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Myanmar police fled to India after refusing orders

90 points by leephillips 6y ago

WarOnPrivacy 6y ago
As an American, there's nothing that prepares me for the notion of cops who would give up this much (or anything at all), to avoid harming unarmed protesters.
- bpodgursky 6y ago
  That's a ridiculous statement. The vast majority of US cops would refuse to kill unarmed protestors. If you think otherwise, you get your news and worldview from a very distorted bubble.
  - p1necone 6y ago
    I wouldn't say vast majority, considering how many police unions there are that explicitly supported trump and all of his rhetoric, and the amount of "thin blue line" bullshit that comes out when police do kill unarmed civilians.
    - Kye 6y ago
      On the other hand, they got a look at how little that rhetoric meant by the protestors' reaction to police not letting them roll over the capitol building. The video of the cop being crushed between a door as rioters tried to push through is stark next to videos of the people they thought were the bad guys only destroying property and not really touching the police officers. Maybe it was a wakeup call for enough of them.
  - MattGaiser 6y ago
    Not sure about cops, but National Guard would shoot. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
    - marshmallow_12 6y ago
      you mean the National Guard in 1970. I expect that almost everyone from that time has retired by now. Hence making your link something of largely historical interest. Especially considering the nature of the Vietnam war and opposition to it.
  - indrax 6y ago
    Is there a less distorted news feed that shows lots of U.S. cops standing up against police brutality now? I agree that killing would cross a line for many, but last year was a pretty good indicator of how US cops treat protesters. Where are the defectors?
- AYBABTME 6y ago
  Isn't that a bit dramatic? If US police officers were ordered to shoot to kill, I highly doubt there would be no defectors.
  - Nextgrid 6y ago
    Depends on the skin color and/or political leanings of the crowd they're asked to shoot.
    - aaomidi 6y ago
      You're being downvoted but you're absolutely right. We have literally done this before: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_MOVE_bombing?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_MOVE_bombing?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_railroad_strike_of_1877?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_railroad_strike_of_...
    - AYBABTME 6y ago
      I'm not saying there would be no shooter. I'm saying there definitely would be officers who would refuse to carry out the orders. There's already been such cases over the last year, when non-lethal weapons were used. It's just unreasonable and of bad faith to state that no US police officers would resign similarly to how some do in Myanmar.
- dan-robertson 6y ago
  There are lots of police in America and I expect plenty would have the integrity to refuse such an order. It seems unlikely that we would learn this as I think the counterfactual where they receive such an order is unlikely.
  - gabereiser 6y ago
    There’s a lot who would carry it out too. Examples being the distinction between police response to peaceful protests last summer for the humane treatment of fellow humans, the other being more recently at the failed attempt of a coup on American soil. Edit: while I’m sure cops, individually, have a conscience. In my experience that goes out the window as soon as you have a group of 3+ cops.
    - Aeolun 6y ago
      I have a strong feeling US police would be much less likely to carry an order like this out. Mostly from the perspective of self-preservation. If you are going to open fire you better make sure the mob is small, or you’ll shortly recieve a similar hail of bullets in response. I’m thinking mostly about the capitol riots here.
      - gabereiser 6y ago
        I wish that were true. I witnessed police open fire on protesters here in the US so I still believe it could definitely happen here.
  - WarOnPrivacy 6y ago
    Out of curiosity, how are they about non-lethal mistreatment of people who are solely protesting being mistreated? Would they stand against it or are they pretty much okay with doing that?
- Aloha 6y ago
  I think you've spent too much time looking at the social media narratives on policing. Police are neither bloodthirsty men out for people's lives who take pleasure at the misery of others, particularly the misery of minorities, or are they pure innocents who were just in fear of their life, and so justified in using deadly force no matter the circumstances. The truth is somewhat muddier and somewhere in the middle. With power and authority comes the need to exercise discretion in its application, accountability for misuse of that authority, and someone to watch the watchman.
tho2334jlsdfsa 6y ago
Ironic considering that the same police drove out ~ 300k Indians from Myanmar in the 60s. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan & Sri Lanka too have carried out state-sponsored genocides that have led to the exodus of their Hindu populations. This is now happening within certain regions of India with impunity now. At this rate, Hindus will be like the Jews of past wailing around the world without a home, in a few centuries.
- barnaclejive 6y ago
  "the same police"? So, they are in their late 80s now?
wtmt 6y ago
India has been building detention centers for people who don’t have official documents, including many Rohingya refugees (among the many people) who come across the borders in the east and northeast. The problem of “outsiders” is what instigated a poorly thought out law like CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). India knows quite well how a military ruled neighborhood could be harmful to its interests. I wonder what the Indian government would do with these police officers. Deport them back to Myanmar or hold them secretly in detention centers? Just one of the news reports about detention centers: https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-where-are-detention-centres-in-india/article30451564.ece https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-where-are-detention-centr...

