Myanmar conflict

The Myanmar conflict is the world's longest ongoing civil war. It has lasted for almost eight decades. This struggle began in 1948 when the nation, then called Burma, gained independence from the United Kingdom. Most of the fighting involves ethnic armed organisations. These groups fight against the national military, known as the Tatmadaw. They generally fight for self-determination. This means they want the right to govern their own people and lands.

The roots of this conflict reach back to World War II. In 1940, a group of intellectuals called the Thirty Comrades sought military training in Japan. They formed the Burma Independence Army (BIA) to fight against the Allies. One leader, Aung San, led the State of Burma during this time. He eventually switched sides to the Allies in mid-1944. Before independence, Aung San negotiated the Panglong Agreement. This deal promised autonomy to the Chin, Kachin, and Shan ethnic minorities. However, Aung San was assassinated shortly after these talks. The post-independence government under U Nu did not honor the agreement. This failure caused deep tension between the Bamar majority and ethnic minorities.

Following independence on 4 January 1948, new insurgencies emerged. The Communist Party of Burma (CPB) and the Karen National Union (KNU) became major rebel forces. The CPB fired the first shots of the conflict in April 1948. By 1949, the CPB had reached 15,000 fighters. The KNU fought for an independent state for the Karen people. They wanted to govern territories in Karen and Karenni States. Later, the KNU shifted its goal toward regional autonomy under a federal system.

In 1962, General Ne Win led a military coup d'état. This event ousted the parliamentary government and established a military junta. A junta is a government led by military leaders. Ne Win refused to adopt a federal system of governance. This decision caused many ethnic groups to form larger rebel factions. For example, the Kachin Independence Army was formed during this time. The CPB also began following Maoism, a political concept from China. This led to violent anti-Chinese riots in 1967. During these riots, 31 Chinese civilians were killed. Ne Win's 26-year rule turned Myanmar into an isolated and less developed country.

Large-scale protests broke out in 1988, known as the 8888 Uprising. Students in Rangoon led demonstrations against the military rule. The military responded with a violent crackdown. Authorities claimed 350 people died, but opposition groups claimed thousands died. Some reports, like those from The Economist, suggested over 3,000 deaths. After the uprising, the military formed the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as a leader for the pro-democracy movement. Her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a massive victory in 1990. However, the military junta refused to recognize the election results. They placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

The military regime later became the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). In the 1990s and 2000s, the Tatmadaw fought many ethnic groups. In 2006, a large offensive against the KNU displaced hundreds of thousands of civilians. Some estimates say 500,000 people were displaced by fighting and forced relocations. In 2007, the Saffron Revolution saw monks protesting for democracy. In 2010, clashes caused nearly 10,000 refugees to flee to Thailand. These events show the high human cost of the ongoing struggle.

Civilian rule returned partially in 2011. The 2008 constitution created five self-administered zones and one division. These zones were meant to give ethnic minorities more local power. In 2015, the government signed a Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement with eight insurgent groups. However, political stability was short-lived. In 2021, commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing led a military coup. He deposed the civilian government. This event triggered widespread protests and new, intense insurgencies across the country. The conflict continues to shape the life of every person in Myanmar.