By Force of Arms: Armed Etnic Groups in Burma - Hardcover

Burma has been racked by extensive ethnic conflict. As numerous groups sought to secure their individual ethnic rights, successive Burmese governments sought to destroy them through numerous counter-insurgency measures, negotiated ceasefires, and by integrating them into Burma Army controlled Border Guard Forces or militias. 'By Force of Arms' provides background information on the numerous armed ethnic groups that have emerged in the country since independence. It highlights the various reasons for conflict and argues that while military force has been successfully used in preserving ethnic rights, as the country moves forward, new methods have to be explored. It states that for genuine peace to be attained, armed ethnic groups need to reassess their methodologies and motivations and both the Government and Non-State Armed Actors need to hold substantive political dialogue before there can be genuine peace.

Paul Keenan is a researcher and writer on ethnic issues in Burma. He specialises in strategic studies and policy research. He has spent the last 15 years working closely with ethnic and pro-democracy groups in Thailand and on the Thai-Burma border. He has written a number of working papers for, and works closely with, various ethnic organsiations. He is co-founder of the Karen History and Culture Preservation Society.