Burma
The military took power in Burma in 1962, leading to a lengthy civil war. In 1988 the conflict culminated in violent demonstrations against the regime. A large number of civilians, many of them students, were killed.
General elections were held in 1990 and the National League of Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi won an overwhelming victory. The military refused to recognise the election results and put Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest. Altogether she has been kept under house arrest for almost ten years. A government-in-exile made up of members of parliament who managed to flee the country was also organised in 1990.
Since 1992 the regime has made efforts to gain legitimacy for both its domestic and international policies. At one point dialogue was opened with Aung San Suu Kyi, but that was soon followed by setbacks and renewed house arrest.
There are more than one hundred ethnic minorities in Burma, altogether 22 million people, or 45 percent of the population. Many of the ethnic groups have turned to armed struggle to win greater self-determination.
To help the process of democratisation, the United Nations has passed a resolution calling for three-party talks, bringing together the military regime (the State Peace and Development Council), the NLD, and the ethnic minorities. The conditions are that Aung San Suu Kyi must be released from house arrest, that the NLD can work freely within Burma, and the freeing of political prisoners. The ethnic minorities have been divided, but they have now a joint organisation which could take part in the negotiations, should they start.
A power struggle within the regime broke out in 2004. Prime Minister Khin Nyunt was deposed and was put, ironically sharing the same fate as Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest.
Analysis
The oppression of the people of Burma is extensive and crimes against basic human rights are well-documented. The least opposition to the regime leads to lengthy prison sentences, which has happened to tens of thousands of people. Freedom of speech and the press do not exist, and there is widespread censorship. Civil society is naturally very weak.
The economy has been ruined by more than forty years of mismanagement. The regime’s profits from the production of narcotics make up a large part of the national economic resources.
Forced labour is common, and has been condemned by the United Nations International Labour Organisation, which estimates it is imposed on 800,000 Burmese. Minors are also forced into the military to fight against the ethnic minorities.
Opportunities for education and healthcare are limited and for the most part only available to those with connections to the regime. A large part of the population is HIV positive. Exact numbers are not available, since very few aid organisations are allowed into the country. Nothing is being done to stop the infection, which is spreading rapidly because of drug abuse.
Since the military regime does not allow democracy projects within Burma, most programs are based in neighbouring countries. Much of the population are squatters or live in refugee camps, mostly in Thailand, but also in India and Bangladesh.
The talks on the constitution initiated by the regime offer no opportunities to influence the text. The NLD is not taking part and only a limited number of the ethnic minorities have been invited to the closed talks.
Development Co-operation
In 2000 the Palme Center was appointed as the co-ordinating organisation for a major project to prepare Burma’s transition to democracy. The European Commission has supported the “Project to Strengthen Democratic Development in Burma” since it started in 1997. The Swedish International Development Co-operation Agency has offered to continue the financing of the program for three years, starting in 2005. The project is carried out in co-operation with the Euro-Burma office (EBO).
This project has been especially aimed at the leaders of ethnic groups, in order to help them develop a common position. They have come so far that the common goal now is to build up a federal Burma, based on democracy, equality, and self-determination.
Another important task is documenting and bringing attention to crimes against human rights. Intensive work is underway as well to make governments in Europe, Asia, and North America aware of conditions in Burma, and encourage them to put pressure on the military dictatorship.
The Palme Center has in various ways supported the government-in-exile which was formed in 1990. Several times they have taken part in talks in this country. The government-in-exile, however, is completely dominated by men, so the Palme Center has also given support, through the EBO, to the Women’s League of Burma, which works to encourage as many women as possible to get active in politics. Young people in exile also need training to prepare to take part in political activities, and a project has been carried out by the Swedish Social Democratic Students organization together with the Burma Relief Center.
The Palme Center has previously supported the radio station Democratic Voice of Burma which broadcasts daily news and cultural programs to Burma in both Burmese and several minority languages.