Burma NU

Question 1

Burma ethnic policy

Answer 1

Under AFPFL Panglong Agreement (Accommodative): Gave every state the right to of secession after ten years of independence, however the Karen were not initially invited and led to first armed conflict
Under U Nu, backtracked the Panglong agreement and actually did not allow Karen to secede, leading to longest armed ethnic conflict

Question 2

Burma Religious policy

Answer 2

Buddhism as state religion under U Nu (Assimilative): despite the 90% population practising Buddhism led to student protests and uprising due to desire for religious pluralism (Fail)

Question 3

Burma Nationalist Ideology

Answer 3

Under Ne Win Burmese Way To Socialism (Assimilative): Military government wanted to fashion Buddhist Socialist ethos; nationalism based of on ethnicity, one language, one religion. Used force to remove the right of the minorities to create homogenous society

Question 4

Burmese Language policy

Answer 4

Under Ne Wins BWS (Assimilative): Used tatmadaw to enforce national language policy as part of the military campaign against ethnic minority groups. Led to 1965 Censorship law and prevented ethnic groups from promoting their languages. Instead implemented Myanmar-batha-ska as national language

Question 5

Minorities in Burma

Answer 5

By 1974, all the ethnic groups had insurgent groups: Karen National Union (KNU), SSA, ALP etc. as well as formation of the NDF formed by exclusively non-Burmese ethnic nationalities
Furthermore the economic exploitation of the ethnic minorities lands further aggravated the grievances of ethnic minorities against the majority denominated government

Rohingya Muslims: citizenship restrictions deepening exclusion from employment and opportunities: forced to flee due to harsh living conditions and human rights violations