“I am in blood/Stepped in so far ...” by Macbeth means that he has already spilled so much blood that it's "too late to turn back now."Grim and perceptive analysis of the Myanmar military by Tony Davis. (Years ago, when I asked Tony about the Myanmar military, he quoted Macbeth: “I am in blood/Stepped in so far ...”) https://t.co/cBBsvBROkA
— Andrew RC Marshall (@Journotopia) March 9, 2021
2021-02-10 Myanmar’s coup, what comes next?
Streamed live on Feb 10, 2021
FCCT Events
With pre-dawn arrests of Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the National League for Democracy on Feb. 1, the military, or Tatmadaw, abruptly ended the country’s democratic era. Hours later, a statement read over the military’s TV station announced a one-year state of emergency and the transfer of power to commander-in-chief Sen. Gen. Min Aung Hlaing. The reason cited was “grievances over election fraud” in the Nov. 8 poll that saw the NLD gain about 83% of the popular vote.
In ensuing days, the Tatmadaw’s grip tightened as arrests continued of activists and civil society leaders, the internet and social media were disrupted and restrictions imposed on freedom of expression.
The junta’s new cabinet features people associated with past military regimes as well as some technocrats and even a former NLD member. The military has pledged to step up the lackluster peace process and the campaign against Covid-19. Yet, popular outrage continues to drive protests in a mounting backlash from medics to bureaucrats..
On the international front, the US and other western governments have condemned the coup, with the US president Joe Biden threatening sanctions against Myanmar. But key countries including China, Myanmar’s long-time friend and protector; Japan, a big investor, as well as Thailand – itself led by a former coup leader. Western support and demands for Suu Kyi’s release have replaced international criticism of her defence of the military’s brutal expulsion of Rohingya Muslims from Rakhine state in 2017. For now, the junta appears firmly ensconced,but may resort to extreme action to maintain its rule in the face of intensifying public opposition. For concerned governments and organisations, time is running out and options are limited.
Join us for an evening of discussion with expert speakers:
Thin Lei Win, Founder and former chief correspondent of Myanmar Now, former correspondent for the Thomson Reuters Foundation, freelance journalist and editor of newsletter Thin Ink.
Tony Davis, security consultant and analyst with Jane’s, specializing in insurgency and counter-insurgency in Asia.
Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Director, Institute of Security and International Studies, Faculty of Political Science, Chulalongkorn University.
Lalita Hanwong, Assistant professor, Faculty of Social Sciences, Kasetsart University, and columnist, Myanmar Affairs, at Matichon Daily.
Gwen Robinson, Editor-at-large, Nikkei Asia; Senior fellow, Institute of Security and International Studies, Chulalongkorn University, and FCCT President.
Moderator – Jonathan Head, BBC Southeast Asia correspondent and FCCT Vice President
