7 ms·

After pressuring telecom firms, Myanmar's junta bans executives from leaving

92 points by peterkelly 5y ago

VadimPR 5y ago
Makes me think of this: https://xkcd.com/538 https://xkcd.com/538.
endofunky 5y ago
Yet it didn't require a travel ban to get similar capabilities implemented for the NSA, GCHQ et al.
- ben_w 5y ago
  The UK and the USA need to be more subtle to sneak past the limits of what is democratically acceptable. A military dictatorship, not so much.
  - intricatedetail 5y ago
    Military dictatorship just cannot afford the media and all the theatre of democracy. If people have 1-3 parties to choose from, they'll vote for one of them, without thinking it's the same thing just different label.
baybal2 5y ago
Well, those idiots thought they will not touch foreigners... because they are "foreigners?" Now reap what you sow. The value of their passports are no more to Burmese military than lives of their own citizens. Now they will have time to contemplate how deeply concerned they are in Burmese jails.
- linspace 5y ago
  I don't follow what "they sow". It seems that they were ordered by the military to implement surveillance and now they are personally threatened. I cannot comment on their intelligence but maybe you could provide some information.
  - usrusr 5y ago
    If they are foreigners it was either willing collaboration or not being allowed to leave isn't exactly new to them. If it's the latter, sure, they should be treated as victims.
    - Clewza313 5y ago
      A lot of foreign companies piled into Myanmar during the years it was/seemed to be democratizing.
  - baybal2 5y ago
    > I don't follow what "they sow". > I cannot comment on their intelligence but maybe you could provide some information. Western companies in Burma largely collaborated with the junta with great enthusiasm, going above and beyond what a person simply coerced will do. https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bangladesh-blast-western-countries-for-24b-bank-guarantee-to-myanmar-1622983535 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bangladesh-blast... They hope to ride this out, and have chummy relationship with the government under junta. And this is when their execs largely fare from countries proclaiming themselves most liberal out there.
    - mthoms 5y ago
      It's more complex than just that. For a while (early to late 2010's), Myanmar was widely seen as being on the path to become a functioning democracy. Engaging such fledgling democracies economically is generally believed to be a good thing. I know it's easier to just lump everyone into "good" or "evil" categories but it's not that simple.
tgsovlerkhgsel 5y ago
I wonder how international companies handle this. Sneaking them out of the country would obviously be in breach of local law but may be considered part of their duty to employees (similar to rescuing people stuck in a war zone due to a business trip). Why those executives were in the country is another question.
- coldcode 5y ago
  Never underestimate the power of greed to overwhelm any moral questions. Pay people enough and you will find some people will overlook even their own security.
- baybal2 5y ago
  > Sneaking them out of the country would obviously be in breach of local law Who the f--k be caring about local law now? Pissant MNC lawyers finding chutzpah to pretend like as if nothing is happening? There is no law there. It's a military junta. They must snap out of this.
- intricatedetail 5y ago
  Companies don't care about employees. They'll probably pay some hush money and consider matter closed.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
dharma1 5y ago
The world needs to act on Myanmar’s military coup - democratically elected leaders need to be restored and mass scale human rights abuses stopped, or it will descend into a failed state with tens of millions affected. It looks like Russia (and China) are vetoing any UN action. What are the alternatives?
- baybal2 5y ago
  1. Pull more countries under resolution 377, to put more pressure on Burma around the security council 2. India pulls 1971 on Burmese junta, if Modi's Achand Bharat brouhaha is worth anything 3. International intervention under resolution 377 4. Surgical strike on the junta leadership without broad UN involvement by somebody brave enough
  - roenxi 5y ago
    > 4. Surgical strike on the junta leadership without broad UN involvement by somebody brave enough Dear me. I hope not. If you look at a map, Burma is nestled between the two nuclear armed up-and-coming superpowers. This is not the part of the world to be seeking adventure by doing political assassinations on military figures. That sounds almost like the script before WWI.
    - baybal2 5y ago
      > Dear me. I hope not. If you look at a map, Burma is nestled between the two nuclear armed up-and-coming superpowers. And one of these nuclear power needs to be taught a very good lesson as of late.
  - ridiculous_leke 5y ago
    > India pulls 1971 on Burmese junta, if Modi's Achand Bharat brouhaha is worth anything Don't expect anything unless thousands of refugees start pouring in India.
    - baybal2 5y ago

