The World's Longest Civil War

Burma, or Myanmar as it’s known today, isn’t exactly the first place that comes to mind when one thinks of civil wars. It’s not even on the evening news or plastered across global headlines.

You’d be more likely and hard pressed not to think of conflict zones like Syria, Afghanistan, or even the never ending mess; that is the Middle East.

But hidden behind Burma’s serene, gilded pagodas and ancient temples is a tale of struggle that has lasted for more than seven decades; a forgotten war, one that the world has largely chosen to ignore.

To understand the world's longest-running civil war, one must first grasp the chaos left behind by a rather particular bunch of tea-loving administrators; the British.

Now, before we get all misty-eyed over the King’s army and their imperial legacy, let’s remember that the British weren’t exactly known for their stellar track record in leaving countries in good shape after waving their goodbyes.

Burma was no exception.

In the 19th century, the British took over Burma in fits and starts, like a particularly drawn out dinner party where no one’s quite sure how to end things.

Over the years, they played favourites; pitting ethnic groups against each other, rewarding the Karen, Shan, and Kachin with power and administrative roles (with a sprinkle of Christianisation) while keeping the Bamar majority at bay, marginalising them, which naturally left the country fractured post-colonial era.

Divide and rule, they called it.

Brilliant strategy if you’re a cunning empire-builder; disastrous if you’re trying to run a unified country afterward.

When Burma finally got its independence in 1948, it was a bit like receiving a jigsaw puzzle without any of the edge pieces, with some of its original territories lost to China and modern day Bangladesh.

However, the Bamar were ready to lead the new nation, into a unified one, but the ethnic minorities, particularly those who had enjoyed favours under the British, weren’t so keen.

The Karen were the first to rise up and in 1949, KNU was born, and others swiftly followed.

And so, the seeds of conflict were sown, left to sprout and entangle the nation for decades to come.

At the end, it became an old family feud, the kind that’s been going on for so long that even the participants don’t quite remember how it all started.

In that quiet, rain-soaked and beautiful corner of Southeast Asia, ethnic groups have been fighting for autonomy, rights, and recognition for nearly as long as Burma has been an independent country. And yet, the world has turned a blind eye. Why? Well, that’s where our story begins.

Chapter 1: Of Empires and Ethnicities

Imagine waking up one day to find your homeland sold off to the highest bidder; a land you thought belonged to your ancestors now ruled by foreigners with stiff collars and strange hats.

This was Burma under British colonial rule.

For over a century, from 1824 to 1948, the British Empire ruled the land like a bored landlord in a crumbling mansion, creating problems for future tenants while they sipped their tea and pondered their own exit.

It wasn't just a matter of changing the drapes; the British drew lines where there were none. They favoured some ethnic groups over others, much like a parent with a favourite child, but without ever admitting it.

The Karen, Shan, Kachin, and even the Bengali were given a taste of power; offered jobs in the colonial administration and military while the majority, the Bamar, were left stewing.

As the British waved their goodbyes, leaving behind a cocktail of distrust and unresolved grievances, Burma was left to figure itself out; like a family reunion where no one really knows each other, yet everyone is ready to bicker.

The great Winston Churchill once said, “History is written by the victors”.

In Burma’s case, history was written by those who were simply too tired to keep ruling.

But the divisions left behind? Those were carved deep into the land’s soul, setting the perfect theatre for the longest civil war no one talks about.

Chapter 2: A Tower of Babel in the Jungle

This is a master class in where Diversity went wrong.

With over 135 ethnic groups with its own language, culture, and aspirations, Burma is a linguistic and cultural Tower of Babel, where the only thing everyone agrees on is that no one agrees on anything.

Imagine trying to organise a family reunion where every relative speaks a different language and has their own idea of how the party should go.

That’s Burma’s ethnic diversity in a nutshell.

While the Karen, the Kachin, the Shan; each with their own vision for what fragmented Burma could be, the Bamar-dominated government wasn’t having any of it.

The Bamar wanted a unified country; like trying to corral cats by insisting they all become dogs.

It was like the United Kingdom’s own conundrum with Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

Everyone wanted something different, but at the heart of it, no one wanted to be ignored.

The Bamar, specifically the Junta, in their zeal to hold things together, ended up doing the one thing that was bound to tear them apart; centralising power and refusing to give the ethnic minorities their due.

As the old adage goes, “You can’t fit a square peg into a round hole.” And yet, that’s exactly what Burma’s Military government tried to do with its people.

Chapter 3: Panglong’s Un-met Promise

In 1947, there was a brief flicker of hope; like the moment before a car crash when you think you might just miss the other vehicle.

