Myanmar 20240917: Catalytic, Revelatory, Laconic
Myanmar 20240917: Catalytic, Revelatory, Laconic
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Headlines:
Typhoon Yagi Wreaks Havoc
Public Backlash Against Chinese Interference
China’s Influence Grows as Junta Struggles
Junta Enforces Conscription as Losses Mount
Resistance Zone Life Blurs Survival and Routine
Strategic Military Exploitation of Buddhism
A Socialist-Era Economy as Shortages Worsen
Journalists in Myanmar Face Deadliest Year
Ten Books on a Complex Historical and Cultural Landscape
Global Indifference Deepens the Rohingya Crisis
Myanmar Airways Resumes Russian Flights
Journalists Reflect on the Ongoing Crisis
Myanmar Filmmakers Lead Resistance from Exile with Artistic Impact
Paul Minoletti Leaves Legacy as Advocate for Marginalized
Typhoon Yagi Wreaks Havoc
The aftermath of Typhoon Yagi has devastated Myanmar and neighboring countries, leaving more than 400 dead and thousands displaced. In Myanmar alone, at least 113 people have died, with more missing as landslides and floods continue. Severe damage to infrastructure and homes has displaced 320,000 people. The junta has made a rare appeal for foreign aid to manage the crisis, while humanitarian efforts struggle due to damaged roads and downed communication lines.
Read more: BBC (Death Toll), Al Jazeera (Human Impact), France 24 (Aid Appeal)
Public Backlash Against Chinese Interference
China is seeing a backlash for pressuring the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) to stop military operations. Myanmar citizens and activists have decried the interference, accusing China of supporting the junta. Protests have erupted, with demands for China to stop aiding the regime and back pro-democracy movements. In response, China has reiterated that it has a neutral stance, rejecting claims of meddling. Tensions remain high as China continues its balancing act.
Read more: Irrawaddy (China TNLA Demand), Irrawaddy (Editorial), Mizzima (Public Outcry), Irrawaddy (China Refutation), CGTN (China Refutation)
China’s Influence Grows as Junta Struggles
The junta currently controls less than 40% of the country as ethnic armed groups and anti-junta forces gain ground. China, a reliable investor and arms supplier, holds significant sway over the conflict, calling on the junta to hold elections even as its authority crumbles. Despite past support, China appears frustrated by Myanmar’s failing economy, which has seen major investors flee and poverty levels surge. The situation remains volatile, with China hesitant about fully backing a post-junta government.
Read more: Pearls and Irritations
Junta Enforces Conscription as Losses Mount
The junta has begun training a fifth batch of conscripts, hoping to recover from recent battlefield defeats. Since February, about 15,000 men have been conscripted under a law that demands military service for men aged 18 to 35. Rights groups report thousands of young people are fleeing the country to avoid conscription, as the military faces criticism for its brutal tactics and territorial losses.
Read more: CNA
Resistance Zone Life Blurs Survival and Routine
In the Karen National Union (KNU)-controlled jungles, resistance fighters, activists, and displaced civilians are trying to make new lives despite the chaos of civil war. As the junta continues its crackdowns, daily life in these liberated zones has started to adapt, merging resistance with normality. Survival is communal, with homes, schools, and daily activities coexisting alongside the struggle for freedom. Despite the hardship, these communities persist, building hope from resilience and determination.
Read more: The Diplomat
Strategic Military Exploitation of Buddhism
The Myanmar military has long leveraged Buddhism to underpin its political power, a tactic known as “Saffron Washing.” By positioning itself as the defender of Burmese heritage, the military manipulates religious symbols to legitimize its rule, maintain control, and tamp down dissent. This exploitation echoes historical practices where Burmese monarchs used Buddhism to consolidate authority. Today, the military continues this tradition, presenting itself as a protector of the faith, even as it faces internal resistance and international condemnation for its behavior.
