Junta Trying to Erase Non-Burman Identities, Say Ethnic Groups
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By WAI MOE |
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
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Burma’s military junta is carrying out a policy of “Burmanization” in areas under its control, using land confiscation and intermarriage, sometimes by force, to dilute ethnic identities, according to a new report by three exiled ethnic groups released on Tuesday. The joint report, by three groups representing Burma’s Arakan, Mon and Pa-O ethnic minorities, accuses the country’s ruling generals of “looking to tighten their grip on power is through their policy of ‘Burmanization.’” “As a greater number of troops are deployed in the border regions populated by the ethnic minorities, many soldiers move their families onto land confiscated from local villagers or are encouraged to marry local women,” said the report. In some cases, the report claims, ethnic women are pressured to marry soldiers as a means of escaping destitution. Titled “Holding Our Ground: Land Confiscation in Arakan & Mon States, and Pa-O Area of Southern Shan State,” the report was co-written by the Thailand-based All Arakan Students’ & Youths’ Congress (AASYC), the Pa-O Youth Organization (PYO) and the Mon Youth Progressive Organization (MYPO). The report also claims that Burmese authorities award business contracts in their areas to soldiers, while businesses owned by local people are shifted into “the hands of regional and local authorities.” The groups also said that in Burma, laws ban teaching ethnic languages “in order to promote Burmese as the only language.” Such measures are part of the junta’s ongoing efforts to dilute the culture of ethnic minorities and spread the influence of the majority Burman race, the report stated. The three ethnic groups also pointed out how military installations in Burma affect land confiscation in their areas. “As long as the expansion of the military in ethnic states of Burma continues, land will be forcibly confiscated with little or no compensation being given to the owners,” they said in the report. According to the report, land seized by the army is used both for military purposes and for state-run projects such as farms and other businesses operated by military personnel. The report claimed that the military has seized more than 7,600 acres of land in Mon State since 1998 and more than 1,100 acres in Arakan State in the past five years. The report did not include the situation in Arakan State’s Maungdaw, Buthidaung and Rathedaung townships, which are predominantly inhabited by members of the Rohingya Muslim minority group. Aung Marm Oo of the Arakan group, the AASYC, one of the co-authors of the report, said he did not include the Rohingya areas because it is a “sensitive” issue. The Irrawaddy could not verify the facts and claims in the report with independent sources. However, a Shan independent researcher on development in Kachin State and northern Shan State recently said that ethnic language schools were allowed in areas controlled by the ceasefire groups, the Kachin Independence Organization and the Shan State Army- North.
 COMMENTS (27)
Tin Win Wrote: |
02/05/2009 |
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To All Ethnic Minorities,
Have you ever thought of why the world has so many varieties of people of different races, colors and ethnicities instead of only one type?
The very universal reason is: "so that you may know each other and not
despise one another." Otherwise, we would have to expect more evils around us and the world would have been a very unhappier place to live in. Therefore, diversity is leading to safety and security, which in turn bring peace and prosperity.
Those ethnics who feel against diversity are actually calling not only for their own destruction but also trying to harm other ethnics very severely.
Therefore unless you are against Burmanization or Arakanization or any other, justice is against you and hence democracy does not deserve you.
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Tom Tun Wrote: |
26/04/2009 |
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To All Ethnic Minorities,
Please answer these followings questions. If there is a consenting marriage between people of two ethnic minorities, for example Karen and Shan, what group do the children belong to? The couple's only way to communicate with each other is by using the Burmese language. Only because of the couple using Burmese language, should they be blamed for the language they use? Moreover, should they be verbally abused by their own blood-tied ethnic family and be outcast by them? We should not be living in a nationalist narrow-minded way if we are ready to get in touch with the world. Burmese are our brothers and sisters. I love all ethnic groups and Burmese. This does not mean I approve of all activities of the Evil Army of Burma. Chinese people in Burma built their temples and community centers out of their own pockets so they can keep carrying on their heritage. How many ethnic groups come together to built their museum or culture center? So ask yourself how much you love your brothers and sisters. |
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Naingmya:
Don't give me that. Everyone knows what is going on inside Burma and Bamar ethnic. Do ask yourself first like "Am I 100 percent Bamar?" Next 50 years or more, you won't even see Bamar bones in Burma.
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naingmya Wrote: |
24/04/2009 |
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KKK—You are wrong. Nowadays, Bamar ethnic is increasing and spreading all over the world. Also Bamar ethnic is contributing best ideas to the international community. Bamar are the real peace lovers and best people in the world.
What you are saying are not only Burmese, there are many women from all over the world. But I don't think there are Bangla women who are sold in China because their market might be in Bangladesh and Africa.
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Tom Tun Wrote: |
24/04/2009 |
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Here is my answer for you, Free Man.
In WWII, Hitler and the Nazi party tried to wipe out Jews and their culture, Mao Tse Tung did [likewise] in the Cultural Revolution in China and tried to erase Chinese culture. In north America, North American Native Indian culture was [repressed] by newcomer Europeans and native children were took away from their family and forced to take European culture and let them learn English at Catholic schools.
