Conflicts, communal violence and IDPs

The ongoing armed conflict between the Myanmar army and the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), and allies (AA, ABSDF, TNLA), has created a severe humanitarian crisis in Kachin and northern Shan states. Not only has this caused death and destruction for armed groups and local civilians caught in the middle of the conflict zone, but it also threatens peace and security for Myanmar and its neighbors. This has led to substantial increases in poverty, lawlessness and drug production. The direct threats to both positive economic development and democratic reforms resulting from this instability highlight the urgency in finding immediate and long term solutions for resolving this crisis.

Apart from the ongoing conflict in Kachin and northern Shan states, ceasefire agreements that have been signed in all the other armed ethnic areas has seen a major decline in military activities and human rights abuses against civilians. However, The Border Consortium (TBC), formerly known as Thai Burma Border Consortium (TBBC), has reported that the Myanmar army has not withdrawn its troops, nor have they abandoned their outposts along the borderline. Troop rotations and the resupply of military rations to outposts have continued unabated. In northern Karen state and eastern Bago Region, the new reporting mechanisms on the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) troops’ movements – stipulated in the ceasefire agreement – have strengthened the Myanmar Army’s presence in these areas. At the same time, insufficient communication of troop movements have also led to skirmishes between KNLA and government troops, including the BGF. These incidents have also been happening in Shan state.