What's Going on in Burma — And Why It Still Deserves Our Attention
These days, Burma (or Myanmar) would seldom be mentioned in the news. But this does not mean that the country is all well and peaceful. In fact, Burma continues to suffer from one of its worst political and humanitarian crises in recent decades. Although the headlines may have dried up, the problems certainly have not.
Since the beginning of 2021, thousands upon thousands of people in Burma have found themselves in the middle of violence, economic collapse, and constant fear. The military has never ceased to attack civilian populations, jail anyone protesting against the regime, or silence dissenting voices. Thousands have been displaced from their homes, and many have perished; few now can go through each day without being engulfed by uncertainty.
A simple explanation of what is really going on in Burma-equally why the world should still care.
What Happened in Burma
On the first of February, 2021, the military of Burma, the Tatmadaw, conducted a sudden coup. They alleged that the recent election was not free and fair, yet international observers declared it at large the contrary. The military arrested top leaders of the National League for Democracy (NLD), including Aung San Suu Kyi, in a landslide win.
This was another instance of the Tatmadaw dismissing government authority. For most of Burma's modern history, the military has been in power. However, after ten years of slow progress toward democracy, there arose such a zest for democracy among the people. That zest was crushed overnight.
How the People Got Back
By the end of that first night with the coup, the people of Burma had begun protesting. The Civil Disobedience Movement was initiated by students, workers, teachers, and monks alike. They peacefully marched with signs and sang songs demanding democracy back.
In the beginning, it felt like the dawn of resistance. The moment was quickly, however, crushed by a brief and brutal crackdown. Security forces started shooting protesters on the streets. Thousands were arrested. Numerous testimonies of torture came afterward. Gradually, in some parts of the country, especially among the youth who felt no other options, armed resistance started taking root.
Life Under Military Rule
The lands of Burma are in chaos today. Yangon and Mandalay are under strict military control. The countryside, however, has become a battleground. Armed groups, some old and some new continue to carry the fight against the army. Entire villages have been burned in the crossfire. Civilians, sometimes children, have been killed in airstrikes and shootings. Life has become difficult for everybody:
- The economy is in total collapse - Businesses are shutting down, prices are skyrocketing in some places, and unemployment is rising.
- Medical care is on the verge of collapse. Many doctors and nurses joined the protest movement and refused to work under the military administration-Hospitals are barely working, and medicine is hard to get by.
- The internet is rendered useless - Blackouts and censorship so that free speech from the people or an account of the genuine happenings is not possible.
- Millions require aid - The fighting displaces some of them, and others are finding it difficult to sustain on a day-to-day basis.
Ethnic Groups and the Long-Term Conflict
The situation in Burma needs to be understood also in terms of there never being a single military coup. Burma has many different ethnic groups, including the Karen, the Kachin, the Chin, the Rohingya, and others that have faced discrimination for decades, violence, and neglect from the government.
Many of these groups have been fighting for autonomy for years. Most of these groups have been treated as foreigners in their own country. Perhaps among the worst cases of this was in 2017 when the military carried out a very violent campaign against the Rohingya, a Muslim minority. Thousands were killed; over 700,000 fled to Bangladesh. Later on, the United Nations said it was a genocide.
Since the coup of 2021, many of these ethnic armed groups have joined the larger resistance movement. Despite this, however, the country remains sharply divided, and peace is still far away.
International Situation
When the coup occurred, there was a worldwide outcry. The United States, the European Union, and some other countries condemned the military and imposed certain sanctions. Human rights groups demanded stronger measures. World leaders voiced their position. But as time went by, international attention started to wane.
Second, most of these countries have their eyes on other crises: the war in Ukraine, conflicts in the Middle East, or climate change. Burma has dropped into the abyss. This is dangerous because the military could rely on the world, turning its back on them. Once the cameras go off, they do whatever they want.
Why Does This Still Matter
Perhaps Burma is off the news now, but it is far from being a crisis that is completely over. Real people are still losing homes, voices, and even lives. Even though this might seem like the crisis of a distant country, and hence not within our responsibility, its impact stretches far beyond the borders of Burma. Here is why the world ought to still look at it - now more than ever.
- Human lives are being lost - Since the coup, in excess of 2 million people have fled from their homes. Thousands have been killed. More than 20,000 sit under political imprisonment. These figures are real people whose lives have been knocked upside down. If we keep silent, they keep suffering.
- Democracy is still being resisted - Even with the battles and widespread cruelty. Enormous resistance can be seen in Burma. Coordination, rallies, adherence to their community, or demonstrating countless acts of protest online is what they are capable of at present. They should be supported with their courage and not silenced.
- Angst of regional stability - If Burma is broken, it affects the entire region. Refugees are crossing over into Thailand, India, and Bangladesh. Drug trafficking, armed conflicts, and ungovernability are on the rise. If the crisis keeps spreading, the neighboring countries will undoubtedly feel its impact.
- World values are on trial - If the world states have concerns about democracy, human rights, and justice - ignoring Burma only echoes the opposite and sends a wrong message to the authoritarian regimes, saying that they can get away with anything if they wait long enough.
What Can Be Done
Pessimism may give way to strident cries and despair, but there really are ways in which the world can intervene. The first step is raising public awareness and spreading the news of Burma's present-day crisis so people realize that it is far from over. The second equally important step is supporting organizations and groups on the ground providing food, medical aid, and shelter and documenting human rights abuses for which a donation can make a difference.
Citizens in democratic countries would urge their governments to get involved more concretely, from stronger sanctions to greater support for refugees and diplomatic pressure on the military. Ultimately, though, people, never the regime, must be supported: never engage in business with companies related to the military, and make sure aid or investment ends up in the hands of the people rather than those in power.
Final Thoughts
Since 2021, the state has been ruled by a military junta, and this has been casting a shadow of fear, repression, and violence over all the people in the country. For many, armed conflict, displacement, and economic hardship are name-and-gender tags changed into real consequences of life, yet the rest of the world has just looked away. And behind such silence is a populace that has never surrendered; the people of Burma are still resisting, organizing, and fighting for freedom, safety, and a future out of the hands of any military regime-they are still hoping even if the gaze of the world fades.
Just because Burma no longer dominates headline writing does not imply the crater is filled. The upside-down remains, as does the very undisguised call for world attention and action. Though it feels distant and a little unfamiliar, the people of Burma still need the world to care. Not now; the world will have to come into keeping later.