CENTRO ALTI STUDI PER LA DIFESAISTITUTO ALTI STUDI PER LA DIFESA

3rd International Capstone Course

“Armed Conflicts in Myanmar and its impact on Nation”

Captain Soe HlaingMyanmar

Rome – 28/04/2015

Introduction

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1990 ended the ColdWar

Expectations: world security order change attain the peace

In Reality: civil wars or armed conflicts

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Armed conflict

Situation where both parties resort to the use of armed force

can be interstate or intrastate

devastating effects on the affected regions

fragmented societies

shattered economies

wrecked devastating harm on the environments, biodiversityand natural resources

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In examining the effects of armed conflicts on Myanmar:

a. What are the causes of armed conflicts and what factors

promote them?

b. What are the effects of armed conflicts and what are their

implications for regional security?

c. What measures are needed to stop armed conflicts or

reduce their effects when they have occurred?

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Scholars Definitions

violent or non-violent

Violent conflict - the use of force and poses a threat tothe society

non-violent conflict is expressed without the use of force

natural element in human society that motivates social change.

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Brief Background of Armed Conflicts in Myanmar

Myanmar’s history, ethnic diversity, and geography combineinto a unique set of development challenges and opportunities,including;

emergence from a long period of international isolation;

widespread poverty, despite rich land, water, and mineralresource endowments;

has a strategic location in the fastest-growing region in theworld;

long standing armed conflicts.6

Myanmar gained independence from British on January 4th,1948.

Soon after the indpendence, Burma Communist party leadby Thakhin Than Tun, armed against

widespread of various armed insurgencies groups

one of the biggest challenges of the country’s development.key to reducing poverty:

Addressing challenges

towards openness and integration,

empowerment and inclusion.7

Beginning of 2011

launched major political and economic reforms

Announcement (1/2011) in August,2011

inviting the various armed ethnic groups for peacenegotiation

formed the state level and Union level peace-makingcommittees to carry out the peace process.

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IMPACT OF ARMED CONFLICTS AND PEACE PROCESS IN MYANMAR

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Impact of armed conflicts

• altering the socio-economic

• disrupts resources management system

• divert resources away from development

• economy of affected nations can easily collapse

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Impact of Armed conflicts cont:

• Impact on security• Impact of school dropouts on security• Impact of health on security• Impact on refugee flow on security• Impact on equality and equal employment• Impact on development

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Peace Process and Nation Wide Ceasefire agreement (NCA)

• Ceasefire agreements are not a new exercise in Myanmar

• ceasefire agreements with armed ethnic groups in 1989

• Armed ethnic groups should be transformed in to the Border GuardForce (BGF)

• BGF was a form of an armed unit that was neither militia nor partof the regular army

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• 40 groups ceasefire or disarmament from 1998 to 2010

• only 25 groups remained as armed groups

• 5 groups transformed into BGFs

• 15 Groups transformed into People Militia\

5 Groups refused transformation either to BGF or Militia

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Kachin Independent Organization (KIO)

• second largest ethnic armed group in Myanmar

• 10,000 troops with another 10,000 reservists in the civilianpopulation ready to fight

• The KIO generates large revenues from its rich natural resources,trade centers: Laiza, Mai Ja Yang

KIO 

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New Mon State Party (NMSP)

• Mon Peoples Front (MPF)

• renamed as the New Mon State Party (NMSP)

• Since 1949, the eastern hills of the state

• In 1995, agreed to a ceasefire

• estimated strength : more or less 800 (2,000 reserved)

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United Wa State Army (UWSA)• The Wa group

• The biggest armed group

• Joined a peace agreement on 9 May 1989

• 2009 refused to transformed into BGF or Militia with regard to

their armed members

Karen Peace Council (KPC)• The KNU/KNLA Peace Council was started in 2007

• Brig-Gen Htay Maung formed the KNU/KNLA Peace Council on

January 31 the same year.

• estimated Strength is less than 200.

UWSA

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National Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA)

• Eastern Shan State ethnic ceasefire armed group

• based in Mongla, formed in 1989

• Estimated strength is 3000

Peace Process

• less than two years initiated a new peace process

• ceasefire agreements with 14 armed groups

• peace negotiations with the various armed groups held

discussion –Three Phases

• State level

• Union level

• Pyidaungsu Hluttaw level (Parliament level)

Union Peace Central Committee &

Union Peace Work Committee

• On 3 May, 2012• The Union Peace Central Committee (UPCC)• President as Chairman and comprising 11 members• The Union Peace Work Committee (UPWC)• Vice-President as Chairman and comprising 52 members• Commander in Chief of the Defence services, member of the

Union Peace Central Committee

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Commander-in-Chief of the Defence Services has laid downsix peace principles :(a) Genuine desire to make long lasting and enduring

peace.(b) Commitment to peace agreements.(c) Abstaining from taking unfair advantages from the

peace agreement.(d) Not to put burdens on local community.(e) Strict adherence to existing laws.(f) Cooperation in democratic reform process based on the

2008 State Constitution, our three Main NationalCauses, and the essence of democracy.

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Myanmar Peace Support Initiative (MPSI)

• The MPSI was launched in March 2012

• has facilitated projects that build trust and confidence in - and test -the ceasefires

• disseminated lessons learned

• sought to strengthen local and international coordination

• MPSI projects are members of the PDSG chaired by Norway

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National Ceasefire Coordination Team (NCCT)

• founded in 2013Leaders

• Naing Hong Sar , New Mon State Party as Vice Chairman•• Deputy Leader 1 :KNU General Secretary Padoh Saw Kwe Htoo

Win

• Deputy Leader 2: Deputy Commander in Chief Maj. General GunMaw from Kachin Independence Army (KIA)

• NCCT led & UPWC Nationwide Ceasefire Draft Document from21st to 23rd May 2014

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The fifth meeting NCCT and UPWC

• blueprint of the nationwide ceasefire on 15th to 17th August 2014

in MPC, Yangon.

• The aims of signing nationwide ceasefire agreement

• to fulfill demands by ethnic armed groups

• to approve a series of already-signed ceasefire agreements

• to commence political meeting process as soon as the agreements

have been signed.

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• with all efforts and coordination of UPCC, UPWC, MPSI,NCCT and PDSG

• the government and representatives of 16 ethnic armed groupssigned a draft ceasefire agreement on 31st March 2015

• aimed at ending more than six decades of armed conflictwhich is the world’s longest-running civil wars

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President U Thein Sein

• Sees the agreement as a key step toward holding inclusiveparliamentary elections this year.

“said the final agreement would pave the way for political dialogue. The process would take time but will “ensure the

peace builders a place in Myanmar’s history”,

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CONCLUSION

• The Government is making every endeavor :

• to strengthen the foundations for democracy

• to fulfill the two most essential factors for democracy

• peace and economic development

• learning critical lessons from our country’s history, pursuing newideas and policies to embark on a new path

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• armed conflict does not occur based on one reason alone, but acombination of causes

• Democracy - an instrument for good governance.

• conflict can generate a rippled effect - ultimately affect the securityof the entire region

• should provide supports in the form of funding and resources

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Recommendation• no regular operational coordination platform exists

• Strategic coordination by the donor community is to be addressedthrough a reinforced plan.

• addressing security and the establishment of governance structuresissues - much priority

• mutual trust to be built

• Established political dialogue toward peace