Burma Project

  • Burma’s Ethnic Challenge: From Aspirations to Solutions

    “Important steps have been made in national reconciliation during the past two years. But promises and ceremonies will never be enough. The long-standing aspirations of Burma’s peoples for peace and justice must find solutions during the present time of national transition.”

  • Access Denied: Land Rights and Ethnic Conflict in Burma

    The new land and investment laws benefit large corporate investors and not small- holder farmers, especially in ethnic minority regions, and do not take into account land rights of ethnic communities.

  • The Kachin Crisis: Peace Must Prevail

    As 2012 progressed, perceptions of the real nature of change under the Thein Sein government were challenged by a series of disturbing events in which serious violence and mass displacement of civilians occurred in several parts of the country.

  • Developing Disparity

    Unless foreign direct investment in Burma's war-torn borderlands is refocused towards people-centered development, it is likely to deepen disparity between the region’s most neglected peoples and Burma's new military, business and political elite and exacerbate a decades-long civil war. 

  • Ethnic Peace and Political Participation

    Ceasefires have been agreed; the NLD has elected representatives in the national legislatures; Western sanctions are being lifted; and the World Bank and other international agencies are returning to set up office in the country. Such developments are likely to have a defining impact on ethnic politics, which remains one of the central challenges facing the country today.

Burma has been exposed to some of the longest running armed conflicts in the world. Ethnic nationality peoples have felt marginalised and discriminated against. TNI has developed a unique expertise on Burma's ethnic regions. TNI's work on drugs and conflict in Burma brings together its long-term work on international drugs policies, and its in-depth research on the regional drug market in Burma and neighbouring countries. TNI proposes alternative policy responses. Read more: Ethnic Conflict in Burma and Drugs & Conflict in Burma

Articles

The first forum of growers of crops declared illicit in Southeast Asia

Gloria Lai, IDPC Senior Policy Officer
South East Asian and South Asian growers have a long way to go before they will be given the chance to contribute meaningfully to drug policy processes.

Why peace and land security is key to Burma's democratic future

Tom Kramer
Analysis of the social costs of large-scale Chinese-supported rubber farms in northern Burma suggests that the future for ordinary citizens will be affected as much by the country's chosen economic path as the political reforms underway. 

Tackle Burma's Drugs Problem

Martin Jelsma
Tom Kramer
Policy priorities should focus on how best to manage and reduce the many health and social harms associated with the reality of a persistent and ever changing drugs market. 
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Publications

Political Reform in Burma/Myanmar and Consequences for Ethnic Conflict

TNI & Burma Centrum Netherlands
While there have been undeniably positive trends in Burma over the past year, these have not yet been translated into ethnic peace and justice. 

Ending 50 years of military rule

Tom Kramer
Burma has been under military rule since 1962. However, in 2011 a new political system was introduced and a new military-backed government inaugurated that has reached out to the democratic opposition and armed ethnic opposition groups seeking more autonomy. Both of these groups reject the new constitution, which seeks to entrench the army’s power.

Burma at the Crossroads

The people of Burma are at a critical juncture in their struggle for democracy and ethnic reform. Decisions taken by leading parties and protagonists in the months ahead could well define the direction of national politics for many years to come.
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News

Myanmar: Will The Peace Process Materialise?

5 August 2013
In his address at the Chatham House, UK on 15 July 2013, President Thein Sein categorically asserted that the armed fighting in Myanmar since 1948 will end soon.

The KNU land policy to go to the Burma government

30 July 2013
In an effort to protect lands that were confiscated or stolen for recent development projects and business development in Karen State, the Karen National Union is working on a land policy that will then be proposed to the Burma government.

Burma Army ‘mark’ KNU registered farmlands

26 July 2013
Villagers in Htantabin Township witnessed the Burma Army putting up placards claiming their land that was confiscated under the former military regime.
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