The military is escalating its pressure on protesters in Myanmar, but it’s running out of options for resolving the crisis. Bullets may not be enough to quash the opposition this time.
President Joko Widodo (foreground, second from right), flanked by then Vice President Jusuf Kalla, welcomes Afghan and Pakistani mullahs to the Trilateral Ulema Conference held at Bogor Palace in West Java, Indonesia.
Wahyu Putro A/Antara Foto
Technology has played a key role for both sides engaged in the conflict. So what would happen if Myanmar’s military shut down all communication to the outside?
Seafood processing workers in Thailand.
(Shutterstock)
Many have looked to Asia for lessons on successful pandemic management. However, recent COVID-19 outbreaks in Thailand and nearby countries also offer warnings about what not to do.
TikTok has enabled young protesters in Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar to amplify their voices.
Franck/Unsplash
Despite having a woman leader, women are largely excluded from key positions of influence and leadership in Myanmar — a situation that helped the country’s military succeed in its recent coup.
It will take time for international donors to disentangle their programs from Myanmar’s new military leaders — and even then, continuing their programs remains a big question.
A protester holds up a placard with an image of deposed Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi during an anti-coup rally in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Feb. 15, 2021.
(AP Photo)
Internet shutdowns and social media bans in Myanmar have helped the military retain control after the Feb. 1 coup. Here’s why ISPs should develop clear policies around forced internet shutdowns.
Politics and pandemic: Myanmar voters were encouraged to stay at home during the 2020 election campaign.
EPA_EFE/ Nyein Chan Naing
Anders C. Hardig, American University School of International Service e Tazreena Sajjad, American University School of International Service
The roots of Buddhist nationalism in Myanmar go back to colonial days. Those behind the military coup are seeking to harness it to legitimize the seizure of power.
Myanmar is increasingly connected to the world via social media, which will make it more difficult for the country’s new military leaders to maintain social control.
It is difficult to see how the military will benefit from another coup, since it already enjoyed immense political and economic influence under the previous power-sharing agreement.
Mangroves, like these in Madagascar, provide a range of benefits, including protection from storms and the prevention of coastal erosion.
(Louise Jasper/Blue Ventures)
Despite their enormous value, mangroves are being removed at an alarming rate. A new tool aims to help communities reverse mangrove loss and tap into conservation programs and funding.