Fear is the Glue That Holds Myanmar’s Military Together Fear is the Glue That Holds Myanmar’s Military Together Myanmar military personnel in Naypyitaw before they cracked down on the peaceful protesters on '22222' nationwide general strike against the regime on Feb 22. / The Irrawaddy 17.6k By Bertil Lintner 9 March 2021 Demonstrations against the Feb. 1 military coup in Myanmar have continued for more than a month. Brutal and even lethal force against the pro-democracy demonstrators may have reduced the number of people who are risking their lives by taking to the street, but there is nothing to indicate that protests against the re-introduction of a naked military dictatorship will cease any time soon. But what has stunned the world most is the violence that Myanmar’s army and police have unleashed on the population at large.