Over what are the groups fighting? (Assuming there is a reason...)

●        Is the conflict based on social/religious/ethnic/racial cleavages?

●        What level of international involvement is there?  Are there groups from outside the nation that are playing a role?  If so, how are they involved?  (i.e. providing arms, serving in a peacekeeping role, assisting refugees, etc.)

●        Who in the media is covering the conflict and how is this being represented.  You should find information from media outside the United States (see the requirement for international news source listed above)

 Nathan TannerEmily Burke Dillon Haller Aubrey LaVasseur Courtney Shutes

 

How and When did this Conflict begin?• Began after WWII

•  Given Sovereignty from Britaino Has had Dictator and Military rule

•  Now has a new constitutiono Still unsure if elections are free

 How many lives have been lost?

• Anti-government uprisings have led to over 7,000 people being killed since 2005.

•  

Ethnic and Political Conflict in Burma• Ethnic 

o   Human Rights Violatedo Ethnic minority groups have little say in how things are runo "The military regime is accused of committing widespread and

systematic human rights abuses, including extrajudicial killings and summary executions, torture, rape, forced relocations, forced labor,confiscation of land and property, extortion, and the use of child soldiers." http://www.conflict-prevention.net/page.php?id=45&formid=72&action=show&articleid=678

• Politicalo Offensive of the Burmese Army against Karen National Union in

the Karen State has led to displacement of many people because of the armed conflict.

o Collapse of Communist Party in 1988 led to ethnic minority groups cease-fire agreements with the military regime.

o  Military government vs. the Karen National Union, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Shan State Army South (SSA South), and the Chin National Front (CNF).

  

Social, Racial, and Religious Conflict in Burma

•  Racialo     Refugee Campso   Ethnic minority groups feel discriminated

against by ethnic Burmans • Religious

o  Buddhism is a large practice in Burmao   Military regime is building a unitary state

based on central Burman identity leads to discrimination of other religions besides Buddhism.

o   Religions such as Islam and Christianity are considered to be unaccepted in Burma.

Who are the different groups involved?

 130 different ethnic groups who do not trust each other, Mistrust stems from propaganda fed from different ethnic groups. These ethnic groups are grouped into eight major ethnic races according to region: Bamar 68%, Shan 9%, Rakhine 3.5%, Chin 2.5%, Mon 2%, Kachin 1.5%, Kayah .75%  A militia regime that governs through intimidation and oppression, and is responsible for economic mismanagement.  A group of Buddhist monks have tried protesting the human rights abuses to the government and the public.

Over what are the groups fighting?

• Communist rebels began to uprise• Worsened when buddhism was made official

religion •  1962: Ne Win came to power and human rights

violations arose. • 1988: Thousands of college students, monks,

children, and doctors protested against the regime. (government) Authorities killed 350 people. 

•  2011: Zwe Man Hein violent conflict response to "One Nation, One Army" and integration to the border guards. 

• Military leadership 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_conflict_in_Burmahttp://www.wowmyanmar.com/internal-conflict-in-myanmar/

What is the government's role?

• The government is the problemo Unfair and not Free

• Military Ruleso Former Members of Regime now in Power

• They Want to Stay in Power

International Involvement 

- USAID 

- AUSAID 

- Japan 

- Burma Campaign: UK 

- Increasing Aid 

Media Involvement

• Wow Myanmar- News in Myanmar • Books written "Internal Conflicts in Myanmar:

Transitional Consequences"•  Fox News • Mainly saying that the military leadership of

Myanmar is bad, and the people wanting democracy are being supported. 

http://www.wowmyanmar.com/internal-conflict-in-myanmar/http://www.foxnews.com/world/2011/10/12/myanmar-releases-dissidents-keeps-many-locked-up/http://www.wowmyanmar.com/internal-conflict-in-myanmar/

Video

  War Refugee Video                   

Sourceshttp://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htmhttp://www.usaid.gov/locations/asia/countries/burma/http://www.ausaid.gov.au/country/burma/faq-burma.cfmhttp://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111119p2g00m0dm022000c.htmlhttp://www.burmacampaign.org.uk/ http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22317 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internal_conflict_in_Burma http://www.conflict-prevention.net/page.php?id=45&formid=72&action=show&articleid=678