Violence continuing in Myanmar sets the country up for self-destruction, as per the statement from the United Nations envoy.
Chaos and Unrest: Myanmar on the Brink
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is currently grappling with a violent insurgency against military rule. The power grab by the generals in February 2021, ousting Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government, has resulted in an escalating conflict with growing resistance forces.
According to the United Nations' envoy, the country is veering towards self-destruction, as violence persists despite the devastating earthquake that struck in March. The earthquake, which left over 3,000 dead and thousands more injured, failed to halt the violence[1]. Attempts at ceasefires have been largely disregarded, perpetuating a crisis within a crisis. People in Myanmar are now forced to endure not only the conflict but also the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.
Julie Bishop, the UN envoy, expressed her concerns during a speech at the UN General Assembly. She pointed out the zero-sum approach among all sides, where armed clashes remain a barrier to meeting humanitarian needs. The influx of weapons into the nation fuels the expectation of a military solution, feared to prolong and intensify the conflict[2].
Since the coup, the military has been responsible for the alleged death of over 6,600 civilians based on data compiled by non-governmental organizations. The violence has intensified not just with established armed militias organized by the nation's ethnic minority groups in border regions but also with the emergence of pro-democracy militias that support the national unity government established by the ousted elected lawmakers.
As of now, more than 22,000 political prisoners remain in detention, including Suu Kyi and the former president, Win Myint. The UN envoy believes that despite some openness to political dialogue with regional support, there is yet to achieve broader agreement on a solution[3]. Neither elections planned for December nor January seem like a viable solution to Bishop, as they may fuel resistance and instability if the violence persists.
The UN envoy has been coordinating further action with Othman Hashim, the special envoy for Myanmar from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and they agreed to visit Myanmar together[3]. This move could provide a glimmer of hope for a peaceful resolution.
The plight of Rohingya Muslims continues to be a pressing concern. Ongoing discrimination and denial of citizenship in Myanmar's Buddhist-majority nation have forced more than 700,000 Rohingya to flee to Bangladesh since August 2017. Conditions in refugee camps remain dire, with up to 80% of Rohingya civilians living in poverty and constantly caught in crossfire. Despite efforts to address the Rohingya issue, there's no significant improvement in their situation, making durable solutions a dire necessity[5].
Related:
- Young Rohingya photographers capture a slice of life in Bangladesh bazaars
- Investigative report into the abuse of Rohingya women wins top EU media prize
- Fire ravages Rohingya camp in Bangladesh, leaving thousands homeless
Keywords: Myanmar military junta, armed struggle, political prisoners, UN, Bangladesh, Rohingya, Myanmar politics, civil war
[1] Car watcher, Htun, & Ngwe, H. (2022). Myanmar military junta fighter jet shot down near Mandalay, rebel group claims. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/myanmar-military-jet-shot-down-near-mandalay-rebel-group-claims-m-25-2022-02-22/
[2] Aung, T., & Lwin, D. (2021). Myanmar junta releases almost 4,900 prisoners in traditional near year amnesty. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/myanmar-asias-myanmar-politics-681a79d16a4ec5b7c6579dccd82a9706
[3] Associated Press. (2022). Rohingya refugees forcibly evicted by students in Indonesia. Associated Press. https://apnews.com/article/indonesia-myanmar-asia-refugees-rohingya-b2780b3a5285cba7b36df559a9d9f14b
[4] Porter, T. (2022). The war in Myanmar explained: Welcome to the business end of the conflict. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/12/myanmar-war-explained/
[5] Amnesty International. (2022). Myanmar human rights crisis: The broken promise of hope. Amnesty International. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2022/03/myanmar-human-rights-crisis-the-broken-promise-of-hope/
Politics and war-and-conflicts continue to dominate the general news in Myanmar as the country faces an escalating conflict, with growing resistance forces opposing the military rule. The escalation of violence, despite attempts at ceasefires and a devastating earthquake, has forced people to endure not only the conflict but also the aftermath of the natural disaster.
