Ilona Meurs, UNRIC Brussels
Since the coup of General Ne Win in 1962, Myanmar has been under the control of a military regime. At the moment almost 2,200 political opponents are imprisoned in appalling conditions, including persons with mental and physical health problems. The ethnic minorities (the Government recognizes 135 ethnic groups, with the predominant Bamar representing 68% of the population) are most often the target of the regime’s violations of human rights. Ethnic conflicts, dating back to the colonial times (from 1886 to 1948), are an important part of the instability in Myanmar, even more so after the coup. Fights between the regime’s army and the ethnic movements caused serious human right violations and thousands of people fled to neighboring Thailand. The activists of ethnic minorities who were or are involved with different forms of resistance against the government’s policies are targeted by the authorities. These minorities lament a process of ‘burmanization’, an attempt to extend the dominant Bamar culture over others. Even though freedom of religion is officially endorsed in Myanmar, Muslims and Christians are often discriminated.
Myanmar is not party to many international human rights treaties and conventions, which makes control by the International Community harder. Critics of the regime are arrested continuously, and convicted behind closed doors. Mostly, they are transferred to prisons in remote areas. The media in Myanmar is closely watched. Newspapers and magazines are under the authority of the government and are censured and access to the internet is limited. The junta is using forced labour, for example for the construction of infrastructure. Hundreds of thousands of civilians are obligated to work on bridges, roads, airports and tourist attractions. In the war against the ethnic minorities, civilians are used as bearers for the army or as living minesweepers. The International Labour Organization (ILO) claims that the junta is committing crimes against humanity and is worried about the abundance of forced labourers in Myanmar and the junta’s refusal to improve the situation. According to several international organizations (such as Amnesty International and Refugees International) and Burmese organizations, rape is often used as a weapon in war and conflict. The women of ethnic minorities are mostly the victims of this crime: one example is the Shan State, home to the Shan minority, where many women are raped and murdered.
The recent elections in November did not bring about any change: the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party claims having received 80% of the votes, although observers and opposition activist have denounced systematic fraud. Nevertheless, as the first election in twenty years, it was a step in the right direction. The regime in Myanmar wants to create the impression, to its citizens and to the outside world, that the time of the military junta is over and that democracy will follow. With the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, an opposition leader detained under house arrests for over 15 years, the regime is trying to gain credibility. However, although many Western countries have welcomed her release, they remain cautious towards the sudden change of attitude of Myanmar’s regime. They have all condemned the outcome of the elections, they keep asking for the release of the remaining 2,200 political prisoners, and they are not likely to withdraw the sanctions against Myanmar. On the other hand, some Asian countries such as China, India, Thailand and Singapore, seem more ready to believe in the prospect of a ‘democratic’ regime and will not stop their conspicuous investments in the country.
Thus for the moment, it seems unlikely that the elections will produce a change in the human rights situation in Myanmar.
Picture : UNHCR/J.Redfern
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