DOCSLIB.ORG

Myanmar the State, Community and the Environment

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text

Load more

MyanMar the state, community and the environment MyanMar the state, community and the environment Monique Skidmore and Trevor Wilson (eds) Asia Pacific Press The Australian National University iv Copublished by ANU E Press and Asia Pacific Press The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Australia Email: [email protected] This title is available online at http://epress.anu.edu.au/myanmar_citation.html © ANU E Press and Asia Pacific Press 2007 This work is copyright. Apart from those uses which may be permitted under the Copyright Act 1968 as amended, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission from the publishers. The views expressed in this book are those of the author and not necessarily of the publishers. Asia Pacific Press Crawford School of Economics and Government The Australian National University Canberra ACT 0200 Ph: 61-2-6125 0178 Fax: 61-2-6125 0767 Email: books@asiapacificpress.com Website: http://www.asiapacificpress.com National Library of Australia Cataloguing in Publication entry Myanmar : the state, community and the environment. Bibliography. Includes index. ISBN 9780731538119 (pbk.) ISBN 9781921313370 (online) 1. Burma - Economic conditions. 2. Burma - Environmental conditions. 3. Burma - Politics and government. 4. Burma - Social conditions. I. Wilson, Trevor. II. Skidmore, Monique. III. Title. 320.9591 Cover design: Teresa Prowse, ANU E Press The cover image is based on the oil painting ‘Welcome Summer’ by Shwe Maung Thar, a Rakhine artist living in Mrauk-U, western Myanmar. Printed by University Printing Service, The Australian National University, Canberra Contents Tables vi Figures vii Maps vii Abbreviations viii Contributors xi Editors’ note xvi Introduction xvii Assessing political/military developments after the departure of Khin Nyunt 1. The political situation in Myanmar 1 Vicky Bowman 2. A Burmese perspective on prospects for progress 18 Khin Zaw Win 3. Of kyay-zu and kyet-su: the military in 2006 36 Mary Callahan 4. Conflict and displacement in Burma/Myanmar 54 Ashley South 5. Foreign policy as a political tool: Myanmar 2003–2006 82 Trevor Wilson Assessing the economic situation after the 2001–2002 banking crisis 6. Myanmar’s economy in 2006 108 Sean Turnell 7. Transforming Myanmar’s rice marketing 135 Ikuko Okamoto 8. Industrial zones in Burma and Burmese 159 labour in Thailand Guy Lubeigt v Implications of current development strategies for Myanmar’s environment 9. Environmental governance in the SPDC’s Myanmar 189 Tun Myint 10. Environmental governance of mining in Burma 218 Matthew Smith 11. Spaces of extraction: governance along the riverine 246 networks of Nyaunglebin District Ken MacLean 12. Identifying conservation issues in Kachin State 271 Tint Lwin Thaung Index 290 Tables 1.1 The SPDC’s seven-step road-map of 30 August 2003 2 1.2 Chapters of the Draft Constitution 4 4.1 Typology of forced migration 56 6.1 Claimed annual GDP growth rates, 1999–2005 110 6.2 Economic growth estimates, 2001–2006 111 6.3 State share of Myanmar’s financial resources, 114 selected indicators, 1999–2006 6.4 Customs duty revenues, 2002–2006 114 6.5 Indicative (unofficial) exchange rates, 1997–2006 117 6.6 Myanmar’s external sector, selected indicators, 120 1999–2005 6.7 Composition of exports, 2002–2005 120 6.8 Foreign direct investment flows, 2003–2005 122 6.9 Foreign exchange reserves, selected countries, 125 2000–2005 6.10 Selected financial indicators, 1999–2006 127 7.1 Estimated volume of domestically marketed rice, 138 1970–2001 7.2 Changes in milled rice by MAPT-owned 141 and MAPT-contracted mills, 1988–2001 v 7.3 Changes in volume of rationed rice 142 7.4 Direction of Myanmar’s rice exports, 1990–2001 144 7.5 Number of private mills registered with MAPT 147 7.6 Number of private mills contracted for 148 procurement of paddy, 1999–2001 8.1 Development of the private sector in 2006 161 8.2 Industrial zones in Burma, 2006 166 8.3 Labour force and unemployment rate, 1996–2001 168 8.4 Illegal migrant labour from Burma in Thailand 169 8.5 Types of jobs and salaries paid to Burmese 177 workers in Thailand 9.1 Current major environmental legislation 198 9.2 International environmental conventions 202 ratified or signed by Burma 11.1 Selected list of rents extracted in the mining 260 concessions, Shwegyin Township, 2004–2005 12.1 Categories of stakeholders interviewed 272 12.2 Large-scale issues arising from official projects withinstitutional support and driven by larger commercial interests 273 12.3 Small-scale issues, often driven by financial hardship 274 12.4 Threats ranked by stakeholders, regardless of scale 276 12.5 Official logging companies in northern Myanmar 286 Figures 7.1 Changes in procurement and farm-gate prices, 1999–2002 137 11.1 Shwegyin