This hope came in the form of the Panglong Agreement, where the Bamar leader, General Aung San, gathered with ethnic leaders and signed a deal where minorities have autonomy and the right to govern themselves, solidifying the country and its various ethnic groups.

For a moment, it looked like a new Burma would emerge, one built on unity through diversity. But then, like all good stories, tragedy struck! It’s hard to imagine a worse start to independence than Burma’s.

However, with Aung San's assassination later that year, died the implementation of Panglong treaty.

Some would argue that this assassination is the pivotal moment of Burma's unbecoming and single most damning act by the British.

The conspiracy is riddled with accusations of 2 individuals; namely Maj. C.H.H Young, a British commander of No.1 BEME, and Maj Lance Dane. We shall leave this for another day for now. Continue reading on Aung Sann's assassination.

The new government under U Nu; like a substitute teacher trying to maintain control of a rowdy classroom failed to execute the promises made.

Meanwhile, the ethnic groups, having already tasted the possibility of self-governance, weren’t going to sit back and be patient.

And so, in 1949, the Karen took up arms; soon after, the Kachin and Shan followed suit.

Burma, once a hopeful newborn, was now embroiled in a civil war that would outlast nearly everyone involved.

It was George Orwell, in his Burmese Days, who said, “The world is too unstable for large-scale peace to last.”

How right he was, especially for a country that would know more war than peace in the years to come.

Chapter 4: A Nation in Free Fall

By 1962, the military, tired of watching the civilian government bumble about, decided they’d take over. So, commenced the Burma’s downward spiral and sooner after, hitting rock bottom.

General Ne Win, a military man with dreams of grandeur, staged a coup and established a military dictatorship.

From that moment on, Burma became the playground of the Tatmadaw; the Burmese military.

Ne Win had a vision for the country, one where everyone would be united under one culture: the Bamar culture.

This policy of Burmanisation was less about unity and more about forced assimilation.

Ethnic minorities were expected to abandon their languages, traditions, and customs in favour of the dominant Bamar way of life, and of course It didn’t take long for things to get ugly.

Predominantly Christian ethnic regions were subjected to brutal military campaigns, with villages burnt to the ground, civilians caught in the crossfire, and millions of people displaced.

Ne Win’s dictatorship lasted nearly 50 years, and during that time, the ethnic conflict deepened.

The military’s iron grip on the country ensured that ethnic groups had little hope of achieving their dreams of autonomy.

Instead, they fought on, generation after generation, and what followed was decades of insurgencies, repression, and misery; in a seemingly never-ending cycle of violence.

In Junta's hands, Burma became a socialist state, but one that was less Marx and more Stalin.

International sanctions further deepened the crisis, turning Burma into almost a pariah state. It wasn’t just the guns and bombs that hurt the people; it was the hunger, the lack of jobs, and the crumbling infrastructure.

As John Lennon famously sang,

“Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans.”

In Burma, life was something that happened while the military was busy making war.

Chapter 5: Of Jade and Blood

As if military rule and ethnic conflict weren’t enough, Burma’s economy took a nosedive during Ne Win’s reign.

The socialist policies he imposed led to widespread poverty and economic isolation.

While other countries in the region were busy industrialising and modernising, Burma was left behind, stuck in a time warp.

Ethnic minority regions, where much of the fighting was concentrated, suffered the most.

Infrastructure was non-existent, healthcare was a distant dream, and education was a luxury only a few could afford.

Burma’s ethnic states weren’t just home to people; they were also rich in natural resources. The mountains held treasures like jade, timber, and opium.

In a cruel twist, the very land that could have enriched the people became the source of their suffering.

The jade mines in Kachin State were particularly valuable, generating billions of dollars but the riches never made its way to the people.

For the ethnic militias, these resources became lifelines, funding their insurgencies and allowing them to fight on and fuelling the conflict.

For the Junta, they were prizes worth killing for, never one to miss an opportunity, tried to seize control of these resources, leading to more violence, and killed, they did.

It was a vicious cycle; one that left ethnic minority regions impoverished, underdeveloped, and in a state of perpetual conflict.

Meanwhile, the military grew fat on the spoils of war, controlling vast swathes of the country’s economy and keeping a tight grip on political power.

It brings to mind a quote by Oscar Wilde, “The bureaucracy is expanding to meet the needs of the expanding bureaucracy.”

In Burma, the military expanded its control to meet the needs of its own greed, leaving the people to fend for themselves in the wreckage.

Chapter 6: World’s Silence on Junta’s Brutality

Over the decades, the land woven with rich tapestry and ancient cultures found itself tangled deeply in the ominous grip of military rule with the military, the Tatmadaw, standing as an immovable rock, casting a long shadow over the aspirations of its citizens naturally sprung series of uprising and anti-military movements.

