|
|
Asia-Pacific
Letters from India
After Two Years of Military Coup Myanmar Heads Nowhere
Special Contribution By Nava Thakuria
 | Min Aung Hlaing has been ruling Myanmar as the chairman of the State Administration Council since he seized power in the February 2021 military coup.
| Guwahati: The large section of people in Myanmar (known as Burma and Brahmadesh) observed a silent protest on Feb. 1, 2023 marking two years of the military coup and subsequent public resistance movement against the military junta across the south-east Asian nation. The international media (if not the government-controlled newspaper and news channels) reflected the deserted urban and rural areas of Myanmar highlighting the continued opposition to the Min Aung Hlaing military brigade.¡°Commemorating the two-year anniversary of the people¡¯s resistance against the illegal failed coup, cities and towns nationwide participated in the silent strike. Many roads and streets were deserted including in Yangon, Mandalay, Monywa, Dawei, and others despite being threatened by the junta. The shops and street vendors in Yangon were ordered by the junta-controlled municipalities to open on 1 February, but they did not obey it even though their licenses may be revoked,¡± said a civil rights activist.Speaking to this writer from Yangon (formerly Rangoon), the activist, who wanted anonymity also added that the military rulers have lately extended the state of emergency for another six months (till July 2023). It shows the failure and desperation of Min Aung Hlaing and his armed forces (popularly known as Tatmadaw) while taking full control of the poverty-stricken country of 55 million population. They are facing armed opposition from People¡¯s Defence Forces, Ethnic Revolutionary Organizations and others in various localities, added the activist.Lately the junta has imposed martial law in townships of Sagaing, Magwe, Tanintharyi along with Yangon and Bago region as well as Karen, Karenni, Mon and Chin States. Most of these localities are still under the control of resistance forces. The imposition of martial law may pave the way for military personnel to continue targeting members of revolutionary forces and also civilians in more brutal ways. Needless to say, the junta has used airstrikes on a number of villages to teach the agitating residents a lesson.Since 1 February 2021, 2,940 civilians have been killed by the Burmese authorities and 17,572 arrested among whom 13,763 are still behind the bars. Over a hundred media personnel were also detained by the Min Aung Hlaing led military council and more than 25 are still inside various jails of the country of Pagodas. Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who leads the National League for Democracy, has been imprisoned for over 30 years by the military controlled courts following motivated allegations raised by the dictators. While a large section of people in Thailand, Philippines, Korea, Japan, etc organized protest demonstrations on 1 February showing solidarity with the resilient people of Myanmar. Many nations like Australia, Canada, UK, USA, etc imposed heavy sanctions against the junta, but its neighbours namely China, Thailand, Bangladesh and India remain undecisive over it as their respective governments have geopolitical and economic interests in Myanmar. Nonetheless, the junta still can rely on the supply of arms from Russia and China.Recently the foreign ministers of south-east Asia, while meeting in Jakarta of Indonesia, urged the military rulers of Myanmar to reduce violence and allow unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid to pave the way for a national dialogue aimed at ending the country's worsening crisis. The meeting under the initiatives of Association of Southeast Asian Nations even avoided inviting the Myanmar foreign minister, even though it¡¯s an ASEAN member, as the military regime failed to fulfill many promises made to the forum.
Related Articles When Sarsanghchalak Emphasises on Nature ... Worshiping Motherland as a Deity: An Indian ... Durga Puja sans Idols at Kamakhya Temple Searching for Roots through a Literature ... Welcome to Pragjyotishpur Literature Festival Questioning Credibility of Editors Guild of ... When 177 Global Leaders Stand behind Prof. ... Manifesting Patriotism on I-Day Raising Demand for a Media Grievance Cell India: Rhetoric Boycott Call by Separatist ... Banning Polygamy with Consensus No End to NRC Controversy Protecting Rhinos in Manas National Park When Scribes Face Corruption Charges and ... Complainant to Re-approach Court on NRC Assam ... My Unforeseen Journey as a Scribe Converting Profit Hungry APDCL to Consumer ... Dreaming of a World with Three Zeros When India¡¯s Highest Court Faces an Unwanted ... Riding City Buses in Guwahati When Rumour Kills a Mainstream Newspaper! Dissecting Assam NRC for Better Understanding Vehicular Speed That Kills Millions of Indians ... Intriguing Debate on Automobile Mishap Projecting Guwahati as a Krira Prangan New York Times: Editions, Visibility, ... Northeast Celebrates I-Day with Full Patriotic ... Marching Ahead with the Spirit of Swatantra ... Time for Journalists to Be Cautious, Authentic ... Prakash: Throwing Light on Tibetan Literature ... When Repeated FIRs Lodged against an IAS ... Developing Guwahati as a people-friendly city Negating PSO Culture among Media Persons Losing Public Goodwill: Assam Media's Way Global Award to Journalist Nava Thakuria India¡¯s Restive Region Sets to End 2021 ... RSS Condemns Islamist Attacks on Hindu ... When RSS Chief Bhagwat Articulates Agendas Let¡¯s Talk about Self-Reform and Financial ... 