DIIS Working Paper

Non-state armed groups in the Myanmar peace process

Conventional disarmament, 'demobilisation and reintegration programs' are unrealistic

This paper provides a historical background to the 65 year long armed conflict in Myanmar and discusses the main challenges facing the current peace negotiations. A key controversy concerns the future status of the numerous non-state armed groups, which represent different ethnic groups, like the Mon and Karen. The leaders of these groups demand a federal system. But what will happen to the many lower- and middle-ranked armed actors in the future? Will they stay armed in new federal armies or could they become politicians, police officers, businessmen, civil society actors or something else?

The paper’s second part discusses the possibilities and challenges of different integration options for the armed actors in Myanmar, and relates this to the international debate on ‘Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration’ (DDR) programs. A core argument is that conventional DDR is unrealistic in Myanmar at present. This is because such programs view disarmament as a necessary first step in a DDR process, and because economic incentives as seen as the key route to reintegration. In Myanmar the ethnic armed groups will not give up arms, and besides economic opportunities they demand political recognition and positions. This calls for a combination of military, political and economic integration options, and for a careful consideration of the heterogeneity of the armed actors.

In debating DDR in Myanmar the paper further argues that there is a need to integrate peacebuilding efforts with the democratic reform process. So far these processes have been largely separated. International aid agencies are now supporting government-led development projects, which are being rolled out before a national ceasefire agreement has been reached. This is seen by the ethnic groups as undermining their political demands and at worst as a strategy by the government to take control of their areas and resources. Development interventions need to be more sensitive to these political aspects.

Regioner
Myanmar

DIIS Eksperter

Helene Maria Kyed
Peace and violence
Senior Researcher
+45 4096 3309
Publication Cover
Non-state armed groups in the Myanmar peace process
What are the future options?