| The
Union of Burma is made up of seven states and seven
administrative divisions. Although there has been no
reliable census under the present military regime, the
country’s population is estimated to be over 50
million. Burma’s main non-Burman ethnic nationalities,
which compose 40% of the total population, are: Rakhine;
Chin; Kachin; Shan; Karenni; Karen; Mon. Other ethnic
groups include the Chinese (who form 3% of the population),
the Indians (who form 2% of the population), and the
Rohingya. |
|
| |
There have been numerous
armed ethnic groups that have fought against Burma’s
current military regime and its predecessors. The
underlying cause for the hostilities are:
|
|
| •
Ethnic groups’ desire for a democratic government
in Burma or political autonomy. |
| •
Military regime targeting groups because of their ethnicity
or religion. |
| •
Concentration of opportunities and services in Burman
areas, and the exploitation of natural resources in
ethnic areas. |
|
| |
| By 1995, many
of the armed ethnic insurgent groups had entered into
“ceasefire” agreements with the SPDC. In
consideration for signing the ceasefire agreements,
the SPDC granted the various groups territory over which
the group could exercise political and economic control. |
|
| •
The ceasefire agreements generally serve the economic
and political interests of the leaders and members
of the armed ethnic groups in the short term and the
SPDC in the long term. In the years following ceasefire
agreements, the regime has increased its military
presence in the ceasefire areas. |
•
With the increased number of SPDC Army personnel in
ethnic areas, hostilities against the civilian population
have also increased, as has instances of forced labor,
violence (including sexual violence), and other human
rights abuses. |
•
In some instances, the SPDC has taken over the economic
activities originally given to the groups in exchange
for ceasefire agreements. |
• Armed ethnic groups that
do not have ceasefire agreements with the SPDC include:
o Arakan Liberation Party/Arakan
Liberation Army (ALP/ALA)
o National United Party of Arakan (NUPA)
o Chin National Front/Chin National Army (CNF/CNA)
o Lahu Democratic Front
o Wa National Army
o Hongsawatoi Restoration Party
o Mergui-Tavoy United Front
o Lahu National Organization
o Arakan Rohingya National Organization (ARNO)
o Karen National Union (KNU)
o Shan State Army – South (SSA-S)
o Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) - broke
previous ceasefire agreement with the SPDC
|
|
| |
| Despite the diversity
of Burma’s non-Burman population, there is substantial
cooperation and solidarity between the different ethnic
groups. Ethnic organizations inside and outside Burma
have worked together to offer a united front against
the SPDC. Groups such as the National Democratic Front
(NDF), the Democratic Alliance of Burma, and the Ethnic
Nationalities Council (ENC) work for a collaborative
approach to national reconciliation. |
|
|
|