Why are people being internally displaced in Burma? Michael Peyra 6-December 2012

Rakhine State conflict – inter-communal and inter- religious violence Since June 2012, over 110,000 people, nearly all Rohingya Muslims, displaced and in dire need of food, shelter, and medical care (74,800 IDP’s from June unrest, 36,400 IDP’s from October unrest) Dozens of civilians are dead ; more than 5,300 houses and religious buildings destroyed in Sittwe and 9 Townships Origin of the conflict lies in inter-religious and inter communal violence between the Buddhist Rakhine population and Muslim Rohingya

The Rohingya are officially an alien and illegal community, not listed as one of the 135 recognized “ethnic nationalities” in Burma Rohingya have faced decades of state sponsored discrimination and abuses. Burma’s 1982 Citizenship Law effectively stripped the Rohingya of citizenship, rendering them stateless Stateless Rohingya in Burma around 808,000 (UNHCR figures). Much smaller minorities in Bangladesh (300,000), Pakistan (200,000), Thailand (100,000) and Malaysia (24,370). Most of these populations are unrecognized refugees from earlier “ethnic cleansing” campaigns in Rakhine State most notably in 1978 and 2000 Rakhine State conflict – inter-communal and inter- religious violence (cont.)

Updated : Thursday 24 th May 2012 Recent Rakhine State Emergency, Reported IDP figures; 5 Nov 2012 OCHA

In present conflict Burmese authorities again failed to take adequate measures to stem rising tensions and curb sectarian violence Local authorities and low enforcement culpable of inciting the violence: police and a Para-military border force called “Nasaka”, who are all made up of fiercely anti-Rohingya Rakhine Buddhists often take a partisan attitude Burmese Army (Tatmadaw) is present but does not interfere No independent international monitors to visit affected areas; Burmese security forces have restricted the access of international humanitarian agencies Rakhine State conflict – inter-communal and inter- religious violence (cont.)

International financial support needed to deal with IDP’s falls desperately short of requirements – USD $67.6 million needed to cover the period of July 2012-June So far, it has received $27 million High risk of “spill-over” of this conflict to other parts of the country Refugee numbers: tens of thousands over the past few decades 29,000 Rohingya live in official refugee camps in Bangladesh, where they are assisted by UNHCR and NGOs; another 200,000 Rohingya refugees reside in unofficial camps or Bangladeshi villages without legal protection (source: Refugees International) Rakhine State conflict – inter-communal and inter- religious violence (cont.)

Since June 2011, the Burmese army launched large-scale attacks against the Kachin ethnic minority in the nation’s jade- and timber-rich northernmost state. At least 70,000 people have been internally displaced. 7,000 – 10,000 have fled to China (4,000 + were recently pushed back into Burma) Human Rights Watch and other sources report extrajudicial executions; children killed by shelling and other indiscriminate attacks; forced labour; unlawful confiscation of food and property; torture; sexual violence; beatings and pillage, and extensive use of anti-personnel landmines in civilian areas Kachin State conflict – geo-political motives, as well as a struggle over resources (cont.)

Not only Burmese Military but also the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) is guilty of human rights abuses Background of the conflict is essentially a struggle for control over resources. Geo-political considerations are paramount (multibillion dollar dual gas and oil pipeline from the Gulf of Bengal to Yunnan, China) The military retain a leading role in Burma economy through its holding which are among the country's biggest commercial enterprises Displacement is the direct result of violence, but also induced by rapacious “development” by Government-backed investors and Chinese Companies: logging, mega hydro-electric powers schemes, mono-cropping… Kachin State conflict – geo-political motives, as well as a struggle over resources (cont.)

Updated : Thursday 24 th May 2012 Source: Human Rights Watch: Wartime Abuses and Forced Displacement in Burma’s Kachin State ISBN: March 2012 Kachin State

Burma/Myanmar

Kachin State conflict – geo-political motives, as well as a struggle over resources (cont.) Arable land is confiscated by Government for exploitation of commercial cash crop (castor oil, rubber, sugar cane). This has led to decline in agricultural productivity and self-reliance International support for civilian-led relief organizations operating in KIO areas has been sporadic and inadequate No end to the Conflict in sight. The Catholic Church is actively engaged in providing support in the form of basic services to at least 30,000 of the 65,000 internally displaced (now in Phase V of the response program)

The structural issue: lack of a fundamental change in the power-sharing arrangements Burma is a country of 52 million consisting of 135 different ethnic groups. Most of Burma’s ethnic minorities inhabit areas along the country's mountainous frontiers. The Burman (“Bamar”) largest single ethnic group comprise roughly two- thirds of the entire population, dominate the army and government. During the colonial days, the British ruled the country as two regional entities, favouring the Burman heartland over the “hill” States, belonging to the Chin, Kachin, Shan, Kayin, and Kayah. These were left to be largely autonomous regions.

The structural issue: lack of a fundamental change in power-sharing arrangements (cont.) After independence, the “Panglong agreement” (1947), outlined minority rights and specifically gave the Shan and Karenni peoples the option to secede from the union a decade after independence. These constitutional guarantees were never respected Secession wars and wars over division of power and control over resources continue to this day Displacement has averaged 75,000 people each year during the previous decade. According to conservative estimates 450,000 people still remain internally displaced

The structural issue: lack of a fundamental change in power-sharing arrangements (cont.) Newly displaced in Burma over the past 12 months outnumber by far the 142,000 refugees remaining along the Thai Burma border waiting to be repatriated. Does that reflect a safe environment for people to return to? There is a concern that the Burmese and Thai Governments might be tempted to agree to prematurely close down some of the camps without necessary guarantees for safety being in place Constitutional division of powers between central and “segmental” authorities remains of paramount importance. Without some form of a Federative structure being agreed by all parties, sustainable peace will always remain elusive.