Today, I briefed the UN Security Council on the situation in Myanmar. The text of my comments is online here. crisisgroup.org/asia/south-eas…
Richard Horsey
3,909 posts
Richard Horsey
@rshorsey
Independent political analyst. Also Myanmar Adviser to @CrisisGroup. Former @ILO Myanmar rep. Presenter of Yeti on @BBCSounds.
Joined November 2015
- Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan on #Myanmar: "It is the height of national shame for the armed forces of any country to turn its arms against its own people”.
- Today in non-violent resistance to Myanmar’s coup: a poster campaign with a pretty clear message, in the streets around me in Yangon... #WhatsHappeningInMaynmar
- Soldiers in Mandalay appearing to use a passing motorcycle for target practice.
00:00 - HeartbreakingI came across a post written yesterday by a doctor who volunteered to help out in #HlaingTharyar hospital on the day of the deadliest crackdown in the area, 14th March. I translated most of it, hoping it gives us a glimpse on how harsh the reality was on that day. #Myanmar
- My neighbourhood in downtown Yangon really erupted this evening with the 8pm opposition to the Myanmar coup. Much louder and more persistent than yesterday. Still ongoing.
00:00 - My latest for @CrisisGroup on risk of Myanmar state collapse. Regime shows no sign of wanting to get out of crisis. Outside world has limited leverage, but must impose arms embargoes, sanctions on military, & prepare for huge humanitarian/development needs
- Myanmar regime statement on ASEAN Summit. Min Aung Hlaing supposedly joined 5-point consensus, but here regime says it “will give careful consideration…when the situation returns to stability”. Critical ASEAN now moves quickly to name envoy, visit Myanmar & speak with all sides.
- The #Myanmar military may calculate that deploying deadly force will deter demonstrators. But there’s a very real possibility that outrage will harden the resolve of protesters and those in the civil disobedience movement. The situation looks set for more serious confrontation.
- Make no mistake - economic warfare against Myanmar is a terrible idea. It didn’t work in the 1990s and 2000s and caused massive harm to the population. It has a dismal record elsewhere (eg. Iraq). Don’t repeat the failures of the past.
- Huge demonstrations across Yangon #Myanmar on Sunday. Tens of thousands of protesters converged in several locations. In raucous but peaceful standoff with police. Right now:
00:00 - For those outside #Myanmar, here are some of my thoughts on the mood on the streets, the energy of the young protestors, and their anger that this coup has stolen their futures. The military will not easily contain this. crisisgroup.org/asia/south-eas…
- Coming one day before another general strike, this feels like the next phase in the military’s attempt to consolidate its coup. But the need to occupy hospitals, universities and pagodas is a very visible sign of illegitimacy and the strong public resistance to the military.Military deploys troops to public buildings around the country The move has met with resistance at a number of locations, resulting in several protesters being injured by rubber bullets myanmar-now.org/en/news/milita… #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #RejectMilitaryCoup #2021uprising
- General strike called today in Yangon #Myanmar. Large street protests converging downtown. Many onlookers cheering.
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