Ethnic Groups

Nearly a third of Burma's population consists of people from ethnic minorities, amounting to more than 15 million people who speak about 100 different languages.

The main ethnic minority groups are:

Shan: 9%

Karen: 7%

Rakhine: 4%

Mon: 2%

Chinese: 3%

Indian: 2%
Other: 5%

There are many cultural and religious differences between the ethnic groups. For example, the Kachin are mainly Christian, and so are some Karen; other groups such as the Shan are mainly Buddhist, and others again are animists. The enforcement of Buddhism as the State Religion and Burmese as the national language in Burma denies the basic culture and human rights of these ethnic minorities.

The major source of armed conflict in Burma is the oppression of ethnic minority people by the Burmese military regime. The Union of Burma, which gained Independence from the British in 1948, was never stable and from the beginning the Burmese Army has tried to subdue the non-Burman ethnic groups into submission. Many of these groups wish for some measure of self-determination, but the policy of the Burmese military regime is 'Burmanization' involving severe restrictions on their human rights. For example, in Rakhine State the ethnic minority Rohigyas, who are Muslim, have been subjected to sustained attacks by the Army, forcible relocation and loss of their lands which have been handed to Burman farmers, specially brought in by the SPDC. New laws require Muslim women to seek permission to marry, bur the SPDC officials frequently refuse this. This assault on the human rights of a minority has been described as a form of ‘ethnic cleansing.’

In recent times, the SPDC is using the excuse of such conflicts to force ethnic populations out of their traditional lands, which are often rich in natural resources. SPDC asserts the 'development' of such resources justifies extreme violence against the civilian ethnic minority populations in such areas as Arakan, Shan State, Kayah State and Kachin State. The ‘developments’ provide no benefit for ordinary Burmese people, however, but are used by the ruling junta to increase the enormous spending on the Burmese Army, and their own personal wealth.
[See Shwe Gas and Salween Dams links, for further information.]

Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy call for equal status for ethnic peoples in a true ‘Union of Burma.’ [statement 22nd November 1995] :
“The NLD was founded with the aim of achieving a genuine democratic system which accords with the will of the people, and of constructing a strong and lasting Union of Burma. It believes that the ultimate power of state derives from the people and that in a democratic nation there should be rule of law and a constitution that guarantees basic human rights,
including freedom of worship, freedom of speech and expression and freedom of association. Further, as stated in its election manifesto, the NLD believes that the foundation for a strong, lasting and prosperous union has to be laid through a National Convention where all the ethnic groups of
Burma can jointly decide the future course of the Nation.”

Fears Grow of Violence Against Rohingya in Burma
(press release issued by Burma Campaign UK - April 9th 09)

The Burma Campaign UK is deeply concerned by consistent reports from sources in Rakhine State, Burma that there could be widespread violence against the Rohingya in the coming week.

The regime ruling Burma appears to be stoking communal violence, exploiting existing tensions between the mainly Buddhist Rakhine and muslim Rohingya people. In addition, there has been increased activity from the pro-regime militia, the Union Solidarity Development Association (USDA), and the Na Sa Ka border security force.

There are consistent reports of weapons such as knives being stockpiled in Rakhine villages, and also reports of the military visiting Rohingya villages and taking away knives and other potential weapons.

Last week 5 houses belonging to Rohingya were burnt down in Buthidaung. No action has been taken to find and arrest those responsible.

Local people fear that the water festival due to start on Monday 13th April will be used as a trigger or cover for the violence.

Burma’s various military dictatorships, and even the post independence government, have a long track record of either using front organisations, or stoking communal violence, as a way of trying to avoid being blamed for attacks on political, ethnic or religious groups. Such violence may then also be used to try to justify political crackdowns and/or military action.

The Burma Campaign UK does not have specific evidence about individual planned attacks.  However, the consistency of the reports we are receiving lead us to believe that the risk of violence is high, and needs to be taken seriously. Many rumours of planned attacks are circulating in both Rakhine and Rohingya communities.  Even if specific attacks are not planned, we believe the level of tension in some areas is so high that it would not take much to trigger violence.

The Burma Campaign UK calls on governments and the United Nations to warn the military dictatorship not to provoke attacks against the Rohingya ethnic minority. We hope that diplomatic attention, and publicity about this issue, could persuade the regime to stop stoking tensions and attacks against the Rohingya.

The timing of the current move to increase communal tensions could be linked with the recent international outcry about the treatment of Rohingya people fleeing Burma by boat. ASEAN countries have tried to sideline the issue to one being simply about people smuggling and trafficking, pushing it into the Bali Process, which only deals with those issues, rather than addressing the appalling human rights abuses and poverty that is forcing Rohingya people to flee the country.

The Rohingya ethnic minority are one of the most oppressed ethnic groups in Burma. They are denied citizenship, are subject to constant extortion and land confiscation, do not have freedom of movement, and even have to ask permission from the dictatorship to get married. Most Rohingya people live in extreme poverty. They have been subject to severe crackdowns and attacks, including a massacre in 1942 in which tens of thousands were believed to have been killed, a crackdown in 1978 that forced more than 200,000 people to flee to Bangladesh, and another crackdown in 1991-1992 which forced more than 250,000 to flee to Bangladesh.  A regime official recently described the Rohingya as ‘ugly’ and ‘dark’.