Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Yangon (Agenzia Fides) - There are signs of openness and new hopes for democracy in Myanmar, but despite the progress, "ethnic minorities are inexplicably excluded from the reform process: this exclusion determines high conflict and a serious deficiency in the pacification of the country", is what is underlined by a source of Fides in the Burmese Christian community.
New hope for the democratic future comes from the news that the Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi could be a candidate in the upcoming elections: as a matter of fact a modification, already approved by President Thein Sein, to the current law on political parties opens the path for an official return of the "National League for Democracy", Aung San Suu Kyi’s party, on the political scene. According to the source of Fides, "it is a positive change" and also "the international community can welcome the reforms in Myanmar with cautious optimism".
But according to several NGOs such as "Act for Peace", which is part of a Consortium of humanitarian associations engaged in assisting refugees, on the border between Thailand and Myanmar, "the military’s iron fist on ethnic minorities continues, with huge suffering and displacement of thousands of people". In the last year, according to a Report of the NGOs Consortium of which a copy was sent to Fides, "there has been an increased number of displaced people compared to the total number in the last 10 years: more than 100 ethnic minority villages have been destroyed by military operations, and at least 112,000 people have been forced to flee, especially in areas inhabited by ethnic minorities such as Karen, Shan and Kachin".
Fides source explains: "One of the main causes that triggered the resumption of the war was the refusal, on behalf of ethnic groups, to become 'border police force': the army had made this proposal with the ' idea to check and dismantle armed groups. On the other hand, the groups wanted guarantees which had not been given to them. The negotiations which had started were therefore interupted and so there is fierce conflict again, such as what is happening now in the north, towards the Kachin people".
"The military – concludes the source - will still have a strong say in the present and the future of the country. The international community must not neglect the ethnic minorities. In addition to the situation of imprisoned political activists, we need constant attention on the issue of ethnic minorities and the need for reconciliation in the country: this is how we could see some real progress". (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/11/2011)