Read more: The Diplomat
A Socialist-Era Economy as Shortages Worsen
Yangon residents are facing long lines for rationed cooking oil, a throwback to the country’s socialist-era scarcity. Local production of vegetable oils has plummeted, and import restrictions have caused soaring prices and shortages. A severe medicine shortage, made worse by the junta’s import restrictions and conflict-driven road blockades, is leaving displaced populations without access to essential healthcare. Humanitarian agencies are raising the alarm on life-threatening conditions for millions of the displaced.
Read more: RFA
Journalists in Myanmar Face Deadliest Year
So far in 2024, four journalists have been killed, making it the deadliest year for media in Myanmar since the 2021 coup. The junta isn’t letting up on its crackdown, using terror tactics including arrests, torture, and shootings. Journalists documenting human rights abuses and the conflict face huge risks, with many forced abroad. Despite these dangers, media workers continue to report on the appalling situation with calls for the international community to increase pressure on the regime.
Read more: The Guardian
Ten Books on a Complex Historical and Cultural Landscape
If you have a shortage of things to read, this list offers ten books that get into the complexities of Myanmar, showing the rich, complex history, culture, and political struggles of the country. From memoirs like Names for Light and From the Land of Green Ghosts to historical novels such as The Glass Palace and Miss Burma, these works are illustrative of Myanmar's ethnic groups, colonial legacies, and ongoing political turmoil. Each book gives a different insight into Myanmar’s identity and the resilience of its people.
Read more: Literary Hub
Global Indifference Deepens the Rohingya Crisis
Despite international condemnation, the Rohingya people in Myanmar are still facing ethnic cleansing, caught between a brutal military junta and advancing rebel groups like the Arakan army. Both sides have launched violent attacks, forcing thousands of Rohingya to flee, with many dying in the process. The global response remains muted, as attention shifts to other crises. The U.S. and its allies are being called upon to take stronger actions, including sanctions, providing aid corridors, and supporting international legal efforts against Myanmar’s military leaders.
Read more: The Washington Post
Myanmar Airways Resumes Russian Flights
Myanmar Airways will resume flights to Russia on October 9, connecting Yangon, Mandalay, and Novosibirsk, with plans to expand to Moscow by 2025. The airline’s strategy focuses on tapping underexplored markets, strengthening its global presence, and offering efficient services with Airbus A319/A320 aircraft. Despite modest initial demand, the airline remains committed to growing this route and international ties.
Read more: Travel and Tour World
Journalists Reflect on the Ongoing Crisis
Journalists Am and Steve Sandford, with decades of experience in Southeast Asia, have chronicled the Rohingya's persecution since 2009. Their new book, Witness to Genocide, documents the systemic abuse that culminated in the 2017 mass exodus, when more than 700,000 Rohingya fled to Bangladesh. The situation has worsened since the 2021 coup, with the military's violent crackdown extending to other ethnic groups. The Sandfords talk about the complex, ongoing nature of the conflict, involving land grabs, international interests, and unresolved humanitarian issues.
Read more: The Diplomat (Audio)
Myanmar Filmmakers Lead Resistance from Exile with Artistic Impact
Director Na Gyi and actress Paing Phyo Thu, honored at the 2024 Oldenburg Film Festival, fled Myanmar after the 2021 coup but continue supporting the democratic movement. Through their nonprofit, Artists’ Shelter, they support exiled Burmese artists. Their films, like Our Turn and What Happened to the Wolf?, have garnered international recognition while fundraising for the resistance. Their work remains a symbol of hope for Myanmar’s ongoing resistance against the Junta.
Read more: The Hollywood Reporter
Paul Minoletti Leaves Legacy as Advocate for Marginalized
Paul Minoletti, an economist and historian with a great love for Myanmar, passed away recently at the age of 40, leaving a profound impact on Myanmar. Known for his advocacy for women’s political roles and support for marginalized communities, Paul’s career spanned applied research, gender empowerment, and social reforms. His unconventional style and generosity inspired many in Myanmar and beyond, even as he continued his work after being diagnosed with cancer. His efforts to mentor young leaders and promote democratic values remain a lasting legacy.
Read more: Frontier Myanmar
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