Introduction: Background of Protracted Conflict and Displacement in Myanmar
After more than 60 years of conflict and displacement, Myanmar is now in the midst of political reform. A new nominally-civilian government and pledged elections in 2015 has raised hopes of a lasting democratic transition after decades of military rule. F
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Introduction: Background of Protracted Conflict and Displacement in Myanmar Supang Chantavanich and Aungkana Kamonpetch
Abstract After more than 60 years of conflict and displacement, Myanmar is now in the midst of political reform. A new nominally-civilian government and pledged elections in 2015 has raised hopes of a lasting democratic transition after decades of military rule. For the first time in decades, repatriation of refugees in Thailand is being discussed as a real and imminent possibility. This chapter introduces the current state of displacement along the Thai–Myanmar border, providing a background on the conflicts in Myanmar and other factors that have led to protracted displacement of several ethnic groups both within Myanmar and across state borders. The chapter sets the context for the rest of this book, which examines Myanmar as a post-conflict society and the reintegration processes that would need to occur to enable safe and voluntary return of persons displaced by the decades of conflict.
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Brief History of Population Displacement in Myanmar and Flight to Thailand
Since Myanmar gained independence in 1948, the country has experienced political and armed conflict between the government of Myanmar and various ethnic armed groups throughout the country.1 Especially in the latter half of the 20th century, armed conflict escalated into flows of refugees who left their place of origin to seek safety at the borders of Thailand and Myanmar. Since 1984, waves of various ethnic groups, especially the Karen, Karenni, Mon and Shan have sought asylum within Thailand’s borders. From 1984 to 1986, 12 Karen refugee camps were established in Tak and Mae Hong Son Provinces in the western part of Thailand. The first Karenni refugee camp was established in Mae Hong Son Province in 1989. In the following year, Mon and Karen opposition bases destroyed by the Myanmar Government army resulted in the establishment of a Mon refugee camp near Three Pagodas Pass in 1
At the time of Independence, the country was named Burma but the Government changed the formal name to Myanmar in 1989. The official name is the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.
© The Author(s) 2017 S. Chantavanich and A. Kamonpetch (eds.), Refugee and Return, SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace 28, DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-41752-3_1
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S. Chantavanich and A. Kamonpetch
Thailand’s Kanchanaburi Province (Bryant 1997). From 1988 to 1990, significant waves of displacement continued due to the suppression of political protestors and students. People arriving along the border areas were accepted in Thailand as “displaced people escaping from fighting”. These new arrivals were permitted to settle temporarily in shelters along the border. Although Thailand is not a signatory to the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees 1951 and its Protocol of 1967, it agreed to assist the refugees from Myanmar for humanitarian reasons. The significant waves of displacement happened from 1988 onward after the suppression of poli
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