Burma promises more protection for minorities, but the war against nationalities continues!

According to the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP), the fact that Burma's government had promised a better protection for the minorities is no reason for hope. "It seems obvious that this is an attempt to deceive US President Barack Obama and the International Community with vague promises", criticized the STP's expert on questions regarding Asia, Ulrich Delius, in Göttingen on Monday. "Burma’s leadership has not agreed to any compromise regarding the Rohingya or about the war against the ethnic minority of the Kachin. Given the current war crimes against civilians in Kachin state, any reform efforts suggested by Burma's government are to be viewed with suspicion."

On Sunday, prior to Obama's visit and the ASEAN summit, Burma's President Thein Sein had given an interview to the official newspaper "New Light of Myanmar", saying that he will intensify his commitment towards the persecuted minorities. Their representatives – and also US congressmen and the STP – had previously appealed to Obama to advocate for an end to the human rights violations against minorities in Burma.

Burma's president had sent out several hundred soldiers to reinforce the combat troops in the Kachin area only ten days ago – and the situation there has become worse due to several military offensives. More than 100,000 members of this minority were forced to flee from their villages since June 2011. Burmese soldiers are accused of rape, arbitrary shootings of civilians, pillage and other war crimes in Kachin.

There is also growing criticism from the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) about the discrimination and exclusion of around 800,000 Muslim Rohingya in Burma. Several appeals from the ASEAN nations urge Burma to finally recognize the Rohingya as citizens with equal rights. Yesterday however – after recent appeasement attempts by Thein Sein – the ASEAN Secretary-General, Surin Pitsuwan, tried to alleviate the criticism by stating that ASEAN could only try to improve the humanitarian situation of the oppressed minority. The UN Human Rights Council should have more influence. "This argument of the ASEAN nations is absurd, because it is especially the neighboring countries who could be able to influence Burma's minority policy effectively", said Delius.