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How do you feel about this situation? What has been your personal experience living in Myanmar all this while? How do you see this situation playing out?

freeburma 6y ago
I feel sad for the people of Myanmar. I feel sad for Aung San Suu Kyi and all freedom fighters who have sacrificed their whole life and family to better Myanmar. My personal experience is Myanmar is a wonderful country full of a wonderful people, and vibrant culture, despite living in the shadow of ethnic violence and a brutal military regime. It’s hard to say how this will play out. For many here it’s a mystery why military did this, as they already had power over state business, 25% military appointed legislature, control of courts, etc. and the benefit of hiding behind fake democracy to get foreign investment. So people are confused as to what their motive is, as they already had the best of both worlds.
- bredren 6y ago
  >While failures to reform the country can be considered by many to be at the disadvantage of NLD, in a more cynical reading, it might actually be to the party’s advantage. Ironically, it helps to convince the people that there are still influential dark forces (read: the military) that deter the party from reforming the country. [1] Do you believe that your consideration of the previous military power is widely understood and that the above quote explains the success of the NLD in the election? Do you feel San Suu Kyi has been prevented from acting to protect ethnic minorities due to the influence of the military? If so, is there reason to believe the military would perceive the beyond landslide victory in favor of the NLP as Likely to disrupt or erode their existing position of power? [1] https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/myanmar-shattered-hopes-for-peace/ https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/myanmar-shattered-hopes-for-...
  - freeburma 6y ago
    Most international press is dangerously misinformed about structure of government in Burma. For example, constitution (created by military) gives military control of 25% legislature seats, president, and courts. The military doesn’t answer to any civilian authority. Civilian government can’t reform constitution or appoint critical positions without military approval. Almost everyone in Burma hates military and understands that civilian government can’t do everything they want. Yet all the international coverage seems ignorant of these facts, condemning ASSK for things she doesn’t control, like military operations in Rhakine against Rohingya. They don’t understand that the reason she defended military at UN is only outcome of not defending them would be sanctions which just further harms civilian government and people. She had no choice. People here in Burma are still confused as to motivation for coup, since military already had best of both worlds: ultimate power of law and courts, and no sanctions because of farcical democracy. Why they would risk sanctions to do this is a mystery.
    - calt 6y ago
      > Why they would risk sanctions to do this is a mystery. Sorry for offering wild conjecture, but the first thing that comes to mind is some kind of a payout to generals from China, who is hoping for sanctions from the rest of the world so that they can be the sole influencer in the country. Or some variation on that theme: influence from China. Or perhaps just some power hungry generals longing for the old days <shrug>
      - napier 6y ago
        No so crazy. Many believe Chinese interests like behind what’s been happening in Rakhine since 2017 as well. The rest of the world shunning Burma benefits the CCP more than anyone other than the Myanmar generals.
    - coliveira 6y ago
      It seems that the parliament elections reduced the number of military representatives. The elections were seen as reducing the power of the military.
- zackees 6y ago
  > For many here it’s a mystery why military did this Big Tech started banning Myanmar government officials from their services that they didn’t approve of. Now they cry about suspension of democracy? The claims of a rigged elections in Myranmar sounds eerily familiar...
  - vmception 6y ago
    It's sad how empowering the US is to... everyone. At one point I would have thought of this as presumptive hubris, but now with a 100% correlation that would just be naive.
  - uniqueid 6y ago
    Because of the genocide?
- dingoegret 6y ago
  Genocide should not ever be casually called "ethnic violence". Implying a two way conflict. This is bad wording.
- csomar 6y ago
  > So people are confused as to what their motive is Economic prosperity for the populace is dangerous for a dictatorship. Myanmar is still a poor country which exports mainly things dug out of ground. If the situation changes and now the military is financed by businesses and tax-payer money, they'll have to answer to those. This is bad news for the military leaders and their gang. They'd much better have a small income from these resources and a poor population than being ousted. (and probably face prosecution)