'Self-reform and Financial Transparency in ... Tibet Sympathizers to Lodge Protest against ... Prof. Yunus Receives Laurel, Bangladesh Adds ... India Practices Secularism, Democracy and ... Needed a Scientific Probe into Bamunipahar ... Pandemic-Hit Book Publishers Eye for Openings India: Persisting Vulnerability to Scribes Bharat: Nurturing Nationalism with National ... POK Editor Bats for More Exchanges Cries Mounted for Reviving Nabin Chandra ... Scam, Media Outburst and Its Aftermath Amidst Chinese Threat Dalai Lama Concludes ... Asserting Media Person¡¯s Rights in India China¡¯s Myanmar Bonanza Sans Responsibility Manufacturing Misguided Protests in Assam Assam Forum Bats for Work Permits to ... Bhupen-da Came alive with Dhola-Sadiya Bridge ... Remembering My Principal Sir! Saluting Tricolour to Defy Militants¡¯ Diktat ... Underlining India¡¯s Productive Engagement in ... A Conservator Constitutional Head in Northeast ... Young Journalist Killed in India, ... Unpaid Media Employees of Northeast India Journalist Body Urges Political Parties to ... Saving the Tigers from Extinction Glorious Tribute to Bhupenda Burmese Students Term New Government Bogus Burma Turns Hostile to Indian Separatist Groups Northeast India Rediscovers Tricolour Indian People¡¯s Win Inspires Burmese Activists Nobel Support for a Noble Cause Activists Condemn India¡¯s Arm Deal with Burma Protest Note from Guwahati Press Club Journalists¡¯ Killings: Justice Eludes in ... Games Gogoi Played In Assam Polls Remembering Parag: Assam¡¯s Way Helicopter Missing from Northeast Indian Sky Allegations Poured on Indian Premier Allegations Fired at Indian Premier Rising Resentment against Corruption in India Satellite News Channel Launched in Northeast ... Looking at Burma's Forthcoming General ... Burma Election, Refugees and Media¡¯s Role When British Newspaper Tenders Apology to ... TST Contributor Honored with Excellence Award Burning Rhino Horns: Creating Controversy Condemning Military Election in Burma Protest against Military Election in Burma Burmese Demonstrates Anger against Junta Assam: A Pretending Warrior and Peace ... Southeastern Bangladesh Erupts in Violence Grim Picture of Human Rights in India Burma on Radar as New Delhi Prepares
for ... Assam: Where People Defy Militant's Diktat Bangladesh Readies to Hang Bangabandhu Killers International Film Festival Begins in Guwahati RK Pachauri under Attack from British Media Selling News Space Culture in India: Concerns ... Asian MPs Insist on a Free & Fair 2010 Burma ... Guwahati Festival to Highlight Terrorism Assam: Brutal Armed Group, Incompetent ... Without Suu Kyi, 2010 Polls Have No Meaning Beijing Eyes Northeast India ! Bumpy Road to Copenhagen Nava Thakuria Elected Assistant Gen. Sec. of ... Northeast India: People Defy Militant¡¯s ... Northeast India: Waiting for Justice for 18 ... Northeast India : Where Protector Turns Killer Raising Support for Democracy in Burma Indian Muslims Raise Voices for Uighurs Will Captive Breeding of Vultures Work? Northeast India: Trailing a Notorious Rebel Is Burma Junta Learning from Cyclone Nargis! Is a Nepali Fugitive Winning Indian Election? When Politician Uses Scribe for Vested Interest Assam Editor Killing: Protest Continues Freedom under Chinese Boot in Tibet Pride and Poverty: India's Amazing Blending Sri Lankan Crisis: Shelling on Hospital ... Northeast India Defies Militant's Diktat: Woman Journalist Killed in Nepal Urging for Insurance Coverage to Media Persons Bangladesh: Waiting for a Stable Democratic ... ULFA Leader Appeals UNHCR for Political Asylum Assam Mourns Death of Mumbai Terror Attack When an Assamese Magazine Rejects ... Bangladesh Polls: Apprehension on Final Outcome Manipur Asks for CBI Probe into Scribe's ... Scribe's Killing in Northeast: Demand for ... 'Suspend Burma from BIMSTEC' Guwahati Citizens Meet to Discuss Terrorism Group Clashes Shock Northeast India When Media Distorts Facts to Manufacture News Where Editors Swindle Reporters Calling upon Comprehensive Packages for ... Highlighting Media's Challenge and ... Media on Media' Glitch: An Exercise of ... An Ignited Assam Baffles ULFA Assam Defies Militant's Diktat to Celebrate ... Journalists Dare to Defy Militants' Diktat When Bangladeshi Influx Ignites Assam Nepal Can Expect a Consensus of Government Soon Victorious Maoists Lose Battle for Kathmandu India: Assam Party Waits for an Opportunity Burma after Nargis: Devastated, Depressed and ... When a Disastrous Regime Continues Exposing Corrupt Journalists of Our Time Nepal Waits a Republic Regime: Diasporas Don't ... Waiting for Consensus on Government in Nepal Condemnation Pours on Burmese Junta as Suu ... American-Assamese Preparing White Paper on ... Assam Government Bows Down to Public Outrages Shaky Start to Druk Democracy India and Burma Push Joint Project Bhutan Turns Democratic Disregarding Public Outcry: Assam Government's ... Army, Police Heads Become Governors in North ... Rhinos Dwindle as Poaching Thrives in India Taste of Democracy in Bhutan Is Not for ...
Nava Thakuria, who serves as a special correspondent for The Seoul
Times, is based in Guwahati of Northeast India. He also contributes
articles for many media outlets based in different parts of the glove,
and can be contacted at navathakuria@gmail.com
back
|
|
|
|
|