Fact Sheet – Burma Summary As Burma is undergoing its transition from a five-decade long military regime to a democracy, it faces numerous challenges. Since Thein Sein took office in 2011, a lot of reforms have been initiated. However, conflicts in both Shan and Kachin states have erupted again and the Rohingya Muslim minority is facing a pre-genocidal situation in Rakhine State. Despite increased investments from abroad and praises from different governments on the state of reforms, these problems urgently need to be addressed. HART’s partners in Burma are Shan Women’s Action Network (SWAN), Health and Hope (Dr Sasa) and Doh Say. Recent history fought back against the government, following the latter’s  Britain colonised Burma during the Anglo-Burmese wars (1824- failure to meet the conditions in the Panglong Agreement. 1885).  Currently the strongest resistance group is the Shan State Army  In 1942, Japan took control of Burma with the help of Aung San (SSA) in its two divisions: North and South. and his newly created Burma Independence Army. Japanese  In February 2015, fighting near the border with China left rule ended in July 1945 as the Allies repelled the Japanese nearly 50 soldiers dead. troops in a series of battles. Conflict in Kachin State  In 1947, Aung San negotiated Burma’s independence with Shan,  In 1961 the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) began its Kachin, and Chin leaders in the Panglong Agreement that insurgency to gain the autonomy that was promised by the stipulated the full autonomy in administration of certain states central government in the Panglong Agreement. where ethnic peoples lived.  A ceasefire was signed in 1994, but fighting erupted once again  In 1948 the country gained independence. A democratic in 2011 when the government attacked KIA positions. republic called the Union of Burma was created. However  In its 2015 update, the United Nations High Commissioner for Soviet-backed rebels began an uprising against the government Refugees estimates that the conflict has displaced more than in 1949. Local ethnic groups began fighting against the central 100,000 people since 2011. government for having denied their rights to autonomy, as prescribed in the Panglong Agreement. The Rohingya in Rakhine State  In 1962, Burmese General Ne Win overthrew the elected  The Rohingya are a Muslim ethnic group that have historically government and established military rule. inhabited Rakhine State in Burma. Past governments have  In 1988, following increasing unrest over the current regime, repeatedly tried to marginalise the Rohingyas, treating them as General Saw Maung staged a coup d’etat and formed the State second-class citizens. Law and Order Restoration Council.  Since sectarian strife led to violence between June and October  In 1990, for the first time in 30 years, free elections were held 2012, approximately 140,000 Rohingya peoples have been and Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) displaced and live in aid-dependent camps. party won 80% of seats. However, Suu Kyi was arrested and the  On September 28th 2014, the government presented a plan in military held control of power. order to deal with the sectarian conflict in Rakhine State and  Following an increase in the price of oil in 2007, a series of the displaced peoples in the area from 2012 which gave the anti-government protests erupted and eventually became a Rohingyas two choices: register as Bengalis (i.e. illegal civil resistance campaign known as the Saffron Revolution. immigrants from Bangladesh) to be possibly considered as  Heavy repression by the government led to international Burmese citizens or to be moved to camps (i.e. facing arbitrary condemnation and economic sanctions against the regime. indefinite detention).  In 2008 a constitution approved by the Burmese people led to  In February 2015 the government withdrew temporary voting elections in 2010. These were declared to be fraudulent, rights from Rohingyas ahead of a proposed constitutional putting the regime in the spotlight again. referendum, after Buddhist street protests.  The military junta was dismantled in 2011 and the Prime  Throughout 2015 hundreds of Rohingyas have attempted to Minister at the time, Thein Sein, became the President. escape prosecution and flee into neighbouring countries.  Thein Sein’s government reforms included the legalisation of Restricted political freedoms the NLD, deregulation of state-owned media, and the release  Though 2011 saw a loosening of government control of the of political prisoners. Problems including constant human media, oppression and arrests of journalists and demonstrators rights violations and on-going internal conflicts remain. still prevent free expression and press.  In July and August 2015 major floods affected 1.6 million  Currently, Burma holds 112 political prisoners, and 458 people and displaced 384,000 households. awaiting trial.  The first general elections since the end of military rule in 2011 are scheduled for the 8th of November 2015. Further Information:  Burma Campaign UK: http://burmacampaign.org.uk/ Conflict in Shan State  Human Rights Watch Burma: http://www.hrw.org/asia/burma  Conflict erupted in the 1950s in Shan State as rebel militias  Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK: http://brouk.org.uk/

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