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Vital Need for a Peace Monitoring Mission

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Over the course of ceasefire talks between armed ethnic groups and U Thein Sein’s peace delegation, ethnic leaders have persistently asked the government and Burmese army to cease all combat against the Kachin Independent Army (KIA). For the ethnic leadership, this request reflects their desire to see peace throughout the ethnic lands of Burma. Unfortunately, the fighting has yet to stop, making President Thein Sein’s orders appear to be lip service.

Despite the lack of peace in Kachin State, outside agencies are pushing ahead on a peace agenda. The Norwegian Government agreed to establish the “Myanmar Peace Fund” to encourage a smooth and timely peace process. International donors are cooperating with Norway’s Peace Fund to support peace talks and community resettlement and rehabilitation programs in post-conflict areas.

Additionally, the key figure in the ceasefire talks, Railway Minister U Aung Min, met with several international government officials to request assistance in peace and rehabilitation programs. In response, the “Myanmar Peace Center” was formed to coordinate the peace processes with armed ethnic groups.

Yet, as evidenced by the continued conflict in Kachin State, there are activities that seem incongruous to this drive towards peace. For example, when Minister U Aung Min facilitates ceasefire talks with different ethnic armed groups, businesspeople often accompany him. It is explained that the escorts assist with travel and meetings, arranging accommodations for the peace delegates and offering guidance to armed group leaders. But, what expectations might these business representatives be harboring for the outcome of ceasefire agreements?

Also, the large amount of money promised by the Peace Fund should not support just one group or consortium, or organizations with military or political affiliations. The Fund must benefit conflict-affected communities—those that have suffered through five or six decades of civil war. Similarly, the organizations and armed groups receiving funding should use the grants exclusively for peace and community development and not in the assistance of political agendas. Countries like Sri Lanka provide a cautionary lesson against peace and development aid that is concentrated in one shareholder or ethnic group, creating asymmetrical growth. It would be unforgivable for the Peace Fund to produce new conflicts, and all transactions must be transparent and accountable.

The process to realize peace will be a long one. Reaching ceasefire agreements is only the first step, after which the government must hold talks to address the much more challenging issues of political settlement with armed ethnic groups and defining the role of government and ethnic armed forces. Once this critical foundation is established, the government must then, outside of parliament, hold a nationwide “people’s assembly” that includes all ethnic nationalities. This will likely take at least two to three years to accomplish. Minister U Aung Min said the government would hold such a general assembly in late 2014.

Finally, it is imperative that the business community does not rush to invest in conflict areas, or pressure ethnic leaders to unconditionally permit development opportunities such as mining, logging, or damming. Investors’ support of and sensitivity toward ethnic groups must be genuine, and designed to promote peace and stability.

For these reasons, it is advisable to establish a “Peace Monitoring Mission” as an independent evaluation team to closely monitor the entire process of peace dialogues. The monitoring mission must include civil society members, academics, and representatives from ethnic groups. The peace process will be truly legitimized once all shareholders agree upon a monitoring tool and can sincerely trust the resulting movement towards lasting peace.

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