What Is Happening In Myanmar?
On the morning of 1st February 2021, a video emerged of a fitness instructor performing aerobics in the capital city of Myanmar. Khing Hnin Wai has been filming her routine in the same spot for months, but what made this video peculiar was the backdrop that captured a major political event - a coup d’etat to oust the elected government and undo the results of decades of struggle towards democracy.
The internet was cut off, curfews were enforced and protests were erupting throughout the country for the last few months. An emergency has been declared in the country to last for a year. The instability of the political scenario in Myanmar has its causes deeply rooted in the nation’s complex political history and diverse ethnic composition.
History Of Myanmar
Myanmar, or Burma as it was earlier known, is a southeast Asian nation bordering India, Bangladesh, Laos, Thailand and China and accommodating about 130 ethnic groups. Having been a British colony for more than a hundred years, except for a brief occupation by the Japanese from 1942 to 1945, Burma gained its independence in 1948. Despite being constituent of a large number of ethnic minorities, the power was not evenly distributed, and Burmans being the majority were given more importance. The first decade of independent Myanmar was turbulent with the minorities pushing for autonomy. This combined with a weak government was an opportunity for the military to take over under the pretext of maintaining unity.
In 1964, a coup d’etat by the military marked Myanmar’s shift from a democracy to a military junta, i.e., an authoritarian state run by the high ranking officials of the military. The junta continued with a one-party system, having Burma Socialist Program Party or BSPP in power until 2010. It was during this time that Aung San Suu Kyi emerged as a leader of the pro-democracy protests. The protests were violently cracked down by the military resulting in the deaths of thousands. Suu Kyi continued her work for her party the National League for Democracy or NLD despite being under house arrest for 15 long years and won a Nobel prize for Peace in 1991.
Finally, in 2008, the military gave in to international pressure and conducted elections in 2010, only for BSPP to return to power due to interference by the military in the elections. The first democratic elections were in 2015 and the NLD won by a huge margin. Though the military still had power as certain seats were reserved for them, the influence they had decreased phenomenally. Five years later, the NLD won another term by an even larger margin in 2020. The new leaders were to be sworn in on 2nd February 2021, if not for the coup that took place the previous day.
Why Did The Coup Take Place?
The reason presented by the military for staging the coup was that the elections were rigged. Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested for illegal importation of communication goods as 6 walkie-talkies were found in her house. She has also been charged with the breaking of the Natural Disaster Law to prolong her detainment. However, the real reasons for the coup are quite different.
A second landslide victory for the NLD could have resulted in stripping of the special powers enjoyed by the military. General Min Aung Hlaing, the current commander-in-chief of the army had earlier expressed his desire to be the president. He is also one of the most wanted men in the world for his role in the ethnic cleansing of Rohingya Muslims. Rohingyas are an ethnic minority and have been subjected to genocide within the country, forcing mass exile to neighbouring nations of Bangladesh, Malaysia, Laos, Thailand, and Cambodia. Ironically, the biggest military crackdown on Rohingyas was in 2017 when the NLD was in power and Suu Kyi faced international criticism for this. In the absence of political power, the General will have to face the consequences of his actions.
International Response
The global response to the change in Myanmar’s form of government has been mixed. While the USA has strongly condemned the attack on democracy and announced plans to take action, China pushed for a peaceful agreement between the NLD and the junta. The European Union has expressed its disapproval and introduced a ban on the trade of arms with Myanmar. The Association of South-East Asian Nations or ASEAN has condemned the coup and expressed solidarity with the people of Myanmar. Russia on the other hand, is utilizing military rule as an opportunity for increasing the trade of weaponry with the country.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has stated:
“India has always been steadfast in its support to the process of democratic transition in Myanmar. We believe that the rule of law and the democratic process must be upheld. We are monitoring the situation closely.”
A National Unity Government was formed in April by about 20 elected representatives in exile after the administration was overthrown. The two sides are preparing for a diplomatic battle in the United Nations vying for recognition.
The current situation of the citizens of Myanmar is heartrending. Mass protests against the junta, locally known as the Spring Revolution and the Civil Disobedience Movement consisting of professionals such as lawyers, engineers, lawyers, and teachers striking took place. The pandemic has furthered the misery of the people as it is the worst stricken nation in Southeast Asia. The military exploited this condition by denying treatment to pro-democracy protesters and arresting medical officials participating in the Civil Disobedience Movement. Thousands are jailed and hundreds dead as they opened fire on protests.
The future of Myanmar’s people is still uncertain. It is likely to continue in a state of emergency for at least a year. The main victims of the coup are the common people, especially the ethnic minorities. Yet the resilience displayed by them in the past 6 months along with pressure from international organisations has made it difficult for the military to establish complete control. August 8th had marked the anniversary of the 1988 protest which had resulted in the death of thousands in the hands of the previous military regime. As history repeats itself with the use of brute force by the military clashing with the unbroken hope of the civilians for a free nation, protests broke out throughout the nation on August 8th, 2021. Though they were subdued, the people of Myanmar proved that they are not ready to forfeit the hard-earned freedom they experienced under democracy and ensured it wouldn’t be a smooth journey for the military towards power.
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