freeburma
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/12/12/transcript-aung-sa...
The military does not take orders from civilian government, it’s the other way around. Civilian gov has no legal or de facto control over Tatmadaw, or border control, or home affairs (police, courts). There is no civilian legislative control over Rakhine operations. Tatmadaw just does whatever they wants.
And anyone who speaks against their actions is imprisoned. If AASK spoke against them they would have imprisoned her again, like they just did. The politics AASK is dealing with are complex.
There are different factions in the military, one of which was the architect of Burma’s democratic transition, the other which opposes the transition (who current dictator/CIC is part of).
The military miscalculated, as they didn’t intend for ASSK or NLD to outsmart them in constitution of their own design. Military had expected to win enough seats with their proxy party + military appointed seats to prevent NLD choosing a president. But NLD won enough seats to choose president, and their chosen president gets to appoint commander-in -chief (military must confirm). Never before had a president appointed the CIC. The military saw this has a threat to their power. They do not want to be under any civilian control. And Min Aung Hlaing (current dictator) is also probably afraid of genocide charges if he is no longer in power.
She had no involvement in the military’s decisions in Rakhine state. Yes, she defended the perpetrators at ICJ, either as part of a political strategy of reconciliation with military, or because she just felt like defending them because she secretly likes what happened. You guess which explanation is more likely.
At best, you could call AASK an apologist for military. But that ignores that she was really their prisoner even while “free”, and the delicate negotiation she engaged in an attempt to build a civilian government, as flawed as it was.
Because Myanmar people lobbied for it, and because the Myanmar military is terrorizing its own people, then lying about it.
The military is shooting its own people, kidnapping them in the middle of the night, and torturing them.
Over 10 protestors dead and 50+ injured, as they are using live rounds on protestors. Over 500+ disappeared or kidnapped. Protestors killed include two teenagers shot in the head, one of them a medic. They also shot at ambulance. They’ve threatened to kill doctors, and kidnapped many of them. Stole the covid vaccination after beating doctors trying to stop them.
Last night they shot a neighborhood watchman in my neighborhood (we have neighborhood watch to try and prevent late night kidnapping/disappearing by military).
We lobbied hard to get Facebook to take down this page and others where the Tatmadaw are attempting to cover up the truth.
The military is shooting its own people, kidnapping them in the middle of the night, and torturing them.
Over 10 protestors dead and 50+ injured, as they are using live rounds on protestors. Over 500+ disappeared or kidnapped. Protestors killed include two teenagers shot in the head, one of them a medic. They also shot at ambulance. They’ve threatened to kill doctors. Stole the covid vaccination after beating doctors trying to stop them.
Last night they shot a neighborhood watchman in my neighborhood.
I suppose the Gies family should have walked outside and told the Nazi soldiers they were pieces of shit. That would be the morally right thing to do!? Get a grip. Sometimes speaking truth to power is just fucking dumb.
Do you think Burmese aren’t in the streets protesting because they approve of the government, or because they know they will get shot?
The obsession with defaming ASSK over the evil actions of the military is pathetic. It is so so low and pathetic how the international media relentlessly implies ASSK is secretly a supporter of genocide because she won’t tell the military off in public. All it accomplished was emboldening the military and damaging relations with the civilian government. Just so all the “journalists” could pat themselves on the back for being so courageous.
And Desmond Tutu’s letter is patronizing and ridiculous. She has no power over the Rakhine situation. None. The only power she had was negotiating with the military. She doesn’t need to be told that people don’t deserve to be victims of war and ethnic strife.
We stand with Aung San Suu Kyi until the end.
She has been trying to build relationship with generals, and is not going to publicly denounce them just to achieve some kind of moral pageantry. Angering the military so she can appease people who don’t do anything for Burma is pointless.
If ASSK was in charge Rohingya situation would not happen. But she’s not in charge. Holding her to some impossible ideal is ridiculous. Blaming her for genocide is offensive. It’s just part of a game western academics, journalists, and moralizers like to play.
Her actions are completely understandable if you understand the political situation, and its history.
And for most Burmese the lack of support for her fledgling civilian government by the nations and journalists that condemn her has created deep resentment. Nobody here cares at all what they think.
Imagine how it feels to have people, who don’t even know the name of the generals, how the government works, or where Myanmar is on a map, tell us how evil ASSK is. The person who has sacrificed her whole family and life for peace and reconciliation.
She had two choices: 1) Say publicly that military are bad people, and erode what little power military affords NLD and fragile relationship between civilian government and military. Or 2) Have the press hate her for not saying words, and maintain the fragile understanding and peacemaking process with military.
She chose the least bad option, in support of civilian rule, democracy, and peace building. Publicly condemning military for Rohingya doesn’t accomplish anything for anyone.
What is she supposed to do? Come out and denounce the military publicly, effectivey destroying what little relationship and understanding they’ve built with the military? That doesn’t accomplish anything. She already did that and sat in prison for 15 years.
Nobel peace prizes and moralizing westerners don’t help Burma. There’s little reason for her to care about what they think.
She’s been public about her strategy. She’s always said the only way forward is to build understanding and relationship with military. To work with the scraps given to them. To work through peaceful means. It’s either that or nothing. Rising up won’t really work, they tried that in 1988 and the military just murdered and jailed people until they stopped.
- Only outcome of not defending military at UN would be sanctions or civilian government losing some of the little power they have, which would only harm situation more.
- ASSK does not want genocide or anything like that. She is slandered by ignorant press.
Almost everyone in Burma hates military and understands that civilian government can’t do everything they want.
Yet all the international coverage seems ignorant of these facts, condemning ASSK for things she doesn’t control, like military operations in Rhakine against Rohingya. They don’t understand that the reason she defended military at UN is only outcome of not defending them would be sanctions which just further harms civilian government and people. She had no choice.
People here in Burma are still confused as to motivation for coup, since military already had best of both worlds: ultimate power of law and courts, and no sanctions because of farcical democracy. Why they would risk sanctions to do this is a mystery.
Military has also taken over ASSK FB page and is posting false information.
Only KNU (Karen army) so far has made statement opposing military coup.
Edit: That said, independence armies are all to some degree corrupt and many funded through drug manufacturing and smuggling.
My personal experience is Myanmar is a wonderful country full of a wonderful people, and vibrant culture, despite living in the shadow of ethnic violence and a brutal military regime.
It’s hard to say how this will play out. For many here it’s a mystery why military did this, as they already had power over state business, 25% military appointed legislature, control of courts, etc. and the benefit of hiding behind fake democracy to get foreign investment. So people are confused as to what their motive is, as they already had the best of both worlds.
All Internet and TV, phone service, cut off. However fiber internet land lines are still working. Most ATMs are still working but very long lines.
Soldiers and tanks in many parts of city. City hall if full of soldiers.