freeburma 6y ago

I feel sad for the people of Myanmar. I feel sad for Aung San Suu Kyi and all freedom fighters who have sacrificed their whole life and family to better Myanmar. My personal experience is Myanmar is a wonderful country full of a wonderful people, and vibrant culture, despite living in the shadow of ethnic violence and a brutal military regime. It’s hard to say how this will play out. For many here it’s a mystery why military did this, as they already had power over state business, 25% military appointed legislature, control of courts, etc. and the benefit of hiding behind fake democracy to get foreign investment. So people are confused as to what their motive is, as they already had the best of both worlds.

bredren 6y ago
>While failures to reform the country can be considered by many to be at the disadvantage of NLD, in a more cynical reading, it might actually be to the party’s advantage. Ironically, it helps to convince the people that there are still influential dark forces (read: the military) that deter the party from reforming the country. [1] Do you believe that your consideration of the previous military power is widely understood and that the above quote explains the success of the NLD in the election? Do you feel San Suu Kyi has been prevented from acting to protect ethnic minorities due to the influence of the military? If so, is there reason to believe the military would perceive the beyond landslide victory in favor of the NLP as Likely to disrupt or erode their existing position of power? [1] https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/myanmar-shattered-hopes-for-peace/ https://thediplomat.com/2020/07/myanmar-shattered-hopes-for-...
- freeburma 6y ago
  Most international press is dangerously misinformed about structure of government in Burma. For example, constitution (created by military) gives military control of 25% legislature seats, president, and courts. The military doesn’t answer to any civilian authority. Civilian government can’t reform constitution or appoint critical positions without military approval. Almost everyone in Burma hates military and understands that civilian government can’t do everything they want. Yet all the international coverage seems ignorant of these facts, condemning ASSK for things she doesn’t control, like military operations in Rhakine against Rohingya. They don’t understand that the reason she defended military at UN is only outcome of not defending them would be sanctions which just further harms civilian government and people. She had no choice. People here in Burma are still confused as to motivation for coup, since military already had best of both worlds: ultimate power of law and courts, and no sanctions because of farcical democracy. Why they would risk sanctions to do this is a mystery.
  - calt 6y ago
    > Why they would risk sanctions to do this is a mystery. Sorry for offering wild conjecture, but the first thing that comes to mind is some kind of a payout to generals from China, who is hoping for sanctions from the rest of the world so that they can be the sole influencer in the country. Or some variation on that theme: influence from China. Or perhaps just some power hungry generals longing for the old days <shrug>
    - napier 6y ago
      No so crazy. Many believe Chinese interests like behind what’s been happening in Rakhine since 2017 as well. The rest of the world shunning Burma benefits the CCP more than anyone other than the Myanmar generals.
  - coliveira 6y ago
    It seems that the parliament elections reduced the number of military representatives. The elections were seen as reducing the power of the military.
zackees 6y ago
> For many here it’s a mystery why military did this Big Tech started banning Myanmar government officials from their services that they didn’t approve of. Now they cry about suspension of democracy? The claims of a rigged elections in Myranmar sounds eerily familiar...
- vmception 6y ago
  It's sad how empowering the US is to... everyone. At one point I would have thought of this as presumptive hubris, but now with a 100% correlation that would just be naive.
- uniqueid 6y ago
  Because of the genocide?
dingoegret 6y ago
Genocide should not ever be casually called "ethnic violence". Implying a two way conflict. This is bad wording.
csomar 6y ago
> So people are confused as to what their motive is Economic prosperity for the populace is dangerous for a dictatorship. Myanmar is still a poor country which exports mainly things dug out of ground. If the situation changes and now the military is financed by businesses and tax-payer money, they'll have to answer to those. This is bad news for the military leaders and their gang. They'd much better have a small income from these resources and a poor population than being ousted. (and probably face prosecution)