TNI/BCN Burma policy briefing 1 - Burma in 2010: A Critical Year in Ethnic Politics

A joint Transnational Institute (TNI) and Burma Centrum Netherlands (BCN) initiative today releases its first Burma Policy Briefing on ethnic conflict.

The TNI-BCN briefing 'Burma in 2010: A Critical Year in Ethnic Politics' outlines the implications of the 2010 elections, profiles the responses of ethnic groups, and proposes measures that should be taken to establish sustainable ethnic peace. 2010 is set to become Burma’s most important and defining year in two decades. The general election scheduled by the ruling State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) could well determine the country’s political landscape for another generation. All institutions and parties are faced with the uncertainties of political transformation. At this critical moment in Burma’s history, it is still not certain whether the general election will prove an accepted step in the SPDC’s seven-stage roadmap for political reform or become the basis for a new generation of grievances. As the election countdown continues, new divisions are emerging in Burmese politics, warning that a unique opportunity for dialogue and national reconciliation could be lost. An inclusive discussion and focus on the election are vital if its conduct and consequences are to have common meaning – whether in Burma (Myanmar) or the international community. Burma’s first election in twenty years (and third in fifty) marks a rare moment of supposedly national participation in deciding the representatives of central and local government. Its historic importance cannot be ignored.

The TNI-BCN Burma Project aims to first, stimulate strategic thinking to address ethnic conflict and second, give a voice to ethnic nationality groups who have been isolated and ignored in international debates relating to the country. Resolving ethnic conflict is crucial if there is to be a lasting political solution in Burma. If ethnic nationality needs and goals are not addressed the prospects for peace and democracy will be grim. In order to achieve these goals, TNI and BCN believe it is critically important to formulate practical, concrete policy options and outline attainable progress benchmarks that both national and international actors can support.