Tens of thousands of protesters in Myanmar on Monday took to the streets in Yangon and other cities, a day after dozens of protesters were killed in clashes with security forces, to demonstrate against the military coup in defiance of warning from the ruling junta.
The worst of Sunday’s bloodshed came in the Yangon suburb of Hlaingthaya where security forces killed at least 34 protesters after arson attacks on Chinese-owned factories. The same day, 16 more people were killed at different other places, bringing the toll from the protests so far to 138.
The protesters seem prepared to sacrifice themselves to pressure the international community to intervene. But outside military intervention would be next to impossible to carry out. What should then the international community do? Since Myanmar is situated between China, India and ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) countries, they along with Japan, could use their peer pressure on Myanmar’s military. They are also Myanmar’s top trade partners and investors, while also employing millions of Myanmar migrant workers.
Sanctions will not be the answer to the bloodshed as most of Myanmar’s generals have already been under sanctions over the Rohingya crisis of 2017. Then at least 750,000 Rohingyas from the Rakhine State of Myanmar had fled to Bangladesh to avoid persecution. Presently, more than 11 lakh Rohingyas are living in our country. Western countries have been the most vocal in condemning the Rohingya repression.
Meanwhile, many civil servants and minority communities have joined the movement opposing the coup. But the army said it took power after the election commission rejected its accusations of fraud in the November 8 election won by Aung San Suu Kyi’s party.
Myanmar with the support of China, Russia and India have no fear about butchering their own people. The army is at war with their own people with the backing of big powers to make effective international action impossible. It is modern a trend for the army either to take over power directly or indirectly using a civilian puppet government.
The Myanmar army will not back down but go on butchering their own people. The best thing the international community can do is to secure an assurance that the election will be held in one year as promised. There will be no more butchering and no more violence.
