The internal conflict that takes place in Myanmar remains the world’s longest unresolved civil war. Starting in 1948, ethnic minorities, including Karenni (Kayah), have struggled for their rights and freedom. La Guardia (2005) has reported that the Four Cuts government policy, and what has been characterized as the slow genocide of indigenous groups, has contributed to the systematic devastation of societies and the degradation of traditional cultures. Civilians are murdered, women are raped, food for the villagers is burned, their livestock is murdered, and medical facilities are systematically destroyed as part of the regime’s policy of “Burmanization” in eastern Myanmar (Karenni and Karen ethnic groups). To control the resource-rich Karenni state government, military forces have systematically destroyed hundreds of Karenni villages, reported by ‘like-we do-not-exist’. Gradually and slowly, the Burmese military have extended their politically power over the entire Karenni state. The Burmese government changed the name of Karenni state to Kayah state in 1952 (Asia Peacebuilding Initiatives, 2014). As the conflict became intense, a thousand of Karenni people fled to the Thai-Myanmar border, and Karenni armed groups have fought back the Burmese army till now.
At present, Min Aung Hlaing leading group (State Administration Council-SAC) is governing following the February 2021 coup d’état and destroy people’s houses, schools, food and properties that belong to people in Karenni. According to KCSN 2022 report, there were 249 deaths, 300 arrests, 196 injuries, and 197115 the total number of displacement between February 1, 2021 and May 8, 2022 in Karenni state and Pekhon Township. More people have reportedly gone missing; therefore the accurate numbers of dead bodies have not yet be identified or confirmed.
Karenni Nationalities Defense Forces (KNDF) and Karenni Army (KA) are fighting against the military and protecting the Karenni internally displaced persons (IDPs) from the attacks of military. The military targeted to attack all people and groups who have different political ideology with them.
Actors and the Causes of Conflicts
Back to the history context, unequal power and resource distribution and socio-political exclusion of Karenni ethnicity were the main causes of the conflict. Of course, the poor governance, impunity and the failure of rule of law are added on this. The little small thing of conflicts comes to combine together and it gives a big blow up. The horizontal economic and political inequalities can increase the risk of prolonged conflicts in Myanmar. This downfall of economic, elections, coup, and uncertain socio-political situations triggers the conflict.
Commanders in Chief of Myanmar military Min Aung Hlaing and other elite military leaders are the actors that influence conflict mainly. They have a strong powerful back-up and advance weapons. Consequently, many PDFs (People Defense Forces) and NUG (National Unity Government of Myanmar) are formed to against the brutality of military’s and therefore, various EAOs (Ethnic Armed Organizations) are joined force together as one to resist the dictatorship. However, compared to military, EAOs and PDFs are still technologically and militarily weak. What the EAOs and civilians want is the federal-democracy.
The core interests of military junta are to maintain the dominant political power and its wealth. In order to have a control over that, they use all mean of power forces over the civilians and EAOs. Following its attempt to grab power on 1 February 2021, the Burmese military junta’s deliberate and widespread escalation of violence has created a humanitarian catastrophe that poses a major threat to regional human security. Another importantly, I emphasize on the discrimination and Burmanization as a part of my sources here because it is very necessary thing to know the root cause of the conflict and also by understanding this it will help me make sense of what other factors make Karenni people feel subjugated, apart from the torture and killing. It is important for us to recognize that types of injustice such as racism are profoundly embedded in society’s bedrock. A common example of discrimination in case of Karenni state, Myanmar, is the exclusion or limitation from accession to services or resources open to minority ethnic group by Burmese military and Burmese extremist nationalists. For instance, Burmese authorities often restrict Karenni’s sub-ethnic groups to celebrate the Martyrs day and Karenni resistance day. For Karenni people, those are unforgettable special days that remind them of their history. However, Burmese authorities often label those celebrations as unlawful assembly or illegal events. Such kind of things also often happens to other minority ethnic groups of Myanmar.
As a result of wars and human rights violations, many Karenni people have left their home and came to seek a shelter in Thai-Myanmar border as asylum seeker or refugee. The life struggles of Karenni refugee are very sad to express. They face with many challenges, such as the problems of unemployment, food shortages, lack of education opportunities, and the restrictions on freedom of movement, and environmental hazards. In September 2020, I have conducted 12 one on one interview to Karenni refugee youths on this research questions. As the resettlement program is limited and it is not open to all refugees, it is very hard for refugees who are struggling so hard to live within the boundary of refugee camp as they cannot also choose to return their hometown and to co-integrate with local Thai people.
The civil war resulting from the legacy of colonialism and dictatorship of Burmese military in Myanmar has been running with no end in sight. Day by day, the numbers of Karenni IDPs are on the rise due to the bloody battles inside Karenni State. However, the international aids could not able to reach to Karenni IDPs as the junta block all aids. People who do charity and fundraising are often being arrested and detained. Hence, currently Karenni IDPs are deeply in need of humanitarian aids and assistance.
Reference:
Guardia, A.L. (2005). “Burma’s Slow Genocide is Revealed Through the Eyes of Its Child Victims.” The Telegraph.
KCSN. (2022). “Summary of SAC human rights violation in Karenni State and Pekhon Township.” KCSN Facebook.
Kubo, T. (2014). “Karenni and Kayah: The Nature of Burma’s Ethnic Problem Over Two Names and the Path to Resolution.” Asia Peacebuilding Initiatives.
Mon, S.L. (2019). “Yangon Rejects Request for Karen Martyrs’ Day Ceremony.” Myanmar Times.