Township Mining Area 247 Maps 8.1 Industrial zones in Burma 160 8.2 Industrial zones along the Thailand-Burma border 166 8.3 Asian highways across Burma 173 v Abbreviations ABSDF All Burma Students’ Democratic Front ACMECS Ayeyawaddy (Irrawaddy)-Chao-Phraya- Mekong Economic Cooperation Strategy ADB Asian Development Bank AMD acid mine drainage ANU The Australian National University ARD acid rock drainage ASEAN Association of Southeast Asian Nations ASEM Asia-Europe Meeting ASM artisanal and small-scale mining BBC British Broadcasting Corporation BP British Petroleum BSPP Burma Socialist Programme Party BSS Burma Selection System CBD Convention on Biological Diversity CBM Central Bank of Myanmar CBO community-based organisation CITES Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wildlife and Fauna COHRE Centre on Housing Rights and Evictions CWS Chatthin Wildlife Sanctuary DKBA Democratic Kayin Buddhist Army DSI Defence Services Intelligence ECS Economic Cooperation Strategy EIA environmental impact assessment EITI Extractive Industries Transparency Intiative EIU Economist Intelligence Unit EMS Environmental Management Systems ERI Earth Rights International FAO Food and Agriculture Organization FATF Financial Action Task Force x FCCC Framework Convention on Climate Change FDI foreign direct investment GAIL Gas Authority of India Limited GDP gross domestic product GMS Greater Mekong Subregion GRI Global Reporting Initiative ICG International Crisis Group ICRC International Committee of the Red Cross IDCE International Development, Community, and the Environment ILO International Labour Organization IMF International Monetary Fund INGO international non-governmental organisation ISEAS Institute of Southeast Asian Studies ITTA International Tropical Timber Agreement KESAN Karen Environmental and Social Action Network KHRG Karen Human Rights Group KIO Kachin Independence Organisation KNU Karen National Union KNLA Karen National Liberation Army MADB Myanmar Agricultural Development Bank MAPT Myanmar Agricultural Produce Trading MCSO Myanmar Central Statistical Office ME1 Number 1 Myanmar Enterprise ME2 Number 2 Myanmar Enterprise ME3 Number 3 Myanmar Enterprise MGE Myanmar Gems Enterprise MICCL Myanmar Ivanhoe Copper Company Limited MNDAA Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army MOGE Myanmar Oil and Gas Enterprise MPE Myanmar Pearl Enterprise MRC Mekong River Commission MSF Médecins sans Frontiéres MWAF Myanmar Women’s Affairs Federation NCEA National Commission for Environmental Affairs (Burma) x NDAK New Democratic Army—Kachin NEP National Environmental Policy NGO non-governmental organisation NLD National League for Democracy NMSP New Mon State Party NTFP Non-Timber Forest Products OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ONGC Oil and Natural Gas Corporation OSI Open Society Institute PKDS Pan Kachin Development Society PRA participatory rural appraisal REFS Review of the Financial, Economic and Social Conditions SPDC State Peace and Development Council SLORC State Law and Order Restoration Council TBBC Thailand Burma Border Constortium UMEHL Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited UNCED United Nations Conference on Environment and Development UNEP United Nations Environment Programme UNDP United Nations Development Programme UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees UNICEF United Nations Childrens Fund UNIRIN United Nations Integrated Regional Information Networks UNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime USDA Union Solidarity and Development Association WCS Wildlife Conservation Society WFP World Food Program WWF World Wildlife Fund x Contributors Vicky Bowman received a BA (Hons) in Natural Sciences (Pathology) from Pembroke College, Cambridge, before winning a scholarship to the University of Chicago, where she took courses in Latin American Studies. She entered the East Africa Department of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in 1988 and studied Burmese at London’s School of Oriental and African Studies, before being posted as Second Secretary to the British Embassy in Rangoon from 1990–1993. From 1996 to 1999, she was First Secretary/spokeswoman at the British European Union Mission in Brussels, before moving to the European Commission in 1999, where she was a member of the Cabinet of External Affairs Commissioner, Chris Patten, until 2002. From 2002 to 2006, she was British Ambassador to Myanmar. She has published translations of various Burmese short stories, a translation of Mya Than Tint’s On the Road to Mandalay, and contributed to editions of Lonely Planet’s Burmese Phrasebook. Mary P. Callahan is an associate professor of International Studies at the University of Washington. She is author of Making Enemies: war and state-building in Burma (2003), which received
Recommended publications
  • Myanmar's Spring Revolution

