Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak 1 Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak 2 Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak Table of Contents Preface ............................................................................................. 4 Acknowledgements .......................................................................... 7 Executive Summary .......................................................................... 9 Recommendations ......................................................................... 16 List of Acronyms ............................................................................. 21 Glossary/Terminology .................................................................... 23 Introduction ................................................................................... 25 PART A: ANALYSIS ..................................................................... 35 Cultural Context ............................................................................ 37 General Context ............................................................................ 69 Inter-Group Interaction ............................................................... 129 Ethnic Vision and International Community Support................... 160 Conclusion ................................................................................... 205 PART B: CASE STUDIES ............................................................. 209 Chin Case Study ........................................................................... 211 Kachin Case Study ....................................................................... 228 Karen Case Study ......................................................................... 247 Kayah Case Study ........................................................................ 266 Mon Case Study .......................................................................... 280 Rakhine Case Study ..................................................................... 294 Shan Case Study .......................................................................... 311 Bamar Case Study........................................................................ 331 REFERENCE LIST....................................................................... 350 3 Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak Preface This publication of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies is the product of a research project undertaken in 2009 at the request of a group of civil society leaders from different ethnic nationalities who live and work in Myanmar. It was felt that internationally, little is known about the experiences and context of ethnic groups in Myanmar. The civil society leaders expressed a desire for a publication that could educate the international community and could also be used as a tool within Myanmar to support dialogue between different ethnic groups, including the predominant Bamar majority. The research informing this report is based on eighty-seven qualitative interviews with civil society members from the eight major ethnic nationalities in Myanmar—Chin, Kachin, Karen, Kayah, Mon, Rakhine, Shan and Bamar. An average of ten people from each ethnic nationality was interviewed. Interviewees included men and women from rural and urban areas, students, business people, farmers, housewives, NGO workers, government employees, religious leaders, medical officers and lawyers. The interviews were conducted in urban and regional parts of Myanmar. Gaining an understanding of the contemporary context of different ethnic groups in Myanmar is critical for the international actors who work on issues such as human rights, trade, development, conflict transformation and humanitarian aid. This publication provides a snapshot of that context. It documents civil society perceptions of culture, and opportunities and challenges in key areas such as health, education, employment, government and military relations, and elections. It records civil society views of interactions among ethnic groups. It records people’s visions for the future and documents their views on how external organisations can support those visions. 4 Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak The political environment in which these interviews took place also renders this snapshot unique. At the time of the interviews, inter-ethnic issues had entered a new phase, heralded by the government’s requirement that armed ceasefire groups turn themselves into Border Guard Forces (BGF) with central oversight; the US announcement of its decision to revisit its policy on Myanmar, and intense speculation about the trial of Aung San Syu Kyi and the planned 2010 elections. This highly charged environment influenced the subject matter of the interviews. Those involved in this publication acknowledge that ‘ethnic’, ‘ethnic group,’ and ‘ethnicity’ are contested and often highly charged terms. We use this language in the absence of better alternatives. We employ these terms—ethnic, ethnic group and ethnicity—knowing that ethnicity is subjective, fluid, and plural. Some people may identify with a number of ethnic groups or none at all. We also acknowledge that currently and historically, these identities are embodied with assumptions and stereotypes. Our starting point for this publication has been to rely upon how people identified their own ethnicity. This foundational study brought to light a significant number of issues on a broad range of topics. Enormous scope was found for further research. Exploring the data collected, we make the following conclusions: z Inter-ethnic conflict is a fundamental dynamic of the conflict in Myanmar. This needs to be understood in order for effective work to take place to build peace and social change. z Inter-ethnic understanding, particularly in relation to cultural norms and practices, should be promoted across the top, middle and grassroots levels. This can address cultural stereotyping and prejudice that has existed for generations. z Selecting strategic issues common to all ethnic groups around which to organise, such as the environment, can bring ethnic groups together and towards a common goal. Unity, working across different groups, is critical. 5 Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak z NGOs should look to existing groups and structures that promote inter-ethnic dialogue and cultural preservation and channel funds to support and boost these initiatives, such as the Culture and Literature Associations and the Network of Ethnic Youth. These organisations could consider further including the Bamar majority in some of their initiatives as a way of breaking down existing barriers. z There is a need for capacity building in numerous areas including: infrastructure, agriculture and technology, civic education, election monitoring, and social science. z Working strategically with the government as part of a constructive engagement approach has led to developments and has the potential to move the country forward on key issues such as education and infrastructure. z International actors should work to find ways to facilitate dialogue between the government, the National League of Democracy (NLD) and other significant political parties and ethnic nationalities. They can also play a role in lobbying key international actors such as China, India and Russia. Like the last publication of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Listening to Voices from Inside: Myanmar Civil Society’s Response to Cyclone Nargis, this publication amplifies the voices of those living on inside Myanmar on inter-ethnic interactions and ethnic nationalities. The voices of these people who work closely on the conflict and bear the consequences of its impact, ought to be heard as loudly and as clearly as those who live and speak outside the country. 6 Listening to Voices from Inside: Ethnic People Speak Acknowledgements Many people have said it is near impossible to do peace work inside Myanmar. Even more say it is impossible to do research inside the country. It is not impossible, but it is indeed a difficult and challenging task. For this reason we would like to thank the research team who conducted the interviews throughout the country. They showed a particular flair for the sensitive yet rigorous approach required for such an undertaking. They spent many days of their own time checking and re-checking facts, writing up and editing transcripts and synthesising the findings. It was no small feat, and they excelled at the task. All involved in this project were deeply touched by those who came forward to be interviewed. As we all know, agreeing to speak openly about such topics in Myanmar is risky, yet over and over again people seized the chance to have their perspectives told and hopefully heard outside of their country. This report would not have been possible without their willingness to share from their hearts their plights as well as their vision and hopes for the future. Helping the research team connect to the interviewees was a small but deeply committed group of ethnic civil society leaders who first laid down the challenge to CPCS to produce such a manual of ethnic voices. They have read and re-read numerous drafts of this publication and have been challenged and inspired by what they have learned along the way. Thank you to them for their vision and leadership. We would also like to acknowledge those who resourced this project. Naturally