#[1]RSS 2.0 [2]RSS .92 [3]Atom 0.3 [4]Democratic Voice of Burma » New investments and unresolved conflicts Comments Feed [5]Democratic Voice of Burma [6]Junta’s abuse: a key obstacle to reconciliation [7]KNU leader buried in Karen state [8]‘Living in fear’ in Arakan state * [9]Home * [10]News + [11]Economics + [12]Environment + [13]Health + [14]Media + [15]Politics * [16]Opinion & Analysis * [17]Interview * [18]Photos * [19]DVB TV [20][burmese-lang.png] Burmese Language ____________________ Saturday, 26 January 2013 [21]Subscribe to our Feed[22] rss feed [23]Facebook Page [24]Twitter Page [25][banner-nuclear-ambitions.gif] [26][banner-freevj.png] * * [27][nav-WatchDVBLive.gif] [28][nav-YV.gif] [nav-footer.png] New investments and unresolved conflicts [29]Share [30]Comments (5) IFRAME: [31]http://www.facebook.com/plugins/like.php?href=http://www.dvb.no/ana lysis/new-investments-and-unresolved-conflicts/24328&layout=button_coun t&show_faces=true&width=100&action=like&colorscheme=light&height=21 [32]Tweet By ANDREA GITTLEMAN Published: 19 October 2012 A worker walks in front of shipping containers at Yangon's port A worker walks in front of shipping containers at Yangon's port on 8 April 2012. (Reuters) Over the past two years, some people in Burma have experienced some remarkable changes. The government of Burma has released political prisoners made moves toward greater political freedom, and loosened strict media controls. But people in Burma have also witnessed continuing crimes by the military, ongoing conflict in Kachin state, and violent ethnic clashes in Rakhine [Arakan] state. Other countries, including some that for years had supported democracy activists and human rights defenders in Burma, began shifting their policies toward engagement with the Burmese authorities in an effort to tip the internal balance toward those in government who wanted more reforms. This precise moment in Burma’s path from military dictatorship to a future healthy democracy presents a key opportunity for leaders in the US and elsewhere to make sure that any changes benefit all people of Burma. Governments that wish to engage with the Burmese government should make sure that their actions support substantive reforms so that any changes are more than just a veneer that obscures the ongoing oppression of ethnic minority groups. Many countries have reacted to the recent changes in Burma by lifting longstanding sanctions, ushering in a new era of investment in the country. In the US, for example, the Obama Administration is in the process of removing its sanctions regime, thereby shelving most of its tools to press Burma’s government for further reforms. The administration has lifted the investment ban, is in the process of ending the import ban, and has announced the end of a restriction on international financial institutions’ lending to Burma. These actions mark a significant shift from decades of sanctions to a new era of engagement. Many people and institutions stand to gain from the lifting of sanctions. The cronies of the Burmese government would be the primary beneficiaries, since they are well-positioned to reap the benefits of any influx of new business. In the past, companies partnered with allies of the regime, and became complicit in human rights violations, including rampant forced labour and forced displacement. Given insufficient corporate regulation by the US and other governments, those allied with the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) will be able to line their pockets with the incoming foreign investment. Contrast that windfall with the potential harm to ethnic communities, which have long suffered abuse and discrimination under Burma’s military. Many hotspots of foreign investment likely will be in the oil, gas, and mining industries, and some ethnic minority areas are rich in such natural resources. While foreign investment can indeed lead to better jobs for those living near investment projects, Burma’s ethnic minority communities have told a different story. A recent [33]report from Physicians for Human Rights (PHR) documenting human rights violations in Karen state found a correlation between foreign investment projects and human rights abuse. “For too many communities, foreign investment means abuse.” In fact, families living near a development project (in this case, the Dawei deep sea port) were eight times more likely to report a human rights violation than families living elsewhere. This report built upon previous [34]research in Burma that documented systematic attacks on health care and a denial of access to treatment as a way to control the population. For too many communities, foreign investment means abuse. Given the blanket impunity with which the Burmese military has abused members of ethnic minority groups, representatives of ethnic communities are understandably wary of any new investment without proper safeguards to ensure that economic development projects will not negatively affect the people around them. Reforms in Burma must include more than political openness and improved economic relations with other countries. In order to truly turn the page on a long history of brutal attacks on ethnic minority communities, the government of Burma will need to grapple with its troubled past and hold any perpetrators accountable for their crimes. Burmese authorities will also need to make a concerted effort to improve access to health care, education, and dispute resolution mechanisms in rural Burma. These necessary institutional changes will allow the recent openness in Burma to reach all parts of the country. Other countries also have work to do. The US should ensure that its regulations on companies investing in Burma are strict and enforceable. Any US company found to be complicit in human rights violations should face accountability measures at home. The US should also immediately revise its Specially Designated Nationals list so that companies have an updated and comprehensive