By Sireen Hajaig | Staff Writer

Myanmar, a country in Southeast Asia, is bordered by many countries, such as Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. It faces political instabilities, the peak reaching the following military coup d’état on February 1st, 2021. This happened as the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, detained the president and other senior members of the National League for Democracy (NLD). Very quickly the military declared a state of emergency, accusing the NLD of election fraud in the 2020 elections. Myanmar’s political and social order was turned upside down. The military coup spread nationwide, where even doctors and teachers took part in protests and boycotts, with citizens demanding the restoration of those officials. The military retaliated harshly with arbitrary arrests, shootings, and reports of torture and killings by security forces. Those military officials were condemned by the international community, who also imposed many sanctions on Myanmar, worsening its ongoing crisis. To this, we add the continuing ethnic conflict where many autonomous ethnic groups seek independence, resulting in clashes between them and the military, amplifying the violence.

On March 19, 2024, Secretary General of the UN, Antonio Guterres called for a ceasefire in the region of Rakhine. This region has been the subject of continuous airstrikes after a series of battles occurred between the Tatmadaw and the United League of Arakan/Arakan Army, who took part in  Operation 1027, a mission orchestrated to threaten the current military rule. 588 Airstrikes were launched by the military in the Rakhine region from the first of November 2023, till March 8, 2024, in which 34% targeted the military. This deepens even more the humanitarian crisis Myanmar has been going through, with now a population being displaced. 

To this we add that as of recently, the junta has begun conscription of civilians and more specifically young men and women, spiraling the country into a worst humanitarian crisis, where human rights will be abused. It was also announced that as of April 2024, those evading the drafts will face heavy penalties such as imprisonment or fines.

Myanmar is a country very rich in natural resources. Recently, it has risen to be the world’s largest opium producer, raising a multitude of concerns. First, it feeds the global narcotics trade, with its primary clients being its neighboring southeast countries that fuel the heroin market, and of course America and Europe. This illicit narcotraffic leads to political instabilities, organized crimes, and addiction on an international scale. However, the production of opium seems to be one of the few sources of income most of the population has, showcasing how deep into a crisis the country is. 

With little net rational response, the population of Myanmar seems to be under the mercy of its military, whose aim seems to be to seize power no matter the means.

Sources:

• ACLED,https://acleddata.com/2024/03/20/violent-escalations-in-myanmars-rakhine-state-acled-insight/
• Arab News, https://www.arabnews.com/node/2481201