Suu Kyi detained

[Didu]

Commentary: Thailand as a model? Why Myanmar military may follow Prayuth's example

It would be far smarter for the Tatmadaw to build support within a pseudo-democratic system—as Thailand’s military has done, says ISEAS’ Dr Paul Chambers.

General Min Aung Hlaing and other Tatmadaw leaders were certainly watching and taking notes when Thailand’s 2014 coup against a popularly-elected civilian democracy sustained itself into a military-dominated pseudo-democracy in 2019.

Arguably, following Myanmar’s Feb 1 coup, Myanmar generals appear to have sought to follow the Thailand model of military control.

That model suggests that militaries can successfully stage coups and guide democracy where strong central governments traditionally dominates but elected civilians cannot control militaries, courts side with the armed forces, and civilians are more divided than security officials.

BUT CLEAR DIFFERENCES REMAIN

There are differences between the Thai case and the situation in Myanmar.

First, Thailand has long been controlled by an arrangement between monarchy and military with the latter as junior partner.  The military derives much power from legitimacy it possesses as guardian of monarchy, especially its closeness to late Rama IX (beloved by most Thais).

His enormous popularity and endorsement of 2006 and 2014 coups (amid Thai divisions regarding Premier Thaksin Shinawatra) left Thais divided but kept the balance skewed towards the military. On the contrary, Myanmar’s coup seemed to have provoked a massive domestic backlash.

Second, having influenced the writing of at least 15 constitutions, Thailand’s military has taken a long path in finally succeeding in engineering political party dominance and gaining national primacy. It has entrenched itself into the political system.

However, in Myanmar, the senior officer corps has long perceived itself as the “rescuer” of the country from colonialism and foreign enemies, ensuring its persevering and privileged national security role.

This viewpoint helped rationalise its 1962, 1988 and 2021 interventions.  At the same time, Tatmadaw officers have become a privileged economic class — the most powerful nationwide.

But that sentiment is not shared by the general public. The country remains disunited, with few civilians enjoying popularity except for Aung San Suu Kyi.

Meanwhile, the military has been more successful at using brute force rather than constructing a successful political party. The death toll has risen sharply to more than 550.

Now the die has been cast. With violent military repression unable to squelch the protests, what can the Tatmadaw do now? There are three paths. 

First, give in to the protestors and revert to the pre-coup system parliamentary democracy.

Second, attempt a Thai model for Myanmar in constructing a new constitution which gives the Tatmadaw much more influence over a new pseudo-democracy.

Establishing such a bicameral political system, with a completely military-appointed Senate, Election Commission and judiciary as well as an electoral formula which, as in post-2019 Thailand, buffers the country against the scenario where any highly-popular party (whether Thaksin’s Pheu Thai in Thailand or Aung San Suu Kyi’s NLD in Myanmar) can translate a sudden electoral majority immediately into a complete parliamentary advantage.

Third, revert to Myanmar’s pre-1990 election history of violent military dictatorship. 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/commentary/myanmar-coup-thailand-prawit-military-political-system-lessons-14560352

[Didu]

Since when Thai foreign ministry became the mouthpiece of Myanmar junta?

Myanmar junta chief to attend ASEAN summit on first foreign trip since coup

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia on Apr 24, a Thai foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday (Apr 17), for his first known foreign trip since he staged a Feb 1 coup.

Several leaders of the 10-member ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member, had confirmed their attendance at the meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, including Min Aung Hlaing, the Thai spokesman, Tanee Sangrat, said.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/myanmar-junta-chief-min-aung-hlaing-attend-asean-summit-coup-14640970#cxrecs_s

[Mooose]

3 hours ago, Didu said:

Since when Thai foreign ministry became the mouthpiece of Myanmar junta?

Myanmar junta chief to attend ASEAN summit on first foreign trip since coup

Myanmar junta chief Min Aung Hlaing will attend an Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Indonesia on Apr 24, a Thai foreign ministry spokesman said on Saturday (Apr 17), for his first known foreign trip since he staged a Feb 1 coup.

Several leaders of the 10-member ASEAN, of which Myanmar is a member, had confirmed their attendance at the meeting in the Indonesian capital, Jakarta, including Min Aung Hlaing, the Thai spokesman, Tanee Sangrat, said.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/myanmar-junta-chief-min-aung-hlaing-attend-asean-summit-coup-14640970#cxrecs_s

friend friend ..

[Kb27]

ASEAN is useless, Sg should quit it.

[Didu]

United Nations calls for halt of weapons to Myanmar

The United Nations General Assembly on Friday called for a stop to the flow of arms to Myanmar and urged the military to respect November election results and release political detainees, including leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

The General Assembly adopted a resolution with the support of 119 countries several months after the military overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi's elected government in a Feb. 1 coup. Belarus requested the text be put to a vote and was the only country to oppose it, while 36 abstained, including China and Russia.

"The risk of a large-scale civil war is real," U.N. special envoy on Myanmar Christine Schraner Burgener told the General Assembly after the vote. "Time is of the essence. The opportunity to reverse the military takeover is narrowing."

Some countries which abstained said the crisis was an internal issue for Myanmar, others did not think the resolution would be helpful, while some states complained it did not adequately address the plight of Rohingya Muslims some four years after a military crackdown forced nearly a million to flee Myanmar.