The echoes of dissent were met with the thunderous roar of the Tatmadaw unleashing waves of repression that would mark the pages of its history with blood and sorrow.

Here is a short Chronicle of Myanmar’s Military Crackdowns as follows:

1988: The Sunny Spring that Turned to a Bloody Winter

The year 1988 dawned with a glimmer of hope, as the people of Myanmar began to stir from the slumber of oppression, much like flowers breaking through the frost of winter.

The "8888 Uprising" ignited a wave of pro-democracy protests, echoing the cries of a populace yearning for freedom and a voice in the governance of their own lives. But as the masses poured into the streets, chanting for change, the military responded with a ferocity that was as cold as a winter’s night.

Live ammunition rained down upon the demonstrators of all creed and colours, silencing their cries and turning vibrant gatherings into scenes of chaos and despair. Estimates of the casualties ran the gamut from hundreds to thousands, with countless others languishing in the shadows of prison cells, subjected to torture and humiliation.

The Tatmadaw, like an iron fist in a velvet glove, maintained its grip on power, casting a pall of fear over the land. The hope that had bloomed like spring flowers was crushed, leaving a desolate landscape marked by a deepening military dictatorship that would stifle the spirit of the nation for decades.

2007: The Buddhists' Saffron Revolution

Fast forward to 2007, a time when discontent simmered beneath the surface like a pot about to boil over.

"The Saffron Revolution" began as peaceful protests, led by Buddhist monks who, cloaked in their saffron robes, embodied the very essence of serenity. They took to the streets, their chants resonating with a simple yet profound demand: reform and an end to the military’s iron-fisted rule.

But the Tatmadaw, ever wary of the winds of change, struck back with a ruthless hand. As the monks peacefully marched, the military unleashed its dogs of war, employing lethal force against the peaceful protesters.

Leaving many Buddhist monks and thousands of citizens dead on the streets.

The violence left a bitter taste in the mouths of many, as the sacred and the profane clashed; in a manner reminiscent of David versus Goliath; yet this time, Goliath was armed to the teeth.

The aftermath was akin to a heavy cloud hanging over the nation. While the international community raised its voice in condemnation, the military continued its campaign of repression, stifling dissent and instilling fear into the hearts of the populace.

The hope that had briefly flickered dimmed once more, engulfed in a fog of despair.

2012: Shadows in Rakhine

Though 2010 ushered in a period of apparent reform, 2012 had different idea with ever-present shadows of conflict, particularly in the tumultuous Rakhine State.

In this installment, the dwellers of all faiths found themselves trapped between the jaws of prejudice and power. Violence erupted, ignited by long-standing tensions that had been brewing like a storm on the horizon.

As the military intervened, the situation spiralled into chaos.

The security forces, instead of safeguarding lives, became a source of terror.

The violence of 2012 set a grim precedent, foreshadowing the tragedies that lay ahead.

2017: The Bengali (now known as Rohingya) Chapter

The year 2017 marked a turning point that would echo through history. A dark chapter written in blood and suffering.

Retaliating the attacks by Rohingya militants on police outposts, the military launched a campaign that would prove catastrophic.

The Tatmadaw unleashed a torrent of violence upon the Rohingya population, or anyone who resembles the South Asian look and complexion, an operation reminiscent of a predator stalking its prey.

It was the classic case of a knife in a gun fight.

Once again, tens of thousands fled Burma with thousands dead.

2021: The Coup that Shattered Illusions

Just when it seemed that the flicker of democracy might take root since 2017, the military pulled the rug from under the populace once more in 2021.

The coup d'état came like a thief in the night, as the Tatmadaw arrested civilian leaders, including the beloved Aung San Suu Kyi, and dissolved the newly elected government into exile.

In the blink of an eye, the hopes of a nation were dashed, and Myanmar was plunged back into the abyss of military rule. The streets erupted in defiance, as inhabitants took to the pavements, demanding their rights and decrying the coup.

Peaceful protests transformed into a cacophony of resistance, yet the military responded with the same brutal playbook. Rubber bullets, tear gas, and live ammunition met the peaceful demonstrators, sending many to their graves while others vanished into the shadows, fearful of the repercussions.

The chaos of 2021 birthed a new wave of insurgency, as ethnic armed groups, including Bamar under PDF (People’s Defense Force) united and reignited their struggles against the central authority.

Though the military’s grip was slipping, but it resorted to even more draconian measures to quash dissent. The once-bustling streets of Myanmar, filled with the laughter of children and the chatter of market vendors, became hauntingly silent, reduced to rubles and echoing with the cries of those who dared to dream of a brighter future.

