September 29, 2024

Myanmar rebels reject embattled junta’s peace offer

BBC

Rebel groups have rejected a peace offer from Myanmar’s embattled junta, which is reeling from battlefield losses and defections in a civil war that has dragged on for more than three years.

This is dictatorship’s first such outreach since it seized power in 2021. It also comes after a ceasefire brokered by China in the northern Shan state fell apart.

The junta called on ethnic armed groups and “terrorist insurgent groups” to “communicate with us to solve political problems politically”, also urging them to join elections planned for next year.

The exiled National Unity Government (NUG) said the offer was not worth considering, adding the junta had no authority to hold an election.

The junta extended an olive branch Thursday as it struggled to fight on multiple fronts and stem a widespread rebellion.

Some reports say the junta now has control of less than half of Myanmar’s territories.

In June, an alliance of three ethnic armies renewed an offensive against the military, seizing territory along a key highway to China’s Yunnan province, which borders Myanmar.

The fighting near the border in Shan state has blocked China’s ambitious plan to connect its landlocked south-west to the Indian Ocean via Myanmar.

Beijing’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, is thought to have delivered a warning to the country’s ruler Min Aung Hlaing during a visit to Myanmar last month.

Armed groups should follow “the path of party politics and elections in order to bring about lasting peace and development”, the junta said in its statement on Thursday.

“The country’s human resources, basic infrastructure and many people’s lives have been lost, and the country’s stability and development have been blocked [because of the conflict]” it said.

But the rebel groups are sceptical of the offer.

The Karen National Union (KNU), which has been fighting for decades with the military for more autonomy along the border with Thailand, told AFP news agency that talks were only possible if the military agreed to “common political objectives”.

“Number one: no military participation in future politics. Two [the military] has to agree to a federal democratic constitution,” KNU spokesman Padoh Saw Taw Nee told AFP.

“Number three: they have to be accountable for everything they have committed… including war crimes and crimes against humanity,” he said. “No impunity.”

If the junta does not accede to these demands, the KNU will “keep putting pressure on [the junta] politically and militarily,” he added.

Maung Saungkha, the leader of the Bamar People’s Liberation Army, told Reuters news agency that his group is “not interested in this offer”.

“They are hanging goat’s heads but selling dog meat,” Soe Thu Ya Zaw, commander of the Mandalay People’s Defense Forces, wrote on Facebook.

After the military ousted Myanmar’s democratically-elected government in 2021, peaceful protests were met with killings and arrests.

This led ethnic armed groups to join forces with anti-coup militias across the country to fight back, plunging the country into a civil war.

At least 50,000 people have been killed since the coup and more than two million people displaced, according to the United Nations.

The UN warned last week that Myanmar was “sinking into an abyss of human suffering”. Eyewitnesses had previously told the BBC about how the military has tourtued people in its custody, including by pouring burning petrol on them and forcing some to drink their urine.

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Wilson Center

Forced displacement represents one of the most pressing humanitarian issues of our time. Individuals and families, torn from the fabric of their communities, find themselves navigating a world of uncertainty, often without basic necessities or a clear path to safety. There are currently some 110 million forced displaced, and this number is growing by 10 million each year!

At the heart of this crisis are the political triggers. Armed conflicts, ethnic or religious persecutions, and systemic human rights abuses force millions to flee their homes in terror. Many are displaced within their own national boundaries, while others seek asylum abroad. If these factors change as a result of political shifts at home or the pressures from abroad, they can return to their homes. Forced displacement is thus different from environmentally driven displacement, as victims of climate change may never be able to return to their homes.

The ramifications of any sort of displacement are profound, not just for those directly affected, but also for host communities and countries. Overburdened infrastructures, socio-economic strains, and cultural tensions can arise, necessitating comprehensive strategies to foster harmony and integration. Yet the root causes of forced displacement can be remedied with a concerted focus by local players and international diplomacy.

Organizations like Refugees International play a crucial role in this arena, advocating for the rights and needs of the displaced, conducting on-the-ground assessments, and influencing policymakers to take informed actions. Their relentless work underscores the gravity of the situation and the urgency ofinternational cooperation. But they, too, are overwhelmed by the rapid expansion of the crisis.

International Humanitarian Law (IHL), with its core principles centered on the protection of civilians during conflicts, plays a pivotal role in this discourse. Yet, despite clear legal frameworks, compliance remains
inconsistent. This initiative emphasizes the importance of upholding and reinforcing these international standards.

It’s not just about recognizing the problem; it’s about active engagement. We urge governments, organizations, and individuals to prioritize the rights and needs of the forced displaced. Through collective efforts, informed policies, and sustained advocacy, we can shift the narrative from passive acknowledgment to proactive intervention.