Myanmar coup seals autocracy s rise in Southeast Asia
13 Apr, 2021 03:46 AM
8 minutes to read
A protester in Yangon, Myanmar. Photo / The New York Times
New York Times
By: Hannah Beech
Not long ago, democracy seemed to be surging in the region. But in Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines and elsewhere, it is in trouble. Late last month, foreign officials in army regalia toasted their hosts in Naypyitaw, the bunkered capital built by Myanmar s military. Ice clinked in frosted glasses. A lavish spread had been laid out for the foreign dignitaries in honor of Myanmar s Armed Forces Day.
That very day, the military, which had seized power February 1, gunned down more than 100 of its own citizens. Far from publicly condemning the brutality, the military representatives from neighbouring countries India, China, Thailand and Vietnam among them posed grinning with the generals, legitimising their putsch.
No Bliss In Ignoring A Coup!
While several countries spoke out, Myanmar’s immediate neighbour India is still content with its customary stance in principle, of advocating dialogues to resolve the issue. AP/PTI Photo outlookindia.com 2021-04-13T14:26:54+05:30
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The turmoil in Myanmar after February 1, 2021 military coup has seen hundreds of innocent lives lost and thousands displaced.
While several countries, including the US have not just spoken in strong terms condemning the coup but undertook several diplomatic pressures and actions like sanctions, its immediate neighbour India is still content with its customary stance in principle, of advocating dialogues to resolve the issue.
Late last month, foreign officials in army regalia toasted their hosts in Naypyitaw, the bunkered capital built by Myanmar’s military. Ice clinked in frosted glasses. A lavish spread had been laid out for the foreign dignitaries in honor of Myanmar’s Armed Forces Day.
Myanmar coup puts seal on autocracy s rise in SE Asia msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The battle for democracy in Myanmar
Format
11/04/2021 - HR/VP Blog – The world is horrified by the bloody military coup in Myanmar, with reports of more than 80 people killed in Bago last Friday. We are pursuing a robust diplomatic initiative in close coordination with like-minded partners. However, geopolitical competition in Myanmar makes it difficult to find common ground, to halt the violence and ensure a return to democracy.
Democracy is increasingly challenged these days, but in few places in such a dramatic and brutal fashion as in Myanmar. In the early morning of 1 February, the clock on Myanmar s democratic transition was turned back many years with a 1970s-style military coup. The army claimed that the November 2020 elections, which the National League for Democracy (NLD) had won with a landslide, had somehow been fraudulent , without offering any evidence. It declared a state of emergency and put State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint under arr