European Union U.N. Ambassador Olof Skoog said the U.N. resolution sends a powerful message: "It delegitimizes the military junta, condemns its abuse and violence against its own people and demonstrates its isolation in the eyes of the world."

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had earlier on Friday pushed the General Assembly to act, telling reporters: "We cannot live in a world where military coups become a norm. It is totally unacceptable."

The military cited the government's refusal to address what it said was fraud in a November election as the reason for the coup. International observers have said the ballot was fair.

https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/un-chief-urges-general-assembly-act-myanmar-2021-06-18/

 

[Didu]

Looks like Myanmar not so isolated after all.  😁
Russia and Myanmar military leader commit to boosting ties at Moscow meeting

Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia's Security Council, and Myanmar's military leader committed to further strengthening security and other ties between the two countries at a Moscow meeting on Monday (Jun 21).

Myanmar's military leader, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, flew to the Russian capital on Sunday to attend a security conference this week. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov earlier on Monday said President Vladimir Putin would not be meeting Min Aung Hlaing, Interfax reported.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/russia-and-myanmar-military-leader-commit-to-boosting-ties-15062000

[Didu]

Junta chief visiting Russia

[inlinesix]

 

[Lala81]

https://asiatimes.com/2021/07/everyone-is-dying-myanmar-on-the-brink-of-decimation/

A bit apocalyptic. But seems like covid is spreading quickly in a close to failed state with no healthcare system. Hospitals simply don't accept patients. Will earn up worse than Indonesia or India for that few percent of sufferers who need oxygen supplementation. 

Edited July 17, 2021 by Lala81

[Didu]

此地无银三百兩 😁

Myanmar says alleged plot against UN envoy was nothing to do with the country

Myanmar's foreign ministry said on Monday (Aug 9) that an alleged plot in New York against United Nations ambassador Kyaw Moe Tun, an opponent of the ruling junta, had nothing to do with the country and was a US domestic case. It was the military government's first statement since the arrest of two Myanmar citizens in connection with the alleged plot.

Two Myanmar citizens have been arrested in New York state for plotting with an arms dealer in Thailand - who sells weapons to the Burmese military - to kill or injure Myanmar's UN ambassador, US authorities said on Friday.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-says-alleged-plot-against-un-envoy-was-nothing-do-country-2102396

[Didu]

US is so bad.  Neber gib chance for China to donate first. After all, Junta's BFF is China mah....Regardless, let's see if the $$ can do any good to the situation.

US gives Myanmar US$50 million in aid as humanitarian crisis worsens

The United States said on Tuesday (Aug 10) it was giving Myanmar more than US$50 million in aid as surging COVID-19 infections worsened a humanitarian crisis in the Southeast Asian country already reeling after generals overthrew a democratically elected government earlier this year. The US funding will aid "those forced to flee violence and persecution" as well as help groups provide healthcare services in addition to essentials such as food, shelter and water, the State Department said.

"This funding comes at a critical point of rising humanitarian needs and will help mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on the lives of the people of both Thailand and Burma," Price said. "In the wake of the Feb 1 coup, people from Burma continue to flee their homes due to ongoing violence."

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/us-myanmar-50-million-aid-humanitarian-crisis-covid-19-2104246

[Kb27]

myanmar military say thank you for the $50m, just nice to buy more tanks and guns from russia.

[Didu]

"Please lah...made in Russia does not mean cheap."  😁

https://images.app.goo.gl/R1weP4PhLJtn6WhC9

 

Edited August 11, 2021 by Didu

[Wt_know]

sentenced to 4 years jail ... expect more turmoil and protest ...  

[Beregond]

1 hour ago, Wt_know said:

sentenced to 4 years jail ... expect more turmoil and protest ...  

Come out 80 liao

[Jman888]

Just now, Beregond said:

Come out 80 liao

4 yrs not bad liao, I thought they mention 100 years

[Beregond]

40 minutes ago, Jman888 said:

4 yrs not bad liao, I thought they mention 100 years

4 years is a clever move 

Not too long. But long enough to end her political career.

Only hope she is held in house arrest instead of really throw into jail.

[Didu]

"Hey guys! It's less than 4 yrs and I no longer in jail liao! Looking forward to more accommodation upgrades." 

Myanmar's Aung San Suu Kyi moved from prison: Party official

Myanmar civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, who was ousted in a 2021 military coup, has been moved from prison to a government building, an official from her party said on Friday (Jul 28). Aung San Suu Kyi has only been seen once since she was held after the Feb 1, 2021 coup - in grainy state media photos from a bare courtroom in the military-built capital Naypyidaw. 

"Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has been moved to a high-level venue compound on Monday night," an official from the National League for Democracy told AFP Friday on condition of anonymity.

The party official also confirmed Aung San Suu Kyi had met the country's lower house speaker Ti Khun Myat and was likely to meet Deng Xijuan, China's special envoy for Asian Affairs, who is visiting the country. A source from another political party said Aung San Suu Kyi had been moved to a VIP compound in Naypyidaw. In July, Thailand's foreign minister said he had met with Aung San Suu Kyi, the first-known meeting with a foreign envoy since she was detained. A junta spokesman told AFP the meeting had lasted more than one hour but did not give details on what was discussed.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-moved-prison-govt-building-nld-official-3660691