list of people with whom they cannot do business. Such safeguards can help Burma’s ethnic minority communities emerge from decades of violence and oppression to enjoy the benefits of the country’s steps to rejoin the international community. -Andrea Gittleman is Senior Legislative Counsel for Physicians for Human Rights in Washington, DC. -The opinions and views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect DVB’s editorial policy. Tags: [35]Barack Obama, [36]ceasefires, [37]conflicts, [38]ethnic minorities, [39]investment, [40]sanctions, [41]united states Author: [42]ANDREA GITTLEMAN Category: [43]Analysis __________________________________________________________________ Comments 1. Ohn says: [44]October 21, 2012 at 3:35 am “….the government of Burma will need to grapple with its troubled past and hold any perpetrators accountable for their crimes.” Tall order. The government is the one perpetrating these crimes. So no recourse! Especially when much anticipated “people’s Champion” is also shown to be thoroughly, most definitely and definitively on the side of the “Government” which is the military in sheep clothes, soft looking enough to get approval at the share holders’ meetings of the companies which want to come in to take advantage of the land, underground, sea and slave labour. Those killing/ torturing/ looting/ burning/ displacing. It will stop only if they all die. Wait for Aung San Suu Kyi? Hmmm…. 2. John says: [45]October 24, 2012 at 4:33 pm The insurgents have committed as many crimes as the military. In fact, the insurgents continue in their efforts, supported by the exiles who have poured millions of dollars into undermining the government. The problem is that they have lost their investment. They are left out of the new Myanmar and the power & wealth that they have sought since 1988. Because they’ve got so much at stake, peace and harmony do not seem to be in Myanmar’s future regardless of the reforms that are taken. 3. Ohn says: [46]October 27, 2012 at 12:38 am “The insurgents have committed as many crimes as the military.” With any intention, this is not a cruelty/ devastation/ inhumane acts competition for Mother Teresa Prize. It is not kosher to do just a bit less than what the other might do or have done so that you are in the right. Funding are most likely by selling the jade, forest products and drugs to the Chinese. Jade Bourses are in Hong Kong. That alone takes away hundreds of millions of public money if jade is properly sold with proper taxes given to the public, as in Utopia. Unlike Tamil diaspora who did fund LTTE substantially over decades, Burmese/ Kachin diaspora are not that well endowed/ inclined or organised. Now the country is up for sale,IMF, ADB and direct foreign input or input via goody two shoes Norwegians will enrich endless streams of military brass, their backers, and similar status people in all other armed armed groups. Hence the hyper-lauded and globally approved- “Peace Deals”. It is indeed “Piece Deals”, which piece for whom, via Aung Min, the cheesy, grinning dalan. KIA leadership has indeed looted, cheated,and stolen public property and bought companies, houses in Mandalay, Rangoon, money in the banks, etc. But that is not the issue here. Issue is Than Shwe/ Tin Aung Myint Oo deal with Chinese selling out the country, as if they own it, to build pipes,rails, roads, and the dams and dams and dams to destroy pristine natural land and rivers. The low land ignorant Burmese seem to agree with such or any plan to get any money or that sacred “electricity’in petty minded “smart” moves. But the land to be flooded or destroyed is sacred to Kachin common people. Now clumsy, ineffectual and incompetent military rumblings of Min Aung Hlaing has acted as best recruitment drive for KIA. What with well documented and publicised and visible torture, rape, murder, looting,burning- phyut-lay-phyut and generally abhorrent behaviour of the Bamar Sit-tut. 4. Ohn says: [47]October 27, 2012 at 12:44 am So even if the the whole KIA top brass wants to sell out the their people like the other armed groups are currently doing dealing with the devil, the people are not going to lie down and take it. Too much blood spill and hurt has been done. By the Bamar sit-tut. 5. Fact 2 says: [48]October 29, 2012 at 4:41 am The root cause of Burma’s problems are colonialism and divide-and-rule – by the English. Don’t try to twist it. It it not Bamars because the whole country was known as Bamarpyi, derived from Brahmah. Nothing to do with the bamar majority. So much ignornace of ancient and modern history of Burma. there never were ‘States’. Burma was a unitary kingdom, labeit ruled by different dynasties – just like everywhere else where there was a monarchy. Shans, Bamars and Mons have been integrated for centuries sharing common culture and religion Buddhism. Burma was and still is a country of many tribes,all free to travel and trade all those monarchical centuries; Burma was a kleidoscope of colourful tribes. it was the duty of every king to maintain peace and freedom of all people of Burma. There never was any persecution. Yes, some shans trades Kayins as slaves but the practice was stopped by the monarchical system. Never forget the eseence of Burmese Buddhist kingship. Straightne the kinks in your twisted minds. Burma should have county system rather than so-called states. USA started with 13 English colonies. Burma started as a monarchy 3000 years ago at Tagaung. Bamarasa Tagaungga is the common saying. [49]Click here to cancel reply. __________________________________________________________________ Name (required) ________________ Email Address (required) ________________ Website (optional) ________________ Comment ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ ___________________________________ Please note: Comment moderation is enabled and may delay your comment. There is no need to resubmit your comment. 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