What’s happening in Myanmar?
In the current world where COVID-19 is the biggest threat to most, Myanmar’s people are risking their lives on the streets, in their homes, and online to fight for their fundamental human rights.
In the early morning of the 1st of February 2021, Myanmar’s military known as the Tatmadaw seized power by staging a coup. They detained President Win Myint, state counsellor and de-facto leader, Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected officials from the National Democratic Party (NLD). The detention was initially due to suspicions of ‘election fraud’ concerning the national election held in November 2020 that NLD won by a landslide. Still, Aung San Suu Kyi has now been further charged for illegally importing six walkie talkies.
Power has been handed over to commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing. He has notably been named the ‘most wanted man on the planet’ by Amnesty International due to his active role in the Rohingya Crisis 2015, where an estimate of 25,000 Rohingyas were murdered. The military has declared a “state of emergency” in early February, justified by Article 417, and Article 418 of the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar (a constitution written when the state was previously under military rule).
A Brief History
Unfortunately, this has not been the first time the state has been through a military coup. In 1962, the military staged its first coup and formed a military junta, turning Myanmar into a one-party state headed by the BSPP. During these years, citizens lived reluctantly leading to multiple protests such as the 8888 Revolution and the Saffron Revolution led by students, politicians and even religious monks. These protests serve to illustrate how notoriously unwelcome the military can be. Citizens’ cries for democracy and human rights were answered by bullets, beatings and bloodshed.
In 2010, the state was finally declared as a democratic state with an election won by the USDP (military-backed party). Yet, this election has been accused of fraud and therefore the military was still effectively in charge. Members of the UN Human Rights Council then made a number of recommendations for Myanmar in 2011 - they declined. These recommendations include to ratify the core international human rights treaties and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, to bring the Constitution and national legislation in line with international human rights standards and to lift the restrictions on freedoms of opinion, expression and information. This lack of accountability of the violations of human rights by the military government has been present for all too long.
Only we then see in 2015 a free and fair election held and NLD winning by a large margin. Though it must be noted the victory was flawed as the constitution states that the military will be guaranteed 25% of the seats in the parliament. It is the same constitution that allows the current coup to be justified and the same constitution that grants immunity to State and military personnel for crimes even if they are crimes against humanity.
Elected leaders such as Suu Kyi were never in control of the army and as such, a clear democratic façade has persisted in Myanmar.
What is happening in Myanmar currently?
After another general election on the 1st of February this year, Myanmar’s military again seized control detaining hundreds of politicians and outspoken individuals and the protest that have followed have been the largest the country has seen since the Saffron Revolution in 2007. As of the 23rd of February, there have been regular internet blackouts and in the first few days after the military takeover, citizens have started protesting in their homes by banging pots and pans, the ‘Civil Disobedient Movement’ was developed, where citizens abstain from working under the military government. These peaceful protests were then taken to the streets alarming Tatmadaw. So, those in charge passed martial law in most areas with a curfew from 8 pm-4 pm and had banned people gathering in groups of more than five later on. Then, a new cyber law was also drafted, which gives the government total control over internet usage and privacy contravening human rights and violating data privacy. The junta also made unwarranted arrests on active CDM supporters after the amendments to Privacy Law.
Moreover, tactics of psychological warfare used in the 8888 uprising are being reused. For instance, the release of 23,000 criminals and eyewitnesses have stated that these prisoners have been paid to cause turmoil and fires in neighbourhoods. Military troops and the police have started to fire real bullets resulting in multiple casualties and deaths in Yangon, Mandalay and in the Kachin State. The methods used to limit free speech and perhaps incite more radical views have sparked a global debate on the potential impact of social media. Most recently, a number of platforms banned Myanmar’s military and its affiliates. Social media clearly has tremendous use whether used or taken or taken away, so we must consider who controls it and the legislation impacting it worldwide.
International Response
States such as the U.K., and the EU have condemned the military takeover. The U.S. has sanctioned 10 individuals connected to the coup and the U.K. has sanctioned 3. There are urges to ‘send a unified message to promote accountability and ‘pursue justice for the Myanmar people’ internationally. However, China blocked a UNSC statement condemning the coup. Myanmar’s neighbours Cambodia, Thailand and the Philippines have also said it to be an “internal matter”. Although, ASEAN, an international organisation Myanmar is a member of has called for “dialogue, reconciliation and the return to normalcy”.