Myanmar’s deal with ethnic rebels is good news
Myanmar has come closer to ending the decades-long civil unrest following a deal on Tuesday between the Government and 16 armed ethnic groups. The two parties have agreed on the wording of a national ceasefire agreement, which they will now take back to their bosses. If approved, the agreement will be signed sometime later this month. After a nationwide ceasefire is in place, the next political dialogue will begin to discuss a permanent arrangement for peace and security. Clearly, this is a long and challenging process and it is quite possible that for every few steps taken forward, there will be some setbacks as well. The number of armed ethnic groups in itself is a challenge as each one has its own set of demands and grievances. Most of them, including the stubborn Kachin rebels, have come together to form the United Nationalities Federal Council, but a few still remain out of the purview. For example, the fighters of Kokang, who are the youngest and most active of the rebels, were not part of the talks. There are also many smaller groups that have not been recognised as legitimate members by the Government. Ultimately, the devil lies in the details of the deal. As of now, the draft pact has not been made public.
Most of these miltant ethnic groups have been fighting since Myanmar's independence in 1948, and no one expects their problems to be solved overnight. However, it is also because they have been fighting for so long, that many of them realise this is hardly a sustainable way of life. They are, thus, indeed serious about bringing in peace. The Government also seems committed to the process. It was under President Thein Sein that a large-scale electoral and economic reforms process was initiated in Myanmar in 2011 — bringing the country's most well-known dissident, Ms Aung San Suu Kyi, into the political mainstream, and opening up the national economy, which was on the verge of becoming a Chinese satellite, to the global market. But, of late, the pace of reform has slowed significantly, putting the President under greater pressure and urgency to deliver on one of his biggest promises — making peace with the ethnic rebels.
From India's point of view, any progress in the peace process in Myanmar is welcome because the latter is an important and strategic neighbour, especially within the context of India's look/Act East policy. Also, peace in Myanmar is crucial for stability in the North-East. In this regard, New Delhi's role in the peace talks, though low-key, deserves to be lauded. Former Mizoram Chief Minister P Zoramthanga, who used to be a rebel leader himself and was reportedly approached by the Kachin rebels to mediate, is serving as a semi-official peace envoy. He has been sharing India's experiences with the Mizo Accord of 1986, hailed as one of the most successful deals between a Government and an insurgent group, with the Myanmarese.