The document compares peace processes in Myanmar and Mindanao, highlighting similarities in identity-oriented self-determination struggles, challenges of elite-driven peace processes, and the community experiences related to peace. It contrasts the political cultures, recognition of autonomy, and levels of international engagement in peace negotiations between the two regions. Additionally, it discusses the complexities posed by local governance and security post-ceasefire, alongside the effects of foreign aid.

1. PEACE
PROCESSES
COMPARED:
Myanmar
&
Mindanao
C.
Similari@es
and
contrasts

2. Similarity
#
1
• IdenEty-­‐oriented
self-­‐determinaEon
struggles,
with
religious
orientaEon
(parEcularly
on
Mindanao),
vis-­‐
à-­‐vis
centralising
state,
ruled
from
far
away
and
idenEfied
with
culturally
alien
majority
‘other’
(state
assimilaEonist
agendas).
• Long-­‐standing
armed
conflicts
complicated
by
poliEcal
economies
(mixtures
of
‘grievance’
and
‘greed’
agendas
–
on
Mindanao?).

3. Similarity
#
2
• Histories
of
previous,
largely
unsuccessful
ceasefires.
• Self-­‐reliance
of
communiEes
and
armed
groups.
• Elite-­‐driven
peace
process,
with
communiEes
and
civil
society
not
always
feeling
properly
consulted.
• Recent
posiEve
developments
led
by
newly-­‐elected
naEonal
Presidents
(Benigno
Aquino
III
&
U
Thein
Sein).
• Natural
resource
poliEcs;
land
issues.

4. Similarity
#
3
• CommuniEes
experiencing
the
benefits
of
peace:
freedom
from
fear;
rehabilitaEon
of
communiEes;
freedom
of
travel;
expectaEons
of
the
peace
process.
• What
hasn’t
changed:
conEnued
economic
problems,
percepEons
of
discriminaEon
on
the
part
of
minority
communiEes;
prevalence
of
drugs
and
lawlessness,
land
issues
-­‐
community
concerns.
• Risks
associated
with
government,
naEonal
army,
majority
community
(Filipinos,
Burmans)
not
accepEng
and/or
not
implemenEng
peace
agreements.

5. Similarity
#
4
• PosiEons
(idenEEes,
interests)
of
those
working
with
or
under
the
government
(c.f.
the
‘other
Karen’).
• Security
Sector
Reform/DDR
(‘normalisaEon’)
-­‐
what
are
the
roles
of
armed
elements
(parEcularly
young
men),
post-­‐ceasefire?
(Possible
scenario
from
other
ceasefires
in
the
Philippines:
armed
groups
become
local,
semi-­‐
criminal
guns-­‐for-­‐hire.)

6. Similarity
#
5
• Challenges
of
Armed
Groups
transforming
into
viable
local
governments/administraEons
(and
poliEcal
parEes?).
Risks
of
poor
governance
and
corrupEon
miEgated
somewhat
on
Mindanao
by
disciplined
nature
of
MILF.

7. Contrast
#
1
• Bangsamoro’
shared
idenEty
of
all
non-­‐Filipino
groups
on
Mindanao
(?);
Myanmar’s
diverse
and
heterogeneous
ethnic
communiEes.
• Importance
of
GRP
recognising
the
Bangsamoro
in
principle,
as
a
legiEmate,
autonomous
poliEcal
enEty;
Myanmar
government
(and
Army)
has
been
reluctant
to
acknowledge
poliEcal
legiEmacy
of
ethnic
(parEcularly
armed)
actors,
or
to
grant
significant
autonomy.

8. Contrast
#
2
• Historically
differing
poliEcal
cultures:
GRP
openness
to
internaEonal
engagement.
Myanmar
military
government
autarchy,
and
‘xenophobia’
(including
towards
Muslims).
• Geographically,
where
as
Mindanao
is
an
island,
Myanmar’s
InternaEonal
borders
have
implicaEons
for
refugees
and
regional
poliEcs.
• The
two
countries
have
different
geo-­‐strategic
posiEons
and
interests
with
China,
USA,
ASEAN,
OIC
etc.
• InternaEonal
mediaEon
in
Mindanao
peace
talks
(InternaEonal
Contact
Group
-­‐
novel
model,
including
states
and
INGOs).

9. Contrast
#
3
• InternaEonal
monitoring
on
Mindanaon
(InternaEonal
Monitoring
Group,
and
Civilian
ProtecEon
Component).
Limited
nature
of
internaEonal
support
to
Myanmar
peace
process.
• FormaEon
of
GRP-­‐MILF
Peace
Panel
and
TransiEonal
Arrangements
(Basic
Law,
plebiscite,
transiEon).
Limited
progress
in
Myanmar
peace
talks
-­‐
in
relaEon
to
autonomy
in
principle
(consEtuEonal
change?)
or
pracEce
(“transiEonal
arrangements”).
• Annex
on
Revenue
GeneraEon
and
Wealth-­‐sharing.

10. Contrast
#
4
• MILF
has
large
numbers
of
troops
staEoned
in
close
vicinity
to
the
areas
of
GRP
control,
and
Philippines
Army
bases;
LGUs
and
RP
military
posiEons
across
Bangsamoro,
interspersed
with
MILF
[?].
Myanmar
‘liberated
zones’,
and
areas
of
‘mixed
authority’.
• Impacts
of
foreign
aid
…