Indigenous Peoples Work to Raise Their Status in a Reforming Myanmar

Abstract

The IP coalition's efforts are taking place amidst Myanmar's transition to democracy and capitalism, a key component of which has entailed the contentious peace process between the national government and numerous Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs). IPs potentially have much to gain and lose as a result of the country's reforms. While a minority on a national scale relative to the Burmans, IPs are a majority in the country's natural resource-rich and yet conflict-ridden borderlands. IPs rights to lead secure and peaceful lives, own and manage their lands according to their customary laws, practice their own cultures and languages, as well as meaningfully participate in local and national level political and economic reforms are all at risk.