Burma/Myanmar
Burma/Myanmar recently held elections (November 2015) leading to victory for the National League for Democracy Party of Aung Sang Su Ki, leaving the country in a transition period during which time a number of issues are being negotiated, including the possibility of amending the Constitution.
This has led to a period of uncertainty, particularly among HRDs and civil society. HRDs are reluctant to speculate about what might happen under the new government in terms of human rights in the country, citing the fact that the negotiations between the military and the political leadership of the NLD are going on behind closed doors and that both parties to the negotiations are highly autocratic. HRDs are concerned in particular about the Home Ministry, which is responsible for domestic security and police forces, etc. This Ministry is appointed by the Commander in Chief of the Military (not the elected leadership) and is likely to be an appointee who represents the interests of the military and who is not under the authority of the elected civilian government. According to HRDs, it is believed that the military is also seeking to appoint the State Minister for seven out of 14 provinces, notably those where there are existing civil conflicts with minority groups and where there have been long-standing patterns of abuse.
Another concern of HRDs is that many of the elected parliamentarians are former civil society activists and have good relations with civil society. But as MPs, they have different priorities and limitations, leaving current civil society questioning the best way forward to advance their demands. If civil society and HRDs take a softer approach with former colleagues, it may not yield results; yet if they take a more forthright position that leads to contestation with parliament, this could help the interests of the military and create tensions.
Front Line Defenders Asia Protection Coordinator Meeting with HRDs in Burma in February 2016.
One issue is the increasing tensions between ethnic groups and communities as there has been great frustration with the lack of progress in addressing minority issues, particularly given high expectations with the political liberalization that has been underway. Many of these issues present as religiously-connected, but underlying these communal tensions are economic and land issues that have more to do with the management of the economy, the liberalization of the economy and whose interests are benefitting, and the ongoing overall control of the levers of power by the military.
Front Line Defenders Asia Protection Coordinator Meeting with HRDs in Burma in February 2016.
The ethnic minority issue has largely been sidelined by mainstream civil society and HRDs, which an issue of concern to younger HRDs. The so-called “'88 generation” of political and civil society activists have been quick to emerge and establish themselves in this new environment. The younger generation largely feels both marginalized by this generation and also that there are different priorities for the younger generations. Some HRDs feel that issues such as LGBTI rights, labour issues, etc. are not seen as being of concern to the older generation, who seem to be more focused on the historical experience of struggling for democracy.
