Myanmar in 2017: Crises of Ethnic Pluralism Set Transitions Back

Abstract

The challenges of ethnic pluralism dominated Myanmar’s landscape in 2017, with the long-simmering discord in Rakhine State escalating to large-scale violence and an unprecedented exodus of refugees, just as the government’s peace negotiations with ethnic armed groups ground to a standstill. Entering her second year in office, State Counsellor, National League for Democracy (NLD) leader and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Aung San Suu Kyi promised to rule “Together With the People” for development, peace and reconciliation. As the year wore on, she faced widespread international criticism for how she and the Defence Services managed the evolving Rakhine State crisis, while domestic popular support grew around the Rohingya issue and regional allies — especially China — rallied behind the military and the State Counsellor. It was a retrograde year for the history books. The feel-good narrative about Myanmar’s remarkable transitions was replaced with the kind of denunciations by UN officials and others of “ethnic cleansing” and “crimes against humanity” reminiscent of military rule from 1988 to 2011.