![]() ![]() If so, the opportunity to reset aid paradigms and bring support to the country’s peoples will be lost. But already there are many worries that international donors are repeating the practices and systems from the last time around, failing to understand the nature of our country’s problems and pursuing policies in which their own interests and perspectives are uppermost. What then are the lessons for international engagement in 2022 when, once again, the country is divided by conflict? It is still early days, and it is hoped that mistakes from the past have been learned. Military rule continued but the spirit and determination of the people remained strong. With strong traditions around cultural and faith-based movements, the 1990s saw the fastest decade of growth in non-governmental groups in Myanmar’s history, 2 while a diversity of ethnic nationality movements continued to administer large territories around all the country’s borders. But such simplifications failed to understand the trends and dynamics in national politics and society. In defence of these decisions, it was often said that there were “no alternatives”, civil society was “dead” or that aid could not be provided in areas that were under the control of ethnic armed organisations (EAOs), whether they were in ceasefires with the military regime or not. In contrast, there was tangibly little support for those that remained inside the country in the front-line of struggle under military rule – most obviously, community-based groups and ethnic nationality organisations, many of which were providing sanctuary to the democracy exiles. 1 Humanitarian relief was mostly concentrated on health within the country or refugee camps abroad (mainly along the Thai border), while political support went to the NLD, democracy exiles and movements centred among the Bamar-majority population. While international attention largely focused on sanctions, Myanmar became an “aid orphan”. ![]() Into the 21st century, imbalanced – and often paradoxical – aid structures developed as many actors in the West continued to misread the situation. They were not, however, the only people suffering and, in many cases, their activities were based abroad. But whether inside the country or around its borders, wasn’t this largely targeted by Western governments and donors at helping the National League for Democracy (NLD), many of whose members had been arrested or gone underground? Over the following years, this saw the emergence of such bodies as the National Coalition Government Union of Burma and Members of Parliament Union which were feted in Western capitals around the world. Yes, there was international support during this earlier time. Didn’t we make repeated appeals to international organisations for support as our struggle for freedom continued through the 1990s? Sadly, the political crisis in our country is not new.Īnd this is where many observers feel uneasy. Many cannot forget that there were also calls for help during the previous cycle of military rule when there appeared to be international sympathy for the sufferings in our country. This experience has prompted many discussions, comparing then and now, and I have been talking with older friends and colleagues. So why is it circulating now? Is it to help promote conversation? Is it a sign of activists facing hardship in their struggles for political change? Or could it be reflection of the sheer numbers of people leaving the country seeking ways to survive? As a new generation of exiles develops, their flight brings back many memories of 1988 when a similar exodus of people took place following the suppression of pro-democracy protests by a previous military regime. Dated August 2015, it states: “Any human rights defender or organisation who is facing risks because of her/his human rights work and needs emergency support may send an application for an emergency grant.” There then follows an email address where applications can be sent. Recently, a call by an international human rights organisation has been circulating online. Kachin youth manao ceremony, northern Shan State / Photo credit TNI ![]()
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