Background on Burma

In the next month, we'll be having a film screening about the ongoing conflict in Burma, so here's a little background information on the conflict, prepared by our wonderful Burma intern:

Since Burma became independent from Britain in 1948, ethnic minorities along Burma’s borders have been seeking governmental autonomy. In 1962, the Burma Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) overthrew the democratic government. Throughout this period, guerrilla wars with ethnic opposition groups along the country's frontiers continued. In 1988, the BSPP finally responded to insistent calls for democracy by announcing a coup by the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). The SLORC was later named the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) in attempts to convince the international community it was committed to change. In 1990, elections were held and the National League for Democracy (NLD) received votes from 82% of the parliamentary seats. Aung San Suu Kyi, the heralded leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient was immediately put under house arrest.

Civilians in Burma’s eastern states as well as ethnic minorities in a few western states fall victim to one of the most brutal and corrupt regimes in the world. The primary driver of violence is the government, due to its counter-insurgency campaign against ethnic minority rebels, such as the Karen National Liberation Army. The SPDC follows a ‘four-cuts strategy’, which aims to cut off food, funds, intelligence, and recruits to the rebels. The Tatmadaw, the Burmese army, uses forced labor to build bases from which it attacks and burns surrounding villages. It also lays mines in the destroyed areas to discourage returns. Villagers are forced to flee and hide in the jungle, without food, shelter, or proper medical supplies. Some are resettled in relocation sites, guarded by the Tatmadaw.

Ethnic minorities face unjust arrests, torture, rape, disappearances, and homicides. Forced labor is common, and prostitution occurs. It is estimated that as many as 70,000 child soldiers exist. Some people become military porters, in which they must check for landmines. Eastern Burma, is Asia’s worst Internally Displaced Persons crisis zone, with over have a million people on the run. Many flee illegally into Thailand. Conditions are so horrible that one in ten babies die before turning five years old.