    Myanmar's Spring Revolution

    EUROPEAN POLICY BRIEF MYANMAR ’S SPRING REVOLUTION : A PEOPLE ’S REVOLUTION Myanmar’s Spring Revolution is a grassroots, bottom-to-top nationwide resistance against the military ruling class that retook state power in February 2021. It is unprecedented in scale, fascinating in form and shows a profound societal change within the country. Michal Lubina , April 2021 INTRODUCTION A People’s revolution Myanmar’s Spring Revolution is a grassroots, bottom-to-top nationwide resistance against the military ruling class that retook state power in February 2021. It is unprecedented in scale, fascinating in form and shows a profound societal change within the country. EVIDENCE AND ANALYSIS The end of hermit country Burma has traditionally been called a hermit country 1 – a designation not uncommon in Asia (Bhutan and especially Korea were similarly named), yet very fitting in the case of Myanmar. Precolonial Burmese kingdoms were generally inward-looking, with periods of sometimes spectacular external expeditions being exceptions rather than the rule. Some believed Burma’s isolation was due to economic self-sufficiency, others ascribed it to geography. Still others looked for explanations in the cultural realm, believing - like Aung San Suu Kyi in her early writings 2 - that Buddhism made Burmese uninterested in foreign ideas. Whatever the reasons, it was only the colonial period that brought Burma into the global, capitalist world, however imperfectly: “Burma had been thrown open to the world, but the world had not been opened up to Burma.” 3 This forceful incursion inflicted wounds that never healed. That is why after the creative and chaotic decade of the 1950s (somewhat similar to the last ten years), Burma reverted to self-isolation after the 1962 1 Gustaaf Houtman, Mental Culture in Burmese Crisis Politics: Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy, ISLCAA Tokyo 1999, p.
  • U.S.-Japan Approaches to Democracy Promotion

    U.S.-Japan Approaches to Democracy Promotion

    U.S. JAPAN APPROACHES TO DEMOCRACY PROMOTION U.S. JAPAN Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA 1819 L St NW #300 Washington, DC 20036 [email protected] U.S.-JAPAN APPROACHES TO DEMOCRACY SASAKAWA USA SASAKAWA PROMOTION Edited by Michael R. Auslin and Daniel E. Bob ISBN 9780996656764 51000 > 9 780996 656764 U.S.-JAPAN APPROACHES TO DEMOCRACY PROMOTION Edited by Michael R. Auslin Daniel E. Bob Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA is an independent, American non-profit and non- partisan institution devoted to research, analysis and better understanding of the U.S.-Japan relationship. Sasakawa USA accomplishes its mission through programs that benefit both nations and the broader Asia Pacific region. Our research programs focus on security, diplomacy, economics, trade and technology, and our education programs facilitate people-to-people exchange and discussion among American and Japanese policymakers, influential citizens and the broader public in both countries. ISBN: 978-0-9966567-6-4 Printed in the United States of America. © 2017 by Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA LCCN Number applied for Sasakawa USA does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views expressed herein are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Sasakawa USA, its staff or its board. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by and means without permission in writing from Sasakawa USA. Please direct inquiries to: Sasakawa Peace Foundation USA Research Department 1819 L Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20036 P: +1 202-296-6694 This publication can be downloaded at no cost at http://spfusa.org/ Cover photo: © EPA/Barbara Walton Contents Preface .............................................................................................................................v Dennis Blair and Yasushi Akashi INTRODUCTION U.S.-Japan Approaches to Democracy Promotion ............................................
  • Λ L T S E Λ N B U R M a a L T E R N a T I V E a S E a N N E T W O R K O N B U R M a Campaigns, Advocacy & Capacity-Building for Human Rights & Democracy

