Pursuing a definition of national reconciliation Mizzima Business Weekly, October 17, 2014 Aung Naing Oo I have embarked on a quest for a Myanmar definition for “national reconciliation”. It follows my quest for a definition of “peace.” I was astounded by the array of answers I received. Some were spot-on, some were way-off the mark but nonetheless very rich altogether. I consider “reconciliation” or “national reconciliation” to be an overused word or phrase in the Myanmar politics of conflict and peace. This may sound corny coming from someone working to bring about peace in a land where reconciliation is most needed. But I have my reasons. The term “national reconciliation” is so easy to utter but its workings can be starkly intricate. Most of all, I often wonder if those who use it really understand what reconciliation means, particularly in the politics of peace and conflict. My trouble with the term began in 2007 when monks took to the streets in Myanmar. I was happy to see them challenge the military regime and its excesses. But I was also troubled by the monks’ demand for “national reconciliation.” It was not that they should not – it was absolutely necessary to call for national reconciliation in Myanmar – but I wondered if they knew what they were asking for. From what I heard from secondary sources and observers in Yangon at the time, the monks were demanding “national reconciliation” as if democracy were to be restored overnight. The protests were well-meaning. For me, however, political messages had to be clear. I may be wrong but I thought the monks mistook national reconciliation to be a political system. This is my first point: national reconciliation is not a political system. So I asked around. In common with my quest for a definition of peace, I received many answers about what is “national reconciliation.” Similarly to the responses about a definition of peace, the answers had varying content, quality and richness. This is my second point: there are multifarious interpretations of what constitutes national reconciliation. The first answer caught my attention. “Reconciliation can be acts of starting with a Myanmar dance involving young men and women and closing by singing together Myanandar (a popular traditional song) at official gatherings.” It is just one of the answers to my question and I will not make a judgment about its quality. Here are more. Peace is reconciliation. The peace process is national reconciliation. So are ceasefires. National reconciliation is to bring about a firm transition and a preparation for 2015. It is a process of trust building and reconstituting all racial and ethnic groups that are segregated and divided. It is a situation of mutual respect and without discrimination. It is a situation in which no one feels “he or she has to give up something.” It is a process to reconcile after the break-up that led to the conflict. But in that process, righting the wrongs of the past is crucial. Rights must be restored and political participation must be allowed for those who have been excluded. In that sense, national reconciliation is meant as national unity. National reconciliation is a situation where each is tolerant of the other. It is about burying the hatchet, giving up on hatred and working for forgiveness and peaceful coexistence. It is interlinked with development, peacebuilding and democratic transition. Reconciliation is an act of rebuilding the relationship that has been damaged. It is a condition of peaceful coexistence without continuing the conflict. It is a pathway to build a new nation acceptable to everyone. National reconciliation is the acceptance of diversity and acknowledgment of different identities and cultures. It is coexistence that values the sense of belonging, pride, intrinsic inter-relationships and a natural tendency to make one own’s region to be prosperous. In other words, national reconciliation is to bring back common values and make them work again. It is about reciprocity, justice and equality. It is an act of reconciling between the aggressor and the aggressed, victim and perpetrator and the oppressor and the oppressed. A renewed relationship between them must be established. In doing so, solutions must be found in accordance with democratic norms. Only then will the proponents and opponents be able to build a shared and agreed future under some political framework. Reconciliation therefore is an absolute necessity for the consolidation of democracy. One must look into the history. Some communities, despite prolonged conflict, have exhibited examples of reconciliation or periods of reconciliation in the past. These had been used to reconcile the affected communities. It is about dialogue, utmost cooperation and the search for common ground. It is about sacrificing one’s interests for the common good. In a country such as Myanmar, national reconciliation transcends everything – from the individual and personal to the organisational. It is bigger than anything else in the politics of conflict and peace if the individuals, or the groups, are truly committed to conciliation. Even with enough commitment all around to reconciliation, it will be a lengthy process for Myanmar due to the long and protracted nature of the conflict. It is not a political system but can be a political process bringing all disparate groups of individuals and organisations to build a shared future. Here, one of the crucial elements of national reconciliation is trust building. In that sense, all that was divided before needs be reconciled. National reconciliation in Myanmar therefore encompasses many key sectors such as health, education, constitution and security. In other words, Myanmar will have to have political reconciliation as well as reconciliations in health, education, constitution and security. National reconciliation is a political roadmap towards a civilian democratic governance in Myanmar. I like that last answer. I know there will be many more definitions out there depending on one’s situation and context. Above is what I have gathered so far. And it is so little. What is your definition of national reconciliation? (Aung Naing Oo is associate director of the Peace Dialogue Program, Myanmar Peace Center. The opinions expressed are his own).
Posted on: Thu, 23 Oct 2014 03:07:16 +0000
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