Civil-military relations critical for success of new Myanmar gov't
- By Niranjan Sahoo
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E-mail China.org.cn, April 15, 2016
Looking after hapless minorities
The most significant challenge that the new government will grapple with in the long term is managing fragile ethnic relations and addressing the continued persecution of ethnic and religious minorities, particularly the Rohingyas in conflict with the torn Kachin state. For a long time, Myanmar was in the throes of violent insurgencies and ethnic wars among different tribal groups. Although a peace agreement among the eight major ethnic groups was recently facilitated by the military government, finding a lasting solution to such ethnic struggles would not be easy. The new government has to take a tight rope walk to address the fault lines of a deeply divided society.
Managing group grievances would test the skills and leadership of the new governing elites. The highpoint of government's negotiating skill would be how it navigates between the Rohingya Muslims and rising Buddhist extremism. It must be made known that nearly all political parties from Myanmar, including the NLD, avoided putting up a single candidate from Rohingyas in the last election. The international community will be closely watching how the new government delivers on its inclusive agenda.
Civil-military relationship
The most serious challenge for the new government is forging a mutually beneficial working relationship with the military. Analysts following the affairs of Myanmar know that the new government is not going to be the sole decision maker in most key affairs of the country.
For years, military elites have built huge stakes in the country's politics and economy controlling large businesses and property markets. Thus, they would be fiercely competing for every governing space with NLD. Having retained key portfolios such as defence, home and police with them under the current constitution power distribution, Suu Kyi's government would be left to handle the routine jobs of service delivery and economic management.
Yet, the new government still has plenty of legroom to govern and turn its structural constraints to its advantages. Its real challenge is going to be a lack of experience in the intricacies of running a government. This means it needs more time and patience from its millions of citizens and well wishers. The good thing about the new government is that it enjoys unprecedented goodwill from the world community.
Niranjan Sahoo is Senior Fellow, Observer Research Foundation, New Delhi.
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
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