    Λ L T S E Λ N B U R M a a L T E R N a T I V E a S E a N N E T W O R K O N B U R M a Campaigns, Advocacy & Capacity-Building for Human Rights & Democracy

    Λ L T S E Λ N B U R M A A L T E R N A T I V E A S E A N N E T W O R K O N B U R M A campaigns, advocacy & capacity-building for human rights & democracy SPECIAL REPORT: ON THE ROAD TO DEMOCRACY? A Summary of Political & Human Rights Developments in Burma September 1 2003 – February 29, 2004 Prepared for the 60th Session of the UN Commission on Human Rights, March 2004. CONTENTS 2 ON THE ROAD TO DEMOCRACY? 14 OVERVIEW: HUMAN RIGHTS 3 Context of the Roadmap 15 Arbitrary Detention, Burma’s Youngest 3 Nation-Wide Crackdown Political Prisoner 3 No Justice - No Accountability 16 Miscarriage Of Justice 4 Rise of the Hardliners 16 Update on Depayin Victims 4 Forced Military Training 17 Background: Arbitrary Detentions May 31 – Aug 31, 2003 5 Dissecting the Roadmap 18 Torture 5 ‘Moderate’ vs ‘Hardline’? 18 Extrajudicial Killings & Summary Executions 6 What the Roadmap Guarantees 19 Freedom of Expression 6 Democratisation or Delay Tactic? 19 Religious Intolerance 7 Broken Promises 19 Update on Ethnic Nationality Relations 8 Lessons from the National Convention 1990- 1996 20 Forced Labor 9 SPDC Actions Thus Far to Implement the 21 Forced Relocation & Displacement Roadmap 22 Landmines 9 Bangkok Process - Dialogue with One Side 22 Violence Against Women 10 USDA Plan to Destroy Democratic 23 Child Soldiers Movement 24 Abuse of Economic Rights 10 Ethnic & Pro-Democracy Groups Reject Roadmap 11 NLD: Dialogue or Detente 11 Ethnic Nationalities Seminar’s Common Position 11 Ceasefire Groups: Conditional Support, Misrepresentation 12 Pushed to the Ceasefire Table at Gunpoint 13 Rethinking the Roadmap 13 A Starting Point, Not a Fait Accompli Note: This is an A4-sized version of the Report distributed at the UN Commission on Human Rights in Geneva.
  • Introduction Xvii

    Introduction Xvii

    INTRODUCTION xvii Introduction Monique Skidmore and Trevor Wilson In the early years of the millennium, Burma/Myanmar endured several major crises that only aggravated the overall stress and the trying circumstances in which the country and the people found themselves. First, a banking crisis in 2002–03 brought the cash economy close to the point of collapse, from which it has still not fully recovered. Second, in May 2003 there was a serious political challenge to the military regime by the leader of the democratic opposition, Aung San Suu Kyi, to which the regime responded with characteristic ruthlessness in what has become known as the Depayin Massacre. Third, in late 2005, the regime peremptorily changed the official capital and uprooted the government and civil service from Rangoon to the new, isolated and still unfinished site of Naypyitaw. Since the dramatic October 2004 leadership changes in Burma/ Myanmar, there has been little movement in the political situation. The government has essentially been on the defensive, nominally adhering to previous policies, while pursuing its purge against the military intelligence apparatus headed by ousted Prime Minister General Khin Nyunt. The National Convention that had reconvened in May 2004 resumed in February 2005 and has continued since then, as promised by the government before its adjournment on 29 December 2006 but xviii MYANMAR – THE STATE, COMMUNITY AND THE ENVIRONMENT still without representatives from the National League for Democracy (whose leaders remain in detention), from the second largest opposition party, the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (whose leaders have been charged with high treason), or from the Karen National Union (with whom a cease-fire agreement has never been finalised and whom the government is fighting more vigorously than ever on the battlefield).
  • Asia Report, Nr. 27: Myanmar

