Myanmar has seen widespread protests following a Feb. 1 military coup that has seized control of the parliament and ousted democratically elected, Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi. The coup effectively created an authoritarian government ruled by a military junta which has violently cracked down on protestors, leaving over 300 dead, including children as young as seven.
When I first heard Myanmar had a military coup, I wondered what their commander would claim as the reason. Déjà vu struck as coup leader Min Aung Hlaing has repeatedly claimed the 2020 general elections were corrupted, and the coup was to ensure that democracy for all Burmese would return.
I, among others, am incredibly doubtful of his claims. Coming from Thailand, a country that has been ruled by a military junta since 2014, I have heard the regurgitated promise of democracy numerous times. The only thing these claims have reiterated to me is the practice of democracy is malleable.
Despite our best efforts to claim one country or system is more democratic than another, we find the powerful will do whatever they can to redefine it to their purpose.
Myanmar’s military crackdown on protestors and extrajudicial killings have not been publicly commented on by any of the country’s new rulers. Soldiers and police officers have been reported to have opened fire on the funerals for the dead.
To any commoner, the military’s actions dilute Min Aung Hlaing’s adulterated vision of democracy even more. Sadly, that does not matter to him. For as long as he possesses the power, he controls the narrative.
On March 27, Myanmar held a military parade. Coincidentally, that was also the deadliest day of the protests—where over 100 people were shot dead, again, with no public comments or recognition from the people in power.
Min Aung Hlaing was pictured enjoying nice meals with other high-ranking officials and military ambassadors from countries such as Thailand, India and China. The prioritization of celebration over any attempt to amend any remaining relationships with its citizens proves the military junta is not looking to establish a people’s democracy.
Yet, it is still what Min Aung Hlaing will maintain in speeches while his military continues to commit widespread violence against the Rohingya Muslims and the Karen people, including a March 28 airstrike raid that caused over 3,000 people to flee to neighboring Thailand where they were promptly deported back.
Is this democracy for those who wish to merely be recognized or an expansion of power to be able to commit such atrocities without fear of repercussions?
It is evident democracy is currently imprisoned in Myanmar and their rulers can claim anything is for democracy. It certainly is not the Burmese’s fault, however. As with other citizens, we hope the people in power understand and respect the fragility of democracy.
Unfortunately, Myanmar has been under military rule for most of its post-independence history with several constitutional clauses that give the military power in parliament. Once the military-backed party lost in the general elections, it was only a matter of time before action would be taken under the facade of corruption and “true democracy.”
I understand the grim outlook of the Burmese. I have lived through two military coups in Thailand, both of which have killed civilian opposition and gave the military more power in parliament. I have heard the repeated promise that democracy is when everyone in the country is happy and it will take time to achieve. Yet, democracy seems to have missed its arrival.
I know the theory of democracy is malleable in nature. There will always be arguments about what constitutes as equality, rights and freedom. This will be studied and debated upon until the end of times. However, the worst of democracy is when those in power try to define it – especially by force. If such a situation were to happen, it becomes increasingly difficult for the commoner to make their voices heard without forceful or violent oppression.
Myanmar’s recent coup should be a cautionary tale that those in power should not be allowed to define democracy or use it to justify the means. Instead, democracy is defined by the commoner and how they argue about it. It is a lesson that democracy is fragile, the definition will shift and ideas will be challenged. However, there should never be an absolute definition for democracy.
I hope the people of Myanmar, and other citizens fighting oppressive regimes, can return democracy to its people and not the powerful.
Richard Pathomsiri can be reached at [email protected] and [email protected].
Khen
Thank you Richard. That is great article of high importance. You appear to understand it well and did a lot of research on it. Thanks for bringing this to my attention. I plan to study this better now.