BackgroundBackgroundOn BurmaOn Burma

Why Ethnic Why Ethnic Minorities MatterMinorities Matter

Worldwide Impact Now (WIN)

The Burmese Army has waged a scorched earth campaign against ethnic minorities for decades. This made Burma a world leader in human rights abuses by the estimation of every major human rights organization in the world.

The Burmese Army by law in 1951 was permitted to become a profit-making institution. This enabled Burmese generals to target their much-feared ethnic minority adversaries, whose lands were super-abundant in natural resources. The Burmese Army became the tool by which ethnics were oppressed and brutalized for profit.

International corporations were able to profit from this without soiling their hands directly with the Burmese Army methods. These corporations escaped accountability through legal maneuvering, while ethnics continue to suffer attacks and oppression by the Burmese Army.

Why Burmese Army Aggression?Why Burmese Army Aggression?

The Basis of Burmese Fear and Aggression The Basis of Burmese Fear and Aggression Mineral DepositsMineral Deposits Mineral Deposits + Ethnic GroupsMineral Deposits + Ethnic GroupsEthnic Minority Groups (Colored)Ethnic Minority Groups (Colored)

Ethnics states comprise 50% of Burma’s 14 states and ethnic populations cover over 50% of land areaEthnics states comprise 50% of Burma’s 14 states and ethnic populations cover over 50% of land areaEthnic populations may also comprise up to 50% of Burma’s total populaceEthnic populations may also comprise up to 50% of Burma’s total populaceEthnic lands cover most of Burma’s international trade routes and bordersEthnic lands cover most of Burma’s international trade routes and borders

Ethnic lands host most of Burma’s rich natural resourcesEthnic lands host most of Burma’s rich natural resources This is the basis of Burmese generals’ profitThis is the basis of Burmese generals’ profit

China Factor: China Needs Access China Factor: China Needs Access Thru Ethnic Lands to the Indian OceanThru Ethnic Lands to the Indian Ocean

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23

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5

1.1. Kachin StateKachin State2.2. Shan StateShan State3.3. Arakan StateArakan State4.4. Irrawaddy Region (Karen) Irrawaddy Region (Karen) 5.5. Tennassarim Division (Karen)Tennassarim Division (Karen)

China also wants China also wants hydro powerhydro power and and natural resources on ethnic lands on ethnic lands

Over 3600 villages burned and strewn with explosive landmines in Eastern Burma alone

Over 440,000 ethnic villagers displaced on any given day

Over 800,000 forced laborers used for Burmese generals’ profit making

Rape uses as a weapon of terror to intimidate villagers

Murder of ethnic leaders from top level down to village level

Burmese Army Past RecordBurmese Army Past Record

Source: FBR

Villagers were typically attacked first by mortars and infantryVillagers were typically attacked first by mortars and infantrycolumns followed on at least two avenues.columns followed on at least two avenues.

Rice harvests were destroyed and any villagers caught were Rice harvests were destroyed and any villagers caught were either murdered , forcibly relocated or used for forced laboreither murdered , forcibly relocated or used for forced labor

Women and girls raped by infantry units Women and girls raped by infantry units

Burmese Army’s Legacy

So-called “Rebels” protected families and villages

The term “Rebel” is misleading

Many ethnic minorities have been US-UK alliesduring World War II and pro-democracydefenders ever since

Most ethnic minoritieshave been actively working for decadeson Western-style constitutions with the goal of a Federal Union of Burma.

But international media has focused on the Burmese Governments terms “Rebels” and “Insurgents”, which promotes misunderstanding of Ethnics’ true history and present intentions

Burmese President Thein SeinBurmese President Thein Sein

The world has rallied to him as the “champion of reform”The world has rallied to him as the “champion of reform”

Reality?Reality?The Myanmar Government has tried to prevent ethnic unity for decades, because it fears loss of power.

Thein Sein does not control Burmese generals who attack ethnics now at the same time the government talks of Reform.

International aid and development is being used by the government to keep ethnics marginalized. Government land confiscations, Burmese business monopolies and black-listing NGOs who support ethnics are part of keeping ethnics dis-empowered.

Reality TodayReality TodayIn Northern BurmaIn Northern Burma

The Greatest Danger Today

Ethnic minorities, impoverished and brutalized for over six decades, now face the prospect that the International Community will favor Burmese elites-in-power of central government.

If US Policy follows suit, then ethnics will have their backsagainst the wall protecting ancestral lands that have been theirs for millennia.

This would be tragic, because many ethnics have done most of the dying for Burma’s pro-democracy movement under decades of attack by the Burmese Army.

Those attacks continue now…and more are likely on the horizon.

This is a central Burmese central government versus Ethnic states’ rights contest.Balance of Power is the way forward

There will never be peace in Burma until Ethnic Minorities’ ancestral lands are returned to them

Worldwide Impact Now (WIN)Worldwide Impact Now (WIN) is an all-volunteer organization devoted to is an all-volunteer organization devoted to

support oppressed ethnic minorities in Burma support oppressed ethnic minorities in Burma

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www.worldwide-impact-now.org

Worldwide Impact Now (WIN)Worldwide Impact Now (WIN) is an all-volunteer organization devoted to is an all-volunteer organization devoted to

support oppressed ethnic minorities in Burma support oppressed ethnic minorities in Burma