Description

Since 2011, Myanmar has begun a transition to civilian and democratic rule. The 2015 elections have further confirmed Myanmar’s transition to democracy, with the victory of the National League for Democracy. Yet, peace with ethnic nationalities and new institutional powers for ethnic states remain elusive. Under the 2008 Constitution, very few powers were devolved to ethnic states. How are ethnic states gaining more powers from the central government? How are new powers being negotiated? What are the prospects for greater devolution of power to ethnic states? The panel will focus on the fundamental contradictions between the central government’s historically persistent centralizing approach and its stated objective of devolving power to ethnic states. Since 2012, changes remain primarily cosmetic rather than substantive. Although the government has pledged support for federalism, has negotiated a national cease-fire, and has introduced a new decentralization law in the national parliament, there is little evidence so far of a willingness to amend the 2008 Constitution to give more autonomy and power to ethnic states or, in practice, to provide sufficient powers and resources for ethnic states to exercise any meaningful degree of autonomy. The panel will also discuss the rise of violence against Muslims. These represent important challenges as the National League for Democracy forms a new government, and attempts to find new solutions to the sixty-year civil war with ethnic groups and achieve peaceful democratic change.