90 points by leephillips 6y ago

As an American, there's nothing that prepares me for the notion of cops who would give up this much (or anything at all), to avoid harming unarmed protesters.

bpodgursky 6y ago
That's a ridiculous statement. The vast majority of US cops would refuse to kill unarmed protestors. If you think otherwise, you get your news and worldview from a very distorted bubble.
- p1necone 6y ago
  I wouldn't say vast majority, considering how many police unions there are that explicitly supported trump and all of his rhetoric, and the amount of "thin blue line" bullshit that comes out when police do kill unarmed civilians.
  - Kye 6y ago
    On the other hand, they got a look at how little that rhetoric meant by the protestors' reaction to police not letting them roll over the capitol building. The video of the cop being crushed between a door as rioters tried to push through is stark next to videos of the people they thought were the bad guys only destroying property and not really touching the police officers. Maybe it was a wakeup call for enough of them.
- MattGaiser 6y ago
  Not sure about cops, but National Guard would shoot. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kent_State_shootings
  - marshmallow_12 6y ago
    you mean the National Guard in 1970. I expect that almost everyone from that time has retired by now. Hence making your link something of largely historical interest. Especially considering the nature of the Vietnam war and opposition to it.
- indrax 6y ago
  Is there a less distorted news feed that shows lots of U.S. cops standing up against police brutality now? I agree that killing would cross a line for many, but last year was a pretty good indicator of how US cops treat protesters. Where are the defectors?
AYBABTME 6y ago
Isn't that a bit dramatic? If US police officers were ordered to shoot to kill, I highly doubt there would be no defectors.
- Nextgrid 6y ago
  Depends on the skin color and/or political leanings of the crowd they're asked to shoot.
  - aaomidi 6y ago
    You're being downvoted but you're absolutely right. We have literally done this before: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_MOVE_bombing?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1985_MOVE_bombing?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_railroad_strike_of_1877?wprov=sfti1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pittsburgh_railroad_strike_of_...
  - AYBABTME 6y ago
    I'm not saying there would be no shooter. I'm saying there definitely would be officers who would refuse to carry out the orders. There's already been such cases over the last year, when non-lethal weapons were used. It's just unreasonable and of bad faith to state that no US police officers would resign similarly to how some do in Myanmar.
dan-robertson 6y ago
There are lots of police in America and I expect plenty would have the integrity to refuse such an order. It seems unlikely that we would learn this as I think the counterfactual where they receive such an order is unlikely.
- gabereiser 6y ago
  There’s a lot who would carry it out too. Examples being the distinction between police response to peaceful protests last summer for the humane treatment of fellow humans, the other being more recently at the failed attempt of a coup on American soil. Edit: while I’m sure cops, individually, have a conscience. In my experience that goes out the window as soon as you have a group of 3+ cops.
  - Aeolun 6y ago
    I have a strong feeling US police would be much less likely to carry an order like this out. Mostly from the perspective of self-preservation. If you are going to open fire you better make sure the mob is small, or you’ll shortly recieve a similar hail of bullets in response. I’m thinking mostly about the capitol riots here.
    - gabereiser 6y ago
      I wish that were true. I witnessed police open fire on protesters here in the US so I still believe it could definitely happen here.
- WarOnPrivacy 6y ago
  Out of curiosity, how are they about non-lethal mistreatment of people who are solely protesting being mistreated? Would they stand against it or are they pretty much okay with doing that?
Aloha 6y ago
I think you've spent too much time looking at the social media narratives on policing. Police are neither bloodthirsty men out for people's lives who take pleasure at the misery of others, particularly the misery of minorities, or are they pure innocents who were just in fear of their life, and so justified in using deadly force no matter the circumstances. The truth is somewhat muddier and somewhere in the middle. With power and authority comes the need to exercise discretion in its application, accountability for misuse of that authority, and someone to watch the watchman.

tho2334jlsdfsa 6y ago

Ironic considering that the same police drove out ~ 300k Indians from Myanmar in the 60s. Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bhutan & Sri Lanka too have carried out state-sponsored genocides that have led to the exodus of their Hindu populations. This is now happening within certain regions of India with impunity now. At this rate, Hindus will be like the Jews of past wailing around the world without a home, in a few centuries.

barnaclejive 6y ago
"the same police"? So, they are in their late 80s now?

wtmt 6y ago

India has been building detention centers for people who don’t have official documents, including many Rohingya refugees (among the many people) who come across the borders in the east and northeast. The problem of “outsiders” is what instigated a poorly thought out law like CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act). India knows quite well how a military ruled neighborhood could be harmful to its interests. I wonder what the Indian government would do with these police officers. Deport them back to Myanmar or hold them secretly in detention centers? Just one of the news reports about detention centers: https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-where-are-detention-centres-in-india/article30451564.ece https://www.thehindu.com/data/data-where-are-detention-centr...