The British government has stated in the British Parliament that it is ‘deeply concerned’ about the Burmese Army breaking its ceasefire with the Shan State Army North. It also stated that ‘only a genuine process of national reconciliation leading to a just political settlement can bring peace and stability to the country and its neighbours.’
The statements were made by government ministers in response to written questions by members of the House of Lords in the UK Parliament.
There has been a major increase in human rights abuses since the dictatorship broke a 22 year long ceasefire agreement with the Shan State Army – North on 13th March. Civilians are being targeted in the military offensive, with mortar bombs fired at civilian villages. Abuses committed by the Burmese Army include arbitrary execution, arbitrary detention, torture, looting, rape, forced relocation and forced labour. These abuses are violations of international law. Since breaking the ceasefire, abuses continue on a daily basis.
Lord Howell of Guildford, Minister of State at the British Foreign Office, stated that reports suggest around 3,000 people have fled the fighting, and that :”We have received reports which allege that the Burmese army has attacked local communities whom they suspect of assisting armed groups.”
Baroness Verma, a Minister at the Department for International Development raised concerns about Burmese army movements against the Wa and the Mon: “We are very concerned about the likely humanitarian consequences of any escalations in fighting.” She also stated that the British Ambassador raised concerns about the situation when he met Burmese government ministers on 10th May.
“We welcome these statements by the British government”, said Mary Hla, Campaigns Officer at Burma Campaign UK. “The silence of the international community about the abuses taking place in Shan State has been a disgrace. We now need to see words turned into action, with the British government working to build global consensus for a coordinated effort to secure a nationwide ceasefire in Burma.”
For more information contact Mary Hla on 020 7324 4718.
Click here for a Burma Campaign UK briefing on the crisis in Shan State.
Click here for Burma Briefing No 11 – Burma’s New Constitution – Denying Ethnic Rights.
Written Questions and Answers in the British Parliament:
Source: Hansard.
23 May 2011 Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the Government of Burma has broken ceasefire agreements; and what assessment they have made of any resulting humanitarian implications.
Baroness Verma: From 1989 the Burmese military regime concluded 17 ceasefire agreements with major ethnic groups. However, tensions began to heighten from 2009 as the Burmese authorities sought to subsume armed groups into a national border guard force as part of their pre-election preparations. Major armed groups resisted the border guard force proposal in order to protect their local autonomy. The Government have received reports that the Burmese military subsequently responded by closing all communication channels to the armed groups and claiming that the ceasefire agreements no longer existed. Tensions in these areas have recently escalated leading to renewed conflict. We have also heard reports of increased military movements against the Wa and Mon-two of the largest groups. We are very concerned about the likely humanitarian consequences of any escalations in fighting.
The British ambassador raised concerns with the Burmese Government about the situation when he met Burmese Ministers on 10 May. At a UN Security Council debate the same day, we called for all armed groups to protect civilian populations and to bring to account those responsible for human right abuses. We are monitoring the situation closely and will consider providing assistance where we can effectively meet urgent humanitarian needs.
24 May 2011 Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of the implications for neighbouring countries of increased conflict in Shan State, Burma
Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government are deeply concerned by the reported breakdown of a ceasefire agreement between the Burmese army and the Shan State Army North which has led to renewed conflict in Shan State. Reports indicate that the fighting is taking place in the north-central area of Shan State, about 110 miles from the nearest Chinese border town and around 200 miles from the border with Thailand. Access to this area is tightly controlled by the Burmese Government and an assessment of the situation is therefore difficult. At this time, we have received no reports of associated refugee flows in border areas. However, reports suggest that fighting has resulted in around 3,000 people being internally displaced. Renewed conflict with ethnic groups again demonstrates that only a genuine process of national reconciliation leading to a just political settlement can bring peace and stability to the country and its neighbours.
23 May 2011 Lord Alton of Liverpool: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assessment they have made of whether the targeting of civilians by the Burmese Army in conflict in Shan State, Burma, is a war crime.
Lord Howell of Guildford: The Government are concerned that the reported breakdown of a ceasefire agreement with the Shan State Army North has led to renewed conflict in Shan State. We have received reports which allege that the Burmese army has attacked local communities whom they suspect of assisting the armed groups. The fighting is taking place in remote areas of Burma which are difficult to access and in this respect, the information is difficult to verify. In a Security Council debate on 10 May, we called upon all armed actors including the Burmese army and ethnic militia to protect the civilian population. The Government secured a strongly worded human rights resolution at the March UN Human Rights Council which called on the Burmese Government to end continuing grave violations of international human rights and humanitarian law, including the targeting of civilians in conflict areas, and to immediately end impunity for such actions.
24 May 2011 Lord Steel of Aikwood: To ask Her Majesty’s Government what assistance they are providing to civilians in Shan State, Burma, who have been displaced by the Government of Burma allegedly breaking a ceasefire and attacking civilians.
Lord Howell of Guildford: We are concerned by reports that 3,000 people may have been internally displaced due to renewed conflict in Shan State. We understand that the fighting is taking place in the north-central area of Shan State. The area is remote and the Burmese Government control access tightly. It is therefore difficult to verify the situation and at present no non-governmental organisations are able to access the area. The Department for International Development is already providing valued support to victims of conflict in Shan State and will consider providing further assistance to recent cases of internally displaced people if they judge that they can effectively meet the humanitarian needs.