Since signing ceasefire and peace agreements with successive Burmese Governments, armed ethnic groups have been able to create a number of business opportunities in the country. As part of the first ceasefire processesthat began in the late eighties/early nineties, armed ethnic groups were able to become legally involved in logging, mining, import and export, transportation, and a number of other businesses.

Recent ceasefire agreements have also resulted in similar incentives being made and a number of armed ethnic groups have taken the opportunity to create their own companies.  Groups hope that if they become self-sufficient itwill remove the burden on the over taxed local population. That said, however, a number of obstacles remain and further support needs to be given in relation to allowing groups the ability to move forward in terms of creating local business opportunitiesto support their troops and their families.

The Chin National Front (CNF), primarily because it had seen little in relation to armed conflict over recent years, has prioritised development when dealing with the Burmese Government. A member of the Supreme Council of the Chin National Front noted that:


The CNF is the largest group that is currently categorised as being at the Union level stage of peace negotiations. To provide financial support to the CNF, members of the organisation have formed the KhonumthungCompany which is primarily associated with logging.

Similarly, the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) hasalso been grantedlicenses to open two companies. The KNPP has created the Kayah Htarnay (Kayah Land) company, which is involved in lead exploration, and the TamawHtarcompany which focusses on theimport and export of teak.

It remains too early to know how successful these companies have been in relation to supporting members of armed ethnic groups. According to the Restoration Council of Shan State (RCSS) leader, Yawd Serk, their company, Taungdan Cherry, which was created in April 2012 along with a business liaison office in Muse has consistently found that they are unable to operate. Shan TaungdanCherry,has apparently applied for concessions on several projects including agriculture, mining, tourism, road construction and power distribution.According to Yawd Serk:


Sources quoted by SHAN suggest that the main reason for problems related to Taungdan Cherry is its areas of operation which continue to see skirmishes with Government troops. Additionally, such areas are also located in the notorious Golden Triangle where local militias continue to be involved in the drug trade. Therefore, not until a more stable peace is achieved and further efforts to wipe out drug trafficking in Shan areas are successful, can the company become more effective.

Most recently, the Karen National Union has also embarked on creating a local business - The MoeKo San Travel and Tour Company Limited and Trading Company Limited. Managing Director Saw Moses administers the company, located at Thirimingalar Street in Myawaddy opposite Thailand’s Mae Sot district. The company was registered in Naypyidaw on the 4 May 2013 and was set to begin tour services in June 2013.

It is anticipated that the tour company would start working in collaboration with travel and tours companies from Thailand, Japan and in the United States. Recently, the Burmese Government opened a number of land crossings that will allow tourists to travel overland to non-restricted areas in the country. These include the Thai-Burma Friendship bridge which connects Myawaddy to Mae Sot in Thailand. Such an opening could, therefore, prove fairly lucrative for the Karen National Union’s business enterprise.

According to Karen Media sources, the company’s main aim is that:


In addition, Saw Moses noted:


It is unclear whetherfunds raised by the Karen National Union’s economic office would benefit only those from the KNU’s 7th Brigade and not those from other brigade areas. Previouly the funds from other brigade areas, after individual Brigade operating costs were removed,were purportedly sent to the Central Headquarters, thus providing funds for less financially viable brigades.

Additionally, the Karen National Union has offered, in the 4th Brigade area, to provide assistance to individuals wanting to start their own businesses and has actively encouraged them to do so. According to one Karen offical, Saw Beeler:


While the 7thand 4th Brigades have openly welcomed the opportunity to create a friendlier business environemnt, General Baw Kyaw Heh, the former 5th Brigade commander who is now deputy Chief of Staff, is sceptical about the peace process and its relationship to business interests.

While discussing outside business interests he has stated that:


Whether he believes the same for KNU operated enterprises remains unclear. The opening of the MoeKo San Company isn’t the first time thatmembers of the Karen National Union and the Karen National Liberation Army have sought to become self-sufficient and provide for their troops and family members.

Col. Nerdah Mya of the Karen National Union has been involved, together with American Kurt Hanson, in forming an organisation known as Karen Enterprises. The group established a rubber and coffee plantation, with the support of local villagers, as one of its first commercial ventures in the 6th Brigade area of Karen State, and itis hoped that this will provide employment and industry for the local Karen population.

It is extremely important that Armed Ethnic Groups consider different ways in supporting themselves during the transition to peace. One of the greatest challenges they faceis to reduce their reliance on taxation of the local population. Armed ethic groups involvement in creating local business opportunities can help ease the burden on local communties, however, the Government and the international donor community still needs to provide support to groups in an attempt to help troops and families through the transition period.It is likely that such companies will not be sufficiently profitable for sometime yet and, as Yawd Serk noted earlier, it is essential that the Government act swiftly to support the armed groups local enterprises.

More importantly, the armed groups thmeselves have to ensure that their business dealings are done in a sufficiently transparent way. Proper bookeeping records shoul be made available to ensure that such companies are seen to benefit their communities and are not used for the personal encrichment ofspecific individuals. One of the greatest criticism of business, both external and within the armed groups themselves, is the belief that individual leaders are signing peace agreements with the government for personal gain. While there is no evidence to support this, a number of ethnic leaders in the eighties and nineties were able to amass small fortunes through lucrative, and often illegal, trade deals. A situation which should not be repeated.

Business and Armed Ethnic Groups.PDF