Why ethnic minorities are under attack today. http://worldwide-impact-now.org

1. Burma RealityBurma Reality
TodayToday
A Perspective
On Ethnic
MinoritiesBurma:Burma:
Seeing isSeeing is BelievingBelieving

2. The Overt Issues in the News
In simplest terms
– Burmese authorities are marketing Reform to the world
– Internationals are engaging the Myanmar Government
– US Government is split on Burma generally along partisan
political lines
– Burmese authorities now seek a Nation-wide Ceasefire
– Ethnics do not agree to Burmese terms for this
– Burmese authorities want a national election to secure their
legitimacy and authority in the eyes of the world
– Ethnics contest Burmese legitimacy and authority

3. What the News does not Convey
Also in simplest terms
– Burmese authorities are using international legitimacy for increased
power to keep ethnics marginalized
– They control international aid, development and business in ethnic areas
– Burmese generals continues to attack ethnics even as its government
talks of peace
– Burmese authorities confiscate ethnic lands, create business
monopolies, and undercut ethnic grassroots governance
The Bottom Line?
– It is all about Burmese control of ethnic ancestral lands because these:
• Host most of Burma’s enormous natural resource wealth
• Host most of Burma’s hydro power potential
• Cover access to most of Burma’s international trade routes
– All political-military-economic power arises from this source

4. Ethnic lands are
rich in natural resources
Why?
36003600

5. Ethnic Land and DemographicsEthnic Land and Demographics
The “Terrain Basis” of Enduring Burman FearThe “Terrain Basis” of Enduring Burman Fear
Reality is that ethnic populations and ethnic ancestral lands dominate internationalReality is that ethnic populations and ethnic ancestral lands dominate international
trade routes, natural resource deposits and borderstrade routes, natural resource deposits and borders
This promotes Burman fearThis promotes Burman fear about allowing ethnics having equal rights and powerabout allowing ethnics having equal rights and power
Mineral DepositsMineral Deposits Mineral Deposits + Ethnic GroupsMineral Deposits + Ethnic GroupsNon-Burman Ethnic Groups (Colored)Non-Burman Ethnic Groups (Colored)

6. China Factor: China Needs AccessChina Factor: China Needs Access
Thru Ethnic Lands to the Indian OceanThru Ethnic Lands to the Indian Ocean
1
23
4
6
1.1. Kachin StateKachin State
2.2. Shan StateShan State
3.3. Arakan StateArakan State
4.4. Irrawaddy Region (Karen)Irrawaddy Region (Karen)
5.5. Karen StateKaren State
6.6. Tennassarim Division (Karen)Tennassarim Division (Karen)
China also wants access to Burma’s natural resourcesChina also wants access to Burma’s natural resources
5

7. Other Realities
1. Myanmar Government is waging what amounts to Soft
Counter-insurgency by using international resources to finally
defeat ethnics by keeping them economically and militarily
marginalized.
• The aim here is the Burmanization of ethnics within two generations
• Control of international resources gives the Burmese the power to do
this at ethnic grassroots levels
1. No Burmese general ever defended democracy, whereas many
ethnic generals and soldiers have during and since World War II.
2. Ethnic field armies will never quit protecting the families and
homelands which have been on these lands for up to almost three
millennia.
3. The is a classic Central Power vs States Rights contest

8. Implications
1. Burma has the potential to be a success story because it has
abundant human and natural resources sitting on strategic key
terrain.
2. The international community, however, has tipped the balance
of power towards Burmese elites who control international
resources
3. These came to power through ill-gotten means in the form of
oppression of ethnics “for profit” as a military business model.
4. The solution in Burma lies in experimenting with inclusive power
sharing at all levels.
5. This is unlikely as long as Burmese elites feel they do not have to
share power.

9. Solutions
1. International community takes a balanced approach in
empowering all sides of this central government vs states’ rights
contest
2. Cease support of current Top-down / Trickle-down programs
controlled by only Burmese Authorities and balance them with
Bottoms-up grassroots empowerment controlled by Ethnics
3. Experiment with balanced and inclusive economic development
models that become the motivation for political compromise and
security sector reform that respects States Rights and Local
Autonomy within a federal union

10. More Information
Refer to these links:
• Burma Truth and Transparency at Facebook
https://www.google.com/?
gws_rd=ssl#q=burma+truth+and+transparenc
y+at+facebook
• Worldwide Impact Now at Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/worldwideimpactnow
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Burma:Burma:
Seeing isSeeing is BelievingBelieving