Myanmar 20240514: Turmoil, Ordeal, Intricacy

Mekong Memo Myanmar Weekly: Business, politics, finance, trade & legal news.

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Here is your Mekong Memo this week for Myanmar. As always, your feedback and paid subscriptions are very much appreciated and help support us to continue keeping you informed.

Headlines:

Myanmar Remains Perilous for Press Freedom

Call for Parallel State-Building

Battle for Myawaddy Not What it Seemed

UN: Rohingya Crisis Tests Humanitarian System

Resistance Scores Big Win in Kyindwe

Overseas Work Bans Relaxed

Exiled Government Gaining Ground

Thailand Boosts Border Security

Thailand Balances Aid, Privacy Concerns

ASEAN’s Myanmar Headache

China Boosts Presence in Rakhine

Myanmar at a Tipping Point

Border Trade Crisis Intensifies Amid Conflict

Mystical Spirits Guard Sacred Forests

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Myanmar Remains Perilous for Press Freedom

Journalists continue to face extreme dangers including torture, imprisonment, and death due to governmental repression post-coup. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranks the nation 171 out of 180 on their press freedom index, making it the second largest jailer of journalists globally, behind China. Media operations are often forced into exile, and as of February, 206 journalists have been detained, with 55 still imprisoned. The junta has issued severe sentences, disregarding laws, and at least five journalists have reportedly been killed since the coup.

Read more: The Irrawaddy

Call for Parallel State-Building

The civil war has transformed the country into a battleground where a diverse group of resistance forces are now governing liberated areas. The West, having struggled to respond effectively, now sees an opportunity to support these governance structures. This approach could reestablish Western relevance in Myanmar's political landscape, supporting stability and helping millions. The headline “Outrage is not a policy” is a good one to bring forward the challenge facing outsiders who now need to make choices about how to best support the people of Myanmar.

Read more: Lowy Institute

Battle for Myawaddy Not What it Seemed

Control of Myawaddy, an important trading city on the Myanmar-Thai border, was not as clear-cut as initial reports suggested. Although the Karen National Liberation Army claimed to capture a nearby military base, actual control seems to have remained with the Border Guard Forces, led by Colonel Saw Chit Thu. Despite appearances of a takeover, these forces continued to hold power in the city. The city's strategic location for trade and military importance makes it a central point in the struggle and it is interesting to see how reporting can get muddled in the fog of war.

Read more: Al Jazeera

UN: Rohingya Crisis Tests Humanitarian System

As Myanmar's crisis drags on, the plight of the Rohingya remains a humanitarian nightmare. Despite the best efforts of various UN agencies, nearly a million Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar are stuck in limbo under harsh conditions and with uncertain futures. These refugees, relying on aid to get by, are sitting ducks for violence, exploitation, and the weather. The international response is focused on providing basic needs like food, shelter, and medical care while pushing for long-term solutions like safe, voluntary repatriation and restoring their rights. The international community's role in supporting sustainable solutions and keeping the humanitarian aid flowing is more critical than ever.

Read more: UNRIC (Crisis Overview), UNICEF (Child Impact), UNHCR (Displacement), WFP (Food Security), UNFPA (Health Services), IOM (Community Support)