What’s going on in Myanmar

 It is continued from this column.

What has happened in Myanmar?




After the armed forces of Myanmar instigated a coup on February 1st, the situation is getting worse day by day.

The military has killed over 600 people by the end of March at least.




People really hate the military because they suffered for over 50 years.

The military has been the privileged class in Myanmar, especially in the military junta.

They monopolize the power not only politically but also economically.

People couldn’t hold gatherings freely or criticize the government, and have endured poverty.

That’s why people have been expecting NLD (The National League for Democracy) and Aung San Suu Kyi to democratize Myanmar.  


However, the military had modified the constitution to keep their power in the Diet, and they continued to have a strong influence after NLD won the election in 2015.

The military runs the national companies as well.

NLD won again in 2020, but the military denied the result and instigated a coup.


People protested the military peacefully, and it is called the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM).

CDM is put forward by Aung San Suu Kyi who is respected by the people of Myanmar.



However, since some guerrillas of ethnic groups, which were battling to gain independence from Myanmar, joined this movement, the situation became more violent and complicated.


It is said the independence movements of these ethnic groups have been supported by underground people of neighboring countries, like China and Thailand, as well as distant ones. 

They are supposed to supply money or weapons, and traded opium, which is the material in heroin.   


In this conflict, it’s generally said China has supported the military even though the Chinese government denies it officially.

The reason is China has invested in Myanmar in the military junta, western society boycotted the products from Myanmar to protest them.


Surprisingly, Russia stated they agree with the military, and said Myanmar is their strategic partner.

The Japanese government also has a strong connection to the military, and they are saying, “we can persuade them to release NLD politicians”, but they couldn’t do it for now.


In that desperate situation, there is some hope to advance.

The young people in Hong Kong or Taiwan who want to be independent from China and current democracies support the young in Myanmar on the Internet.


We like to support them to agree with democracy in Myanmar, not the military government, as well.


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