The question is: are those cultures disappearing because of those abuses? Answer is no. It is only a test of how much those people love their culture and themselves, and they prove that those cultures are worthy to survive on this earth. How much are our cultures worth? Ask yourself and carry on with what you can.
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| Why did junta do this? Because the Bamar ethnic is diminishing. The Bamar women are sold to China, Thailand, India and Singapore. |
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Free Man Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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Tom Tun:
I do agree with you to some extent. However, what you said still doesn't answer the question fully. Many members of non-Burman ethnic groups nowadays don't know how to speak, read and write in their own languages because they also don't get the opportunity to learn their own languages. Some of them, for example, used to have their own high schools in the past. But the rulers forcibly shut them down. Why?
Some now struggle to maintain their languages and cultures without any help from the rulers. Some have to learn their languages secretly. However, the rulers make Burmese the only language to be learnt at school, apart from English, and use the stat's resources to promote only Burmese culture. For example, Hso, Ka, Ye, Tee.
Why don't other peoples get the same opportunity and access to the state's resources to promote their own cultures and languages?
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Tin Win Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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To Real Myanmar:
Your arrogant statement "We want democracy, but we don't want Rohingya." Means you are trying to say that you want democracy without ethnic minorities whose lands cover more than 50 percent of Burma's total area. Your action is testifying that the Burmanization report above is a real truth. Are you are looking for a hell or a peace?
Are you labeling Rohingya as Bengalis because the military junta is saying so, to strip off ethnicity?
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Eric Johnston Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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The report is here:
http://www.burmalibrary.org/docs07/HOLDING_OUR_GROUND(en).pdf
Found by Copernic Agent, www.copernic.com |
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Yeah, the report is absolutely true.
The Burmese Army has been doing large-scale Burmanization in places like Shan and Kachin States for a very, very long time now, since 1948.
Dark skinned ugly Burmese soldiers will happily jump at any chance to grab a fair skinned pretty Shan or Kachin woman.
The good news is at least these Burmese soldiers are decent enough to marry them and have many happy families together.
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Hkun nawng Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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Actually, Burmanization and rampant land confiscation are also widely practiced, especially in Hugawng area, Western Kachin State. I know this because we published “Valley of Darkness: Goldmining and Militarization in Western Kachin State” in January 2007. I was in the research team and co-authored the report.
Prevalence of land confiscation in this area is being increased by Tay Zar's company. We have solid evidence of land confiscation and Burmanization there.
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Nyein Chann Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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| I totally agree with Damien Smee, Zaw Minn and Free man. We need to do soul-searching ourselves first to be able to make a change we want to see. It would be a shame otherwise. |
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Nyein Chann Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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It is interesting to read how the so-called only impartial Irrawaddy magazine of Burma mentions this report. The reporter does not seem to agree with this report. He counters the facts in the report just by merely quoting experiences of Shan independent researchers from Kachin State without doing his work as a reporter. Seemingly the word "Burmanisation" seems to be very sensitive for The Irrawaddy. Everybody, except for chauvinist Burmans, knows that the previous and current regime has been practicing "Burmanization" in Burma since 1962.
Be partial and do not be afraid to speak out the truth as a journalist if you want to get people's respect. I would like to suggest The Irrawaddy covers rampant land confiscation and Burmanization practices in Hugawng Area, Western Kachin State, by Tay Zar's Htoo company and Burmese soldiers. This would be worth reporting.
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Tom Tun Wrote: |
23/04/2009 |
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What does identity mean? For example, is a Shan man a Shan only by the word Shan? If someone describes oneself as a Shan, there is responsibility as a Shan. There is culture to practice and promote.
How do we promote a culture? I want to give an example. Some Chinese and Indians are peacefully living in Burma, too. Most Burmans, when they are married with Chinese, become Chinese. The question is why? The ethnic groups say that because of Burmese culture distortion ethnic minority identity and culture are at stake.
My own opinion is that if I love my identity and my culture no one will ever take it away from me. I will express who I am and I will practice what I love. If I lose myself, I am the one to blame. Every culture and identity has its own beauty, don't lose it. If we lose the beauty of culture and identity, we lose all.
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naingmya Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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| It is an absolutely false claim again. It is also just a claim to get sympathy from the international community. Anyone who wants to know the reality, please go and stay inside Burma. Stay in both ethnic areas and urban areas where Burmans are a majority. Look at the Tamil Tiger from Sri Lanka. Their fellows who have settled in the West are the same as so-called Burmese refugees. Those Tamil have violated the laws by demonstrating in countries where they are living. So, Burmese refugees will be doing the same thing when their relatives or friends from Burma lose anything that belongs to them. Ask anyone who knows about the brutal mass killings of Burman people by ethnic people when they had control of many parts of Burma. Remember, ethnic people are the real racists and Burmans are the real honest people. |
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Kim Tate Wistreich Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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| There were many areas from all three states that weren't included in the report. To get information from every township would be logistically impossible. Aung Marm Oo's response to a question totally unrelated to the report was taken completely out of context. The fact that the writer of this article chose to mention those areas predominantly inhabited by Rohingya says nothing about the AASYC's remit. I suggest that The Irrawaddy publishes the true question that was asked about the issue and Aung Marm Oo's answer in full. |
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| There are many ways to accomplish "ethnic cleansing." It doesn’t surprise me that this one came from the junta. It is shameful to see that kind of racism inside a society. Don’t forget that human rights have a universal meaning and don’t forget that Myanmar has only one common enemy. |
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Damien Smee Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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For the gentleman who asked for the report to be circulated—it is called "Holding Our Ground" and there is an online PDF version. Simply Google “holding our ground.”