Recap

As Myanmar finds itself at a crossroads, the memories of these crackdowns linger like ghosts in the corridors of time. Each incident; 1988, 2007, 2012, 2017, and now 2021, serves as a stark reminder of the struggle between the aspirations of the people and the unyielding grip of military power.

The path forward is fraught with challenges, yet the hope for a brighter future persists, as resilient as the bamboo that bends but does not break in the fiercest winds.

In the face of adversity, the people of Myanmar continue to dream of a day when they will finally be free to live, love, and flourish without fear. For in the heart of every storm, there lies the promise of a new dawn.

As the world looked on in horror, and organisations labelled the military’s actions as ethnic cleansing, a “textbook example of genocide.”

Global outrage echoed like thunder, yet the Tatmadaw remained steadfast, bolstered by decades of entrenched power and influence; killing and eliminating any and everyone who stands in their way, regardless of creed and colours.

Chapter 7: Why The World Looks Away

So, why has the world ignored Burma’s civil war?

Perhaps it’s because Burma' civil war is too complex, too far away, and too hard to fit into a simple narrative.

In a world obsessed with clean-cut stories of heroes and villains, Burma’s war is messy, with no clear sides, and no easy answers.

Each ethnic group has its own grievances, alliances, and territories, making it a multifaceted war that is not easily summarised in media soundbites.

And even when the world did see, the current and on-going (2021 coup) crisis, it quickly moved on, distracted.

The ethnic diversity of the combatants and the tangled history of grievances makes the conflict difficult to understand and even harder to address in a cohesive way.

The Geopolitical Insignificance factor also has a hand in this.

In the grand theatre of international politics, Burma has often been relegated to the backstage, its suffering out of sight and out of mind.

Unlike the Middle East or Eastern Europe, Burma does not hold significant geopolitical value for major powers.

And, Its internal struggles do not directly threaten global powers, leading to a lack of sustained international engagement.

Isolationism and Starvation of Information

Myanmar was for decades one of the most isolated countries in the world under the military dictatorship, limiting international visibility and engagement.

The military regime controlled information, making it hard for outsiders to grasp the scale of the conflict.

International Ignorance & Indifference

International attention has often centred around Aung San Suu Kyi’s role as a symbol of democracy, with less focus on the ethnic dimensions of the civil war.

The international community, particularly Western nations, primarily framed Myanmar’s issues in terms of democracy versus military rule, ignoring the deeper and complex ethnic conflicts.

Chapter 8: The Phoenix Rising from Ashes

Despite the darkness, there are glimmers of hope.

The road to peace in Burma lies in federalism; in granting the ethnic minorities the autonomy they’ve fought for since 1947.

Inclusive Peace Talks & Federalism

Genuine peace can only be achieved through inclusive negotiations that involve all major ethnic groups and their representatives, not just the central government and the military.

Ceasefires should include provisions for greater autonomy for ethnic regions, addressing the long-standing demand for self-determination.

A federal political system could provide a long-term solution by granting significant autonomy to ethnic minority states while maintaining national unity.

A new union must be built, one that recognises the diversity of its people and respects their right to self-determination.

The military, which has held the country in its grip for so long, must be reformed. Its power must be curbed, and its role in politics removed; only then can Burma begin to heal.

Reform

Judicial, Infrastructure, Healthcare, Education, Economic reforms among others, with equity and inclusivity must be made priorities.

Only through such developments can the people of Burma have a future worth looking forward to.

Rebuilding war-torn regions requires substantial investment in infrastructure, healthcare, education, and job creation.

International organisations and neighbouring countries must play a role in helping Myanmar leverage its natural resources for the benefit of all citizens, not just elites or military factions.

Paraphrasing poet .S. Eliot:

“For last year's words belong to last year's language, and next year's words await another voice.” T.S. Eliot

For Burma, that new voice must be one of peace, not war.

International Engagement

The global community, particularly ASEAN, the UN, and major international powers, must re-engage with Myanmar not just as a post-coup country, but as a nation in need of comprehensive peace building.

Sanctions alone are not the solution; international diplomacy should focus on long-term stability by encouraging inclusive governance and economic development.

Chapter 9: A New Dawn?

The story of Burma’s civil war is far from over, but there is hope. After more than seventy years of conflict, the people of Burma are tired—tired of fighting, tired of suffering. They long for a new beginning, one where their children can grow up knowing peace, not war.

The path forward is clear, but difficult

“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” Martin Luther King Jr.

It requires political reform, economic development, and above all, the will to make peace. It requires the world to stop looking away and to start caring. For Burma’s war may be the longest, but it doesn’t have to last forever.

As a Burmese proverb goes, “Peace begins when the hungry are fed.”

Let us hope that, one day, the people of Burma will no longer go hungry; for food, for peace, or for justice.

Minn Tun

September 2024