16/03/2025
Ethnic Conflicts in Myanmar: Roots and Impacts
Myanmar is a country with rich ethnic diversity but has long been plagued by conflicts between ethnic groups and the government. These conflicts have been described as one of the world's longest-running civil wars.
🔹 A Complex Ethnic Landscape
The Myanmar government officially recognizes 135 ethnic groups, categorized into eight major groups: Bamar, Shan, Karen, Rakhine, Mon, Kachin, Kayah, and Chin. The Bamar ethnic group makes up the majority (68-70%), while other ethnic groups often face social, economic, and political marginalization.
🔹 The Roots of Conflict
After gaining independence in 1948, the Panglong Agreement promised autonomy to ethnic groups. However, this promise was broken after the assassination of General Aung San. The 1962 military coup led to the rejection of federalism, prompting ethnic minority groups to form armed resistance movements.
🔹 Factors Sustaining the Conflict
✔️ The centralization of power, dominated by the Bamar ethnic group
✔️ Repeated military coups (e.g., 1962, 2021) disrupting democratic progress
✔️ Policies that exclude certain ethnic groups, such as the Rohingya, leading to statelessness and human rights violations
✔️ The failure to implement a federal system, which could potentially ease tensions
Today, the conflict persists, resulting in violence, human rights violations, and mass displacement. A lasting solution requires recognizing the rights of ethnic groups and establishing a governance structure that ensures genuine autonomy.