    Asia Report, Nr. 27: Myanmar

    MYANMAR: THE ROLE OF CIVIL SOCIETY 6 December 2001 Asia Report N° 27 Bangkok/Brussels TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY................................................................................................................... i I. INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................1 II. BACKGROUND OF CIVIL SOCIETY IN MYANMAR........................................................3 A. AN EMERGENT CIVIL SOCIETY: 1948-1962....................................................................................... 3 B. CIVIL SOCIETY REPRESSED UNDER MILITARY RULE .......................................................................... 4 III. REGIME CONTROL OVER CIVIL SOCIETY SINCE 1988 ...............................................6 A. LACK OF THE RULE OF LAW............................................................................................................... 6 B. HIGHLY RESTRICTED ACCESS TO COMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY .................................................. 8 C. INDEPENDENT ORGANISATIONS STIFLED............................................................................................ 9 D. REGIME-SPONSORED ORGANISATIONS............................................................................................. 10 E. EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL LIMITATIONS .................................................................................. 11 F. SIMILAR RESTRICTIONS IN AREAS CONTROLLED BY ARMED ETHNIC NATIONALIST ORGANISATIONS .............................................................................................................................
  • Forced Migration and Land Rights in Burma

    Forced Migration and Land Rights in Burma

    -R&YVQE,SYWMRK0ERHERH4VSTIVX] ,04 VMKLXWEVIMRI\XVMGEFP]PMROIHXSXLIGSYRXV]«W SRKSMRKWXVYKKPIJSVNYWXMGIERHHIQSGVEG]ERHWYWXEMREFPIPMZIPMLSSHW7MRGI[LIRXLI QMPMXEV]VIKMQIXSSOTS[IVSZIVSRIQMPPMSRTISTPILEZIFIIRHMWTPEGIHEWYFWXERXMZIRYQFIV EVIJVSQIXLRMGREXMSREPMX]GSQQYRMXMIWHIRMIHXLIVMKLXXSVIWMHIMRXLIMVLSQIPERHW0ERH GSR´WGEXMSRF]+SZIVRQIRXJSVGIWMWVIWTSRWMFPIJSVQER]WYGL,04ZMSPEXMSRWMR&YVQE -R'3,6)GSQQMWWMSRIH%WLPI]7SYXLSRISJXLI[SVPH«WPIEHMRK&YVQEVIWIEVGLIVWXS GEVV]SYXSRWMXIVIWIEVGLSR,04VMKLXW8LIIRWYMRKVITSVX(MWTPEGIQIRXERH(MWTSWWIWWMSR *SVGIH1MKVEXMSRERH0ERH6MKLXWMR&YVQEJSVQWEGSQTVILIRWMZIPSSOEXXLIOI],04 MWWYIWEJJIGXMRK&YVQEXSHE]ERHLS[XLIWIQMKLXFIWXFIEHHVIWWIHMRXLIJYXYVI Displacement and Dispossession: 8LMWVITSVX´RHWXLEXWYGLTVSFPIQWGERSRP]FIVIWSPZIHXLVSYKLWYFWXERXMEPERHWYWXEMRIH GLERKIMR&YVQEETSPMXMGEPXVERWMXMSRXLEXWLSYPHMRGPYHIMQTVSZIHEGGIWWXSEVERKISJ Forced Migration and Land Rights JYRHEQIRXEPVMKLXWEWIRWLVMRIHMRMRXIVREXMSREPPE[ERHGSRZIRXMSRWMRGPYHMRKVIWTIGXJSV ,04VMKLXW4VSXIGXMSRJVSQ ERHHYVMRK JSVGIHQMKVEXMSRERHWSPYXMSRWXSXLI[MHIWTVIEH ,04GVMWIWMR&YVQEHITIRHYPXMQEXIP]SRWIXXPIQIRXWXSXLIGSRµMGXW[LMGLLEZI[VEGOIHXLI GSYRXV]JSVQSVIXLERLEPJEGIRXYV] BURMA )JJSVXWEXGSRµMGXVIWSPYXMSRLEZIXLYWJEVQIX[MXLSRP]ZIV]PMQMXIHWYGGIWW2IZIVXLIPIWW XLMWVITSVXHIWGVMFIWWSQIMRXIVIWXMRKERHYWIJYPTVSNIGXWXLERLEZIFIIRMQTPIQIRXIHF]GMZMP WSGMIX]KVSYTWMR&YVQE8LIWII\EQTPIWWLS[XLEXRSX[MXLWXERHMRKXLIRIIHJSVJYRHEQIRXEP TSPMXMGEPGLERKIMR&YVQEWXITWGERERHWLSYPHFIXEOIRRS[XSEHHVIWW,04MWWYIW-RTEVXMGYPEV STTSVXYRMXMIWI\MWXXSEWWMWXXLIVILEFMPMXEXMSRSJHMWTPEGIHTISTPIMR[E]W[LMGLPMROTSPMXMGEP
  • BURMA / MYANMAR International Crimes Committed in Burma: the Urgent Need for a Commission of Inquiry