Read it carefully, though, if you don't want to miss the section about Burmanisation as it is less than one page, despite The Irrawaddy seeming to think it is the crux of the report, bless 'em. |
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Damien Smee Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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| And finally.......The main focus of this report was land confiscation linked to increased militarisation. Even in the press release, Aung Marm Oo is quoted as saying that the primary cause of land confiscation is the need to house and feed growing army numbers. Another member of the invited media, like this gentleman, simply pushing his own private agenda, started a debate about the use of the term Burmanisation. This enabled this "journalist" to hook onto this as being the crux of the report. Quite frankly this is lazy journalism of the worst kind. |
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Damien Smee Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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(contd)....Consequently, the primary research was conducted in the areas of the country where these groups have the necessary contacts to be able to conduct such research. KHRG have recently released a short report about land confiscation in Karen State, is The Irrawaddy going to pillory them for not mentioning Chins?
Additionally, Burmanisation is a small section of the report, one of many of the human rights abuses carried out by the SPDC against ethnic minorities that we highlight. Others include forced labour, forced military conscription both of adults and children and sexual harassment and rape of women by the military..... (to be contd)
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Damien Smee Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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I was the volunteer with AASYC for 6 months during the compiling of this report. I was responsible for editing the whole thing and writing approximately 75 percent of it.
I was present at the press conference yesterday, and my initial comment is simply that I must have attended a different press conference to the author of this article.
Aung Marm Oo did not say that the Rohingya issue was not included in the report because it was sensitive. He said, following a question from the author of this "article" regarding the Rohingya issue, that this was not the time to discuss it as this report is about land confiscation. He would happily discuss the Rohingya issue at a more appropriate time, as it is a sensitive issue and cannot be dealt with in a brief answer. Land confiscation in the Rohingya areas of Arakan State wasn't included in this report for the same reason that land confiscation in Karen State wasn't included—it was co authored by Arakan, Mon and Pa-O groups.... (to be continued)
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Zaw Min Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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I'm really sick and disheartened to hear these true stories and supportive comments on these actions by many who claim to want democracy and human rights. If we do not respect individual rights of a human being regardless of race or religion, what right do we have to ask for those rights for ourselves? On what ground are we condemning the junta when we still don't have respect for human rights when that human turns out to be other race or religion?
That is why I now believe we need evolution of our thoughts, attitudes and actions instead of a revolution to simply overthrow the junta. We really need to change ourselves in order to change the government. And I hope The Irrawaddy keeps on bringing news and reports on facts and ideas that would help bring this about instead of inciting blind hatred toward anyone, junta or human being.
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Free Man Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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According to a Karen source a couple of years ago, the SPDC forcibly relocated some Karen villages in areas close to the KNLA Brigade 3, and then they brought Burmese civilians in. However, it is unclear how widespread the practice is and whether it still continues.
To put it mildly, the psyche of Burmanization exists not only among the successive Burmese rulers but also within the democracy movement, and I am saying this from my brief close personal experience with the movement. Some Burmans seem to think that they are the superior ones or the centre of the society of Burma, consciously or subconsciously, and this reflects in their activities. However, we can begin change with ourselves if we are to establish the kind of society that we want.
P.S. Non-Burman peoples also should welcome Burmans with farsighted and progressive thoughts and bring about change within and without their respective ethnic groups, including Burman.
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Andy Bowe Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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| This is crazy. How dare the generals of Burma force ethnic people to marry only Burmese men and woman and not their own kind. How mean indeed. |
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Real Myanmar Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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What a shame, Irrawaddy! Rohingya are not ethnic Burmese. They are Bangladeshi, so call Bangali.
I notice that you persistently carry news about the Rohingya. What is your intention?
Shame on you. Don't destroy our strike against the military regime. We want democracy, but we don't want Rohingya.
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Aung Ko Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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Thirty five percent of the population of Sittwe (Aykab), capital of Arakan state, are Rohingyas, according to a government census in the 1990s. Rohingyas are a hidden population of Burma and the military does not want them to exist.
It is a conspiracy against the Rohingya to turn Arakan into 'Rohingyaless Land.' The Arakanese towns of Kyaw Taw, Kyaw Phyu, Pauk Taw, Mrauk Oo and Palet Wa also have Rohingya populations.
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Nicholas Tapp Wrote: |
22/04/2009 |
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Can you circulate the report?
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