Reconciliation in Burma – A pipedream?

An alliance of humanitarian agencies working with displaced people from Burma say the current, if small signs, of a shift to democratic reform in the country offers an opportunity to resolve ethnic conflict.

The alliance, the Thailand Burma Border Consortium’s, annual survey of conditions in South East Burma “found that more people had been forcibly displaced from their homes during the past year than any other since data was first collected in 2002.”

In a media statement the TBBC said.
“While government figures estimate that a quarter of the nation live in poverty, the survey found that almost two thirds of households in rural areas of the South East are unable to meet their basic needs.”

The TBBC statement said poverty severe in the “conflict-affected areas of northern Kayin State and eastern Bago Region.”

Mr Jack Dunford, the TBBC’s Executive Director, said
“A determined and sustained effort to resolve ethnic conflict in Burma is essential to avoid another generation of violence and abuse.”

In recent years the TBBC’s and its partner agencies have documented “the destruction, forced relocation or abandonment of more than 3,700 civilian settlements in South East Burma since 1996.”

The TBBC statement estimated that during the past year at least 112,000 people were forced to abandon their homes.

“While some fled into Thailand as part of an ongoing flow of new refugee arrivals and others returned to former villages or resettled elsewhere in Burma, over 450,000 people currently remain internally displaced in the south eastern region.”

Mr Dunford said that while democratic reforms by the new government are both vital and welcomed but conflict has increased in ethnic areas.

“The Tatmadaw’s (Burma Army) demands for ceasefire groups to form Border Guard Forces have escalated conflict and displacement in ethnic areas. As prospects for the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons are directly linked to national reconciliation, the urgency of finding a solution to conflict in Burma has never been greater.”
An alliance of humanitarian agencies working with displaced people from Burma say the current, if small signs, of a shift to democratic reform in the country offers an opportunity to resolve ethnic conflict.

The alliance, the Thailand Burma Border Consortium’s, annual survey of conditions in South East Burma “found that more people had been forcibly displaced from their homes during the past year than any other since data was first collected in 2002.”

In a media statement the TBBC said.
“While government figures estimate that a quarter of the nation live in poverty, the survey found that almost two thirds of households in rural areas of the South East are unable to meet their basic needs.”

The TBBC statement said poverty severe in the “conflict-affected areas of northern Kayin State and eastern Bago Region.”

Mr Jack Dunford, the TBBC’s Executive Director, said
“A determined and sustained effort to resolve ethnic conflict in Burma is essential to avoid another generation of violence and abuse.”

In recent years the TBBC’s and its partner agencies have documented “the destruction, forced relocation or abandonment of more than 3,700 civilian settlements in South East Burma since 1996.”

The TBBC statement estimated that during the past year at least 112,000 people were forced to abandon their homes.

“While some fled into Thailand as part of an ongoing flow of new refugee arrivals and others returned to former villages or resettled elsewhere in Burma, over 450,000 people currently remain internally displaced in the south eastern region.”

Mr Dunford said that while democratic reforms by the new government are both vital and welcomed but conflict has increased in ethnic areas.

“The Tatmadaw’s (Burma Army) demands for ceasefire groups to form Border Guard Forces have escalated conflict and displacement in ethnic areas. As prospects for the voluntary return of refugees and internally displaced persons are directly linked to national reconciliation, the urgency of finding a solution to conflict in Burma has never been greater.”