    BURMA / MYANMAR International Crimes Committed in Burma: the Urgent Need for a Commission of Inquiry

    BURMA / MYANMAR International crimes committed in Burma: the urgent need for a Commission of Inquiry Article 1: All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. Article 2: Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty. Article 3: Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person. Article 4: No one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms. Article 5: No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Article 6: Everyone August 2009 n°527a August 2009 n°527a Table of Contents Abbreviations .................................................................................................... 5 I. Introduction ................................................................................................... 6 II. Background .................................................................................................. 7 III. Legal framework
  • Myanmar (Burma): a Reading Guide Andrew Selth

    Myanmar (Burma): a Reading Guide Andrew Selth

    Griffith Asia Institute Research Paper Myanmar (Burma): A reading guide Andrew Selth i About the Griffith Asia Institute The Griffith Asia Institute (GAI) is an internationally recognised research centre in the Griffith Business School. We reflect Griffith University’s longstanding commitment and future aspirations for the study of and engagement with nations of Asia and the Pacific. At GAI, our vision is to be the informed voice leading Australia’s strategic engagement in the Asia Pacific— cultivating the knowledge, capabilities and connections that will inform and enrich Australia’s Asia-Pacific future. We do this by: i) conducting and supporting excellent and relevant research on the politics, security, economies and development of the Asia-Pacific region; ii) facilitating high level dialogues and partnerships for policy impact in the region; iii) leading and informing public debate on Australia’s place in the Asia Pacific; and iv) shaping the next generation of Asia-Pacific leaders through positive learning experiences in the region. The Griffith Asia Institute’s ‘Research Papers’ publish the institute’s policy-relevant research on Australia and its regional environment. The texts of published papers and the titles of upcoming publications can be found on the Institute’s website: www.griffith.edu.au/asia-institute ‘Myanmar (Burma): A reading guide’ February 2021 ii About the Author Andrew Selth Andrew Selth is an Adjunct Professor at the Griffith Asia Institute, Griffith University. He has been studying international security issues and Asian affairs for 45 years, as a diplomat, strategic intelligence analyst and research scholar. Between 1974 and 1986 he was assigned to the Australian missions in Rangoon, Seoul and Wellington, and later held senior positions in both the Defence Intelligence Organisation and Office of National Assessments.
  • Myanmar’S Obligations Under International Law

    Myanmar’S Obligations Under International Law

    TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................... 1 I. INTRODUCTION ..................................................................................................... 1 Recent Developments ................................................................................................ 2 Background ................................................................................................................ 3 Burmese migrant workers in Thailand ....................................................................... 4 Economic developments ............................................................................................ 5 Myanmar’s obligations under international law ........................................................ 7 Economic and social inequality in Myanmar ............................................................. 7 II. FORCED LABOUR .................................................................................................. 9 Introduction and background ..................................................................................... 9 Forced portering ....................................................................................................... 11 Forced labour involving women and children ......................................................... 12 Forced labour on infrastructure projects .................................................................. 13 The impact of forced labour on the civilian population
  • Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar: Kanpauk Oil Palm Estate and Palm Oil Mill Project of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited

    Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar: Kanpauk Oil Palm Estate and Palm Oil Mill Project of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited

    Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar: Kanpauk Oil Palm Estate and Palm Oil Mill Project Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar: Kanpauk Oil Palm Estate and Palm Oil Mill Project of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited Lara M. Lundsgaard-Hansen and Nwe Nwe Tun Published in March 2018 Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar Working Paper No. 3 Publisher of working paper: Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern Hallerstrasse 10, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland www.cde.unibe.ch © The authors, 2018 Funding of project: The project “Managing telecoupled landscapes for the sustainable provision of ecosystem services and pov- erty alleviation” is part of the Swiss Programme for Research on Global Issues for Development (r4d programme). As such, it is funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and the Swiss National Science Foundation [Project number 152167], with additional support from the Centre for Develop- ment and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Switzerland. Research consortium of project: Centre for Development and Environment (CDE), University of Bern, Switzerland; Environmental and Eco- nomic Research Institute (EERi), Myanmar; Mention Foresterie et Environnement de l’Ecole Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques (ESSA-Forêt), University of Antananarivo, Madagascar; Institute of Political Sci- ences (IPS), University of Bern, Switzerland; National University of Laos (NUOL) in Vientiane, Laos; Planning of Landscape and Urban Systems (PLUS), Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule (ETH) Zurich, Switzer- land. Citation of working paper: Lundsgaard-Hansen LM, Tun NN. 2018. Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar: Kanpauk Oil Palm Estate and Palm Oil Mill Project of Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited. Voices of Land from Southern Myanmar, Working Paper No.
  • View on Myanmar/Burma

    View on Myanmar/Burma

    Uniya JESUIT SOCIAL JUSTICE CENTRE VIEW ON ASIA briefing series MYANMAR/BURMA Union of Myanmar (Burma) Capital: Yangon (Rangoon) Head of state: Sen. General Than Shwe Border countries: Thailand, Laos, China, India, Bangladesh India KACHIN Myanmar/Burma 1 has had a spurt of foreign relations controversies ever since it abruptly Bangla- China adjourned its controversial 2004 National desh CHIN Convention to draft a new constitution. In Mandalay August 2004, Myanmar/Burma was hit by SHAN Vietnam RAKHINE renewed sanctions from the US, faced being Laos banned from the upcoming Asia-Europe Meeting Yangon KAREN (ASEM) and its officials were barred from the 28th Olympic Games in Athens for its lack of MON Thailand human rights and democracy – a reminder that Myanmar/Burma still remains one of the most Cambodia difficult foreign policy challenges in Asia for the international community. Myanmar/Burma is situated east of the Andaman Sea and strategically buffers the world’s two Malaysia largest populations, China and India. The 1 Since 1989 the authorities have promoted the name Myanmar instead of Burma as a conventional name for their state. The name change is recognised by the UN but not the US. Australia does not seem to have an official position on the choice of terminology. Burmese expatriates, including those residing in Australia, continue to use the old colonial name. This paper uses both names, attaching no political significance to either term. Released: September 2004 PO Box 522 Kings Cross NSW 1340 Australia Author: Minh Nguyen Tel (02) 9356 3888 Fax (02) 9356 3021 Web www.uniya.org Em [email protected] VIEW ON ASIA Myanmar/Burma 2 country is rich in resources and diverse in the lower Myanmar/Burma region; the its ethnic demography.
  • Towards Universal Education in Myanmar's Ethnic Areas

    Towards Universal Education in Myanmar's Ethnic Areas

    Strength in Diversity: Towards Universal Education in Myanmar’s Ethnic Areas Kim Jolliffe and Emily Speers Mears October 2016 1 Acknowledgements The authors would like to thank all of the ethnic basic education providers that have worked for many years to serve their communities. In particular, the Karen Education Department, Karen Teacher Working Group, Mon National Education Committee and Department, and the Rural Development Foundation of Shan State and associates, all gave their time, resources, advice and consideration to make this report possible. Additionally, World Education, Myanmar Education Consortium, UNICEF, Child’s Dream, Save the Children, and all at the Education Thematic Working Group have been instrumental in the development of this work, providing information on their programs, making introductions, discussing their own strengths and challenges, providing feedback on initial findings, and helping to paint a deeper picture of what international support to ethnic basic education looks like. In particular, big thank yous to Dr. Win Aung, Aye Aye Tun, Dr. Thein Lwin (formerly worked for the Ministry of Education), Craig Nightingale, Amanda Seel, Catherine Daly, and Andrea Costa for reviewing early drafts of the paper and providing invaluable feedback, which has helped the report grow and develop considerably. About the Authors Having worked in Southeast Asia for over eight years, Kim Jolliffe is an independent researcher, writer, analyst and trainer, specializing in security, aid policy, and ethnic politics in Myanmar/Burma. He is the lead researcher on the Social Services in Contested Areas (SSCA) research project. Emily Speers Mears is a researcher and policy adviser specializing in education and conflict in fragile states.