Myanmar at a crossroads as Rohingya crisis deepens

The last year for Myanmar has been difficult, especially in terms of its international image. The plight of the Rohingya has dominated headlines and captured the suffering of hundreds of thousands of displaced people in refugee camps in neighbouring Bangladesh. A country that had, for decades, been one of the most isolated states dominated by repressive military regimes, emerged in 2015 with the dramatic election of the National League for Democracy, which is headed by Aung San Suu Kyi, the Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Reaction was swift. Western democracies flooded the country with assistance and welcomed Myanmar back into the international order. But the transition from military rule to democratic governance has not been easy. The military still exerts significant control over the country’s politics and economy. Striking a balance in promoting democratic rule and, at the same time, not antagonizing the military, has been a challenge. The civilian government has no power over the armed forces, and therefore, little power to influence the current situation in the Rakhine state, where the crisis has been playing out. In Myanmar, there are officially 135 ethnic groups recognized, but not the Rohingya/Bengalis, of which there are approximately 2.5 million who call the country home. Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA), which was formed in 2013, is led by leaders mostly from Pakistan and Bangladesh. The crackdown of ASRA sparked the exodus of the Rohingya, many of whom fled to Bangladesh. Unfortunately, a great deal of hostility towards the Rohingya has been spread by extremist Buddhist monks. Any show of support from the government would only strengthen the hands of the military. Yet in 2016, Aung San Suu Kyi commissioned Kofi Annan, former UN secretary general, to head a commission on the situation in the Rakhine state. His report called for a scrapping of restrictions on movement and the issuing of citizenships. It was released in August 2017—the same month attacks by the ASRA occurred against military/police posts and the subsequent response by the Myanmar military. Aung San Suu Kyi accepted all of the commission’s recommendations and set up ministerial committee for implementation. For the first time in its history, the National League for Democracy ranked the Rohingya/Bengalis crisis as its No. 1 priority, along with revamping the 2008 military-imposed constitution, which requires that ministers in charge of defence, border affairs, and domestic affairs be from the military. The home affairs minister oversees the general administration department—the key administrative arm, which is responsible for the day-to-day operations of regional and state-level governments and the management of thousands of districts and townships. Without any civilian oversight, the armed forces is able to set their own budget. In 2017, that budget amounted to $2.14-billion, representing 13.9 per cent of government expenditures or three per cent of the national GDP. This figure represents more than is allocated for health care and education. There are, however, signs of positive change, particularly in the area of economic growth. For example, there has been a shift away from central planning and the development of a more open-market economy, and peace agreements have been made with a number of ethnic groups. There has also been an influx of development partners and most international sanctions have been lifted. Aung San Suu Kyi has emphasized the critical importance of infrastructure development in connecting villages with power and roads to improve the lives of people in the countryside where most people live. Her view is that this development will assist in improving access for better health-care facilities, education, women’s social participation, and ensuring peace and stability. Non-governmental development has been fostered through the government’s private-sector development framework and action plan, which prioritize strengthening human capital, trade, finance, and the promotion of public-private partnerships. Last year, GDP growth was 7.2 per cent. Myanmar is now at a crossroads, and Canada has rightly condemned abuses and singled out military authorities for abuse of power. But now more than ever, it’s time for Ottawa to engage with the civilian authorities in Myanmar, on issues ranging from democratic governance to providing expertise in the fields of health care and infrastructure development. Global Affairs Canada has to consider a proposal from Myanmar’s ambassador to Canada, which looks at: Facilitating interactions between Myanmar officials and Canadian experts to examine specific policies and legislation to determine how they might improve and more effectively promote reform Developing the analytical capacity of officials and the skills of support staff to facilitate policy and legislative development Isolating Aung Sun Suu Kyi will only strengthen the military and further restrain the much-needed economic and social development that millions require. Canada’s Parliamentary Centre, a not-for-profit that works to strengthen parliaments globally, has been engaged on a number of fronts with Myanmar. It was most recently involved with the launch of a project aimed at helping Myanmar peacefully transition to democracy. Decentralization has been mandated by the constitution and the centre has focused on implementing practical initiatives that would lead to the enhancement of parliamentary research of the Shan State Hulluttaw—the largest sub-national legislature in Myanmar. It also seeks to strengthen gender-sensitive parliamentary research through cost-effective “training-of trainers” and “learning-by-doing” approach. These on-the-ground initiatives will provide practical results in the areas of governance. We must move forward in ensuring that democratic development and economic prosperity are achieved, and not turn our backs on a nation that more than ever needs countries like Canada to support their road to democracy. Bryon Wilfert is an honorary consul general to Canada for Myanmar and a senior strategic adviser with Tactix Government Relations and Public Affairs Inc. He is a former Liberal Member of Parliament who served as his party’s foreign affairs and defence critic. The Hill Times

Myanmar at a crossroads as Rohingya crisis deepens

Now more than ever, it’s time for Ottawa to engage with the civilian authorities in Myanmar, on issues ranging from democratic governance to providing expertise in the fields of health care and infrastructure development.

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Myanmar at a crossroads as Rohingya crisis deepens

Now more than ever, it’s time for Ottawa to engage with the civilian authorities in Myanmar, on issues ranging from democratic governance to providing expertise in the fields of health care and infrastructure development.

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