92 points by peterkelly 5y ago

VadimPR 5y ago

Makes me think of this: https://xkcd.com/538 https://xkcd.com/538.

endofunky 5y ago

Yet it didn't require a travel ban to get similar capabilities implemented for the NSA, GCHQ et al.

ben_w 5y ago
The UK and the USA need to be more subtle to sneak past the limits of what is democratically acceptable. A military dictatorship, not so much.
- intricatedetail 5y ago
  Military dictatorship just cannot afford the media and all the theatre of democracy. If people have 1-3 parties to choose from, they'll vote for one of them, without thinking it's the same thing just different label.

baybal2 5y ago

Well, those idiots thought they will not touch foreigners... because they are "foreigners?" Now reap what you sow. The value of their passports are no more to Burmese military than lives of their own citizens. Now they will have time to contemplate how deeply concerned they are in Burmese jails.

linspace 5y ago
I don't follow what "they sow". It seems that they were ordered by the military to implement surveillance and now they are personally threatened. I cannot comment on their intelligence but maybe you could provide some information.
- usrusr 5y ago
  If they are foreigners it was either willing collaboration or not being allowed to leave isn't exactly new to them. If it's the latter, sure, they should be treated as victims.
  - Clewza313 5y ago
    A lot of foreign companies piled into Myanmar during the years it was/seemed to be democratizing.
- baybal2 5y ago
  > I don't follow what "they sow". > I cannot comment on their intelligence but maybe you could provide some information. Western companies in Burma largely collaborated with the junta with great enthusiasm, going above and beyond what a person simply coerced will do. https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bangladesh-blast-western-countries-for-24b-bank-guarantee-to-myanmar-1622983535 https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bangladesh-blast... They hope to ride this out, and have chummy relationship with the government under junta. And this is when their execs largely fare from countries proclaiming themselves most liberal out there.
  - mthoms 5y ago
    It's more complex than just that. For a while (early to late 2010's), Myanmar was widely seen as being on the path to become a functioning democracy. Engaging such fledgling democracies economically is generally believed to be a good thing. I know it's easier to just lump everyone into "good" or "evil" categories but it's not that simple.

tgsovlerkhgsel 5y ago

I wonder how international companies handle this. Sneaking them out of the country would obviously be in breach of local law but may be considered part of their duty to employees (similar to rescuing people stuck in a war zone due to a business trip). Why those executives were in the country is another question.

coldcode 5y ago
Never underestimate the power of greed to overwhelm any moral questions. Pay people enough and you will find some people will overlook even their own security.
baybal2 5y ago
> Sneaking them out of the country would obviously be in breach of local law Who the f--k be caring about local law now? Pissant MNC lawyers finding chutzpah to pretend like as if nothing is happening? There is no law there. It's a military junta. They must snap out of this.
intricatedetail 5y ago
Companies don't care about employees. They'll probably pay some hush money and consider matter closed.
deleted 5y ago
[deleted]

dharma1 5y ago

The world needs to act on Myanmar’s military coup - democratically elected leaders need to be restored and mass scale human rights abuses stopped, or it will descend into a failed state with tens of millions affected. It looks like Russia (and China) are vetoing any UN action. What are the alternatives?

baybal2 5y ago
1. Pull more countries under resolution 377, to put more pressure on Burma around the security council 2. India pulls 1971 on Burmese junta, if Modi's Achand Bharat brouhaha is worth anything 3. International intervention under resolution 377 4. Surgical strike on the junta leadership without broad UN involvement by somebody brave enough
- roenxi 5y ago
  > 4. Surgical strike on the junta leadership without broad UN involvement by somebody brave enough Dear me. I hope not. If you look at a map, Burma is nestled between the two nuclear armed up-and-coming superpowers. This is not the part of the world to be seeking adventure by doing political assassinations on military figures. That sounds almost like the script before WWI.
  - baybal2 5y ago
    > Dear me. I hope not. If you look at a map, Burma is nestled between the two nuclear armed up-and-coming superpowers. And one of these nuclear power needs to be taught a very good lesson as of late.
- ridiculous_leke 5y ago
  > India pulls 1971 on Burmese junta, if Modi's Achand Bharat brouhaha is worth anything Don't expect anything unless thousands of refugees start pouring in India.
  - baybal2 5y ago