Abstract
This chapter addresses the situation in Myanmar, a country now facing acute human security challenges in the course of historical reform. The stakeholders mentioned such pressing issues as environment and climate change, urbanization, migration, peacebuilding, and poverty reduction. The author argues that the “Japanese approach” to human security will work well in the Myanmar context where building a culture of trust among different interest groups is at stake. The ASEAN and its development partners can leverage ASEAN’s constructive engagement mechanisms in pursuing human security in Myanmar, as demonstrated by the relief operations during Cyclone Nargis in 2008. The model of consultation developed during that crisis may be applicable to ending the Rakhine communal clashes and the resultant exodus of Rohingya refugees.
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Notes
- 1.
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOHCA), which tracks new arrivals to the camps in Bangladesh, periodically updates the numbers. As of January 2018, there had been 688,000 new arrivals since August 25, 2017 (see UNOCHA 2017).
- 2.
The history of humanitarian action in Burma has drawn from the analyses of U Maung Maung (1976), From Sangha to Laity: Nationalist Movements of Burma 1920–1940, unpublished master’s thesis, Australian National University, and Kyaw Yin Hlaing (2009), “Social Capital, Civil Society Organisations and Cyclone Nargis,” unpublished paper presented at Workshop on Lessons from Nargis: Disaster Management in Southeast Asia, March 5–6, 2009, Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, Singapore.
- 3.
I refer to Aung San Suu Kyi as Daw Suu hereafter, as there is a popular preference on referring to her with the Daw honorific rather than as “Suu Kyi.”
- 4.
The discussion under this heading is based on the author’s participation in a workshop on “Human Rights, Environment, Climate Change” in Yangon on September 13–15, 2014.
- 5.
To be EITI compliant, candidate countries are required to have in place a functioning multi-stakeholder group that includes civil society participation, among other key requirements.
- 6.
The joint venture partners are the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings (UMEHL), a state-owned enterprise with military backing, and Wan Bao Mining, a subsidiary of a Chinese state-owned arms firm.
- 7.
The protestors’ concerns were on environmental damage and lack of full compensation. In 2014, three workers were kidnapped by opponents of the mine (The Economist 2014).
- 8.
In 2013, the percentage of the urban population was 33.8, according to UN estimates.
- 9.
Data available at the United Nations Statistics Division, UN data website (accessed 15 October 2014).
- 10.
Some 100,000 people were displaced as a result of the hostilities between the KIO and the Myanmar armed forces.
- 11.
The UEHRD ambit falls under the Office of the State Counselor, and has its own website: http://rakhine.unionenterprise.org/
- 12.
See also Nitta (2017).
- 13.
Remarks made by the Chairman of the Myanmar Institute for Strategic and International Studies at a by-invitation workshop on “Strategies for Peace, Harmony and Development” held in Yangon on February 21, 2018. The author was a panelist at this workshop.
- 14.
In 2009–10, the rural poverty incidence (29.2%) was almost double the urban rate (15.7%).
- 15.
- 16.
See http://www.president-office.gov.mm/en/?q=briefing-room/announcements/2018/06/04/id-8827 (accessed 25 April 2018).
- 17.
- 18.
See https://www.reuters.com/subjects/myanmar-reporters (accessed 25 April 2018).
- 19.
This proposal was made by then ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan in 2012.
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Interviews
Government Source #1. 2014. Dr Myint. Economic Advisor to President Thein Sein. Conversation with the author in Singapore, May 29.
Government Source #2. 2015. U Ohn Gyaw, former foreign minister of Myanmar. Interviewed by the author in Yangon, December 27.
Government Source #3. 2015. U Khin Maung Win, former deputy foreign minister of Myanmar. Interviewed by the author in Yangon, July 15.
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Thuzar, M. (2019). Human Security and Development in Myanmar: Issues and Implications. In: Mine, Y., Gómez, O.A., Muto, A. (eds) Human Security Norms in East Asia. Security, Development and Human Rights in East Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-97247-3_7
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