Unlocking Civil Society and Peace in Myanmar
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UNLOCKING CIVIL SOCIETY AND PEACE IN MYANMAR Opportunities, obstacles and undercurrents ABOUT THE COVER DESIGN: The cover design is a reflection of the dynamism of civil society in Myanmar, which is inherently complex, fluid, and interconnected. The bar charted along the outer circumference of the circle depicts the number of people working in each organisation. The inner lines meet when one of those people is engaged or connected with another organisation. The many crossings show how civil society interacts, networks, grows and expands. Alone they are each significant but together they make broad, impactful strokes. This visualisation was created using primary data collected throughout the research process for this Discussion Paper. CIVIL SOCIETY: A BRIDGE BETWEEN THE FAMILY & THE STATE FAMILY STATE RAPID GROWTH TRIGGERED BY TRANSITION & KEY EVENTS Cyclone Nargis 8888 Political Uprising 1980s 1990s 2000s 2010s EFFECTIVENESS IN KEY PEACEBUILDING FUNCTIONS Social Service Facilitation/ Socialisation Advocacy Protection Cohesion Monitoring Delivery Mediation Low Medium High ✁ CIVIL SOCIETY IN MYANMAR: TRENDS 1 2 3 NEW ORGANISATIONS REGISTRATION POLICY CSOs A boom in new CSOs More groups are Want to engage ocially registering more in policy 6 5 4 YOUTH GENDER NETWORKS Youth organisations are Women’s organisations are CSO’s build networks becoming more prominent advocating for gender participation 7 8 9 CEASEFIRES CROSSBORDER LITERATURE AND CULTURE Bi-lateral ceasefires Cross-border Groups that preserve transform relations organisations are ethnic culture are evolving with armed groups still relevant Table of Contents Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................1 To the Reader .......................................................................................................................................................1 Conceptual Framework and Definitions .......................................................................................................... 3 Acronyms ............................................................................................................................................................4 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 9 Section 1: What is Civil Society? .................................................................................................................... 10 1.1 The space between the family and the state .............................................................................................10 1.2 Civil society and sustainable peace ...............................................................................................................11 Section 2: Civil Society Space in Myanmar ....................................................................................................12 2.1. A brief history of civil society in Myanmar ...............................................................................................12 2.2. Civil society in Myanmar’s transition .........................................................................................................15 2.3 Civil society’s role inside and outside the formal peace process ...........................................................16 2.4. What helps civil society and what hinders it? ......................................................................................... 20 2.5. Current trends .............................................................................................................................................27 Section 3: Civil Society’s Role in Peace .........................................................................................................38 3.1. Civil Society Functions: Contributing to Peace ...................................................................................... 38 Function 1: Protection ..............................................................................................................................40 Function 2: Monitoring ............................................................................................................................. 41 Function 3: Advocacy ............................................................................................................................... 42 Function 4: Socialisation ........................................................................................................................... 43 Function 5: Social Cohesion .................................................................................................................... 44 Function 6: Mediation and Facilitation ................................................................................................... 45 Function 7: Service Delivery .................................................................................................................... 46 3.2. Alternative functions: Building a bridge and elevating voices ................................................................47 3.3. Myanmar has only just begun its journey to peace ................................................................................ 48 Section 4: Snapshots of States and Regions ................................................................................................. 50 Annex 1: Methodology .....................................................................................................................................67 Annex 2: About the ‘Contributions to Sustainable Peace Series’ ................................................................69 Annex 3: Overview of contemporary dynamics of peace and conflict ........................................................70 Annex 4: Endnotes ...........................................................................................................................................74 Mi Chan Seik, Mon Youth Educator Organisation. UNLOCKING CIVIL SOCIETY CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACE IN MYANMAR 1 Acknowledgements This Discussion Paper was made possible by the research methodology and the Paper itself. generous insights from a large number of people Thanks are extended to Caitlin Williscroft who and groups across civil society in Myanmar. It is managed the development and production of the these people who drive, support, and at times Discussion Paper, and to Zaw Myint, Joshua Carroll, raise concerns about developments in a complex Karlien Truyens, Yan Oak, and Miranda Franks transition that affects their daily lives in various who supported the publication process through ways. This Paper is dedicated to them, and their translation, editing, design, data visualisation, and commitment to building social cohesion and peace photography respectively. in Myanmar. Paung Sie Facility. 2018. Unlocking Civil Society This issue of the Contributions to Sustainable Peace Contributions to Peace in Myanmar, Yangon: PSF. Series was developed by Michael Lidauer, Saw Chit Thet Tun, La San Aung, and Seint Seint Tun. Two external peer reviewers, Roger Mac Ginty and Ashley South, provided invaluable comments on To the Reader This Discussion Paper offers a sample of perspectives, not a definitive statement, on civil society vis-a-vis social cohesion and peacebuilding in Myanmar. It seeks to encourage further, much needed conversation and debate on this topic. It also aims to highlight and build on the extensive, diverse and everyday contributions of civil society towards peace across Myanmar. Analysis is indicative rather than exhaustive in nature. Analysis covers events in Myanmar’s transition up to June 2017. More recent developments in this rapidly evolving context, such as the August 2017 violence in northern Rakhine and more recent episodes of conflict in northern Shan and Kachin, are outside the scope of this Paper. Readers are encouraged to share their comments, feedback and ideas regarding this Discussion Paper with the Paung Sie Facility: [email protected]. 2 UNLOCKING CIVIL SOCIETY CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACE IN MYANMAR DISCUSSION QUESTIONS: 1. Who makes up civil society in Myanmar? Are there parts of civil society in Myanmar that are ‘uncivil’? 2. How does civil society contribute to peace in Myanmar? 3. Why is it important to consider civil society’s participation in peacebuilding? 4. How does civil society contribute to social cohesion in Myanmar? 5. Is civil society limited to professional organisations? 6. How has civil society contributed to Myanmar’s history? 7. How has Myanmar’s transition impacted civil society? 8. Which factors help and hinder civil society in Myanmar? 9. What is the relationship between media and civil society? 10. How is civil society advancing gender equality? 11. How has cross-border civil society evolved throughout Myanmar’s transition? 12. How does civil society influence the peace process from the inside and outside? 13. Are there gaps in civil society’s contributions to social cohesion and peace in Myanmar? 14. How do peacebuilders currently coordinate their efforts (national and sub-national)? What channels are needed to improve collaboration? UNLOCKING CIVIL SOCIETY CONTRIBUTIONS TO PEACE IN MYANMAR 3 Conceptual Framework and Definitions Civil Society: Civil Society is defined broadly as the Peace process: For the purposes of this research, the space between the family and the state, but