The frightening situation in Myanmar will (already is) affecting Thailand

[faranglaw]

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jul/28/myanmar-could-become-covid-super-spreader-state-says-un-expert

[Lonnie]

Poor Burma...from bad to unimaginable horror...where's China in all this mess? They want to lead the world here's your chance!

Junta forces have engaged in at least 260 attacks against medical personnel and facilities, killing at least 18 people, according to the Office of the United Nations high commissioner for human rights. The military is holding at least 67 healthcare workers, and has issued arrest warrants for a further 600 medics.

Last week, military officials reportedly posed as Covid patients in need of treatment to entrap medical volunteers in Yangon. Three doctors who went to help were subsequently arrested, according to a report by the independent outlet Myanmar Now.

In total, at least 5,630 people are being held in detention facilities, including Insein prison in Yangon, where the virus has spread. U Nyan Win, who previously served as Aung San Suu Kyi’s lawyer, and who was a senior member in her National League for Democracy party, died of Covid after becoming infected in jail, it was confirmed last week.

At least 931 people – protesters, politicians and bystanders – have been killed by the military since February.

There is significant evidence that crimes against humanity are unfolding in Myanmar, Andrews said. “This is not an errant commander here or there doing horrible things, this is very systematic, very clear … The junta going on state television and telling people don’t go on the streets [to protest] or you’ll get shot in the head. And then suddenly all these people are shot in the head.”

Andrews said the need for international action was more urgent than ever. “The people of Myanmar are losing hope that the international community cares about what is happening in Myanmar,” he said.

[billyhouston]

Don't worry, the MoHS (Ministry of Health and Sports) has been seeing around 100 Covid-19 deaths per day since 13 July. Meanwhile the funeral societies are reporting seeing between 1500 and 2000 dead per day, in Yangon alone.

The military have just announced the construction of 10 new crematoriums in Yangon! Obviously they haven't checked with the MoHS.

[Guest]

1 hour ago, Lonnie said:

Poor Burma...from bad to unimaginable horror...where's China in all this mess? They want to lead the world here's your chance!

...........

Andrews said the need for international action was more urgent than ever. “The people of Myanmar are losing hope that the international community cares about what is happening in Myanmar,” he said.

1  Ref Chinese world leadership, well just look at which nation is propping up the reprehensible regime in North Korea.   Promoting freedom and prosperity is not the kind of world leadership we can expect to see from them.

2  Any democratic nations that start interfering in Myanmar will probably find opposition from China and Russia.  Particularly as China borders Myanmar.  Of the democratic countries, well only the US spends enough on the military to have the option of interfering in such situations.   Some major EU countries barely have functioning armed forces.

Also, looking at countries sharing a border with Myanmar, well the Thai government can hardly condemn a military dictatorship.

[reader]

From The Irrawaddy

Junta to Build New Crematoriums as COVID-19 Death Toll Soars

Myanma Radio and Television, the junta-controlled broadcaster, announced on Tuesday that ten crematoriums are being built simultaneously at cemeteries in Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city, which has seen the highest fatalities nationwide in the coronavirus third wave.

The crematoriums will be able to cremate more than 3,000 bodies per day. The newly-built crematoriums in Yayway, one of Yangon’s major cemeteries, can cremate over 1,000 bodies per day, said the junta-controlled media.

The move has provoked the ire of the many people who have lost relatives and friends to COVID-19 over the past two months due to the mismanagement of the military regime. Many patients were turned away by public hospitals and forced to rely on treatment at home, including sourcing their own medical oxygen, even as the junta was restricting the sale of oxygen to individuals.

https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/myanmar-junta-to-build-new-crematoriums-as-covid-19-death-toll-soars.html

========================================

US Defense Secretary Chides Myanmar Junta

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin decried the actions of Myanmar’s military rulers on Tuesday and urged ASEAN to keep demanding an end to the violence.

“The Myanmar military’s refusal to respect the inalienable rights of the Burmese people and to defend their basic well-being is flatly unacceptable,” Austin said during a lecture in Singapore, the AP news agency reported.

“A military exists to serve its people, not the other way around. And so we call on the Myanmar military to adhere to the ASEAN five-point consensus and to forge a lasting peace,” he added.

The five-point document calls for an immediate end to violence and the start of a dialogue among contending parties, with a special ASEAN envoy mediating in the talks. However, the envoy has yet to be appointed.

Austin said the US would work with partners in the region to urge Myanmar’s military to “move in the right direction” and release civilians it has imprisoned.

The US general is in Southeast Asia visiting key countries and allies including Singapore, the Philippines and Vietnam to strengthen relationships.

 

[Lonnie]

2 hours ago, z909 said:

Chinese world leadership, well just look at which nation is propping up the reprehensible regime in North Korea.

Sorry, my sloppy language use obviously hid what I meant in as far as Communist China is concerned...they talk this big world game but more than likely they back the junta...as they continue to persecute millions of Uygurs and destroy what's left free Tibet. Long live the ROC!

It was more of a facetious challenge.

 

[Lonnie]

1 hour ago, reader said:

The five-point document calls for an immediate end to violence and the start of a dialogue among contending parties, with a special ASEAN envoy mediating in the talks. However, the envoy has yet to be appointed.

1 hour ago, reader said:

 

So much for that as the general heads for the exit. ☠️

[reader]

From Channel News Asia

ASEAN ministers pick Brunei diplomat as envoy to Myanmar

KUALA LUMPUR: Southeast Asian foreign ministers on Wednesday (Aug 4) picked Brunei Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof as their special envoy to Myanmar, in a breakthrough after months of delay for regional mediation to help end the country's deepening crisis.

Erywan has been tasked with ending violence in Myanmar, opening dialogue between the military rulers and their opponents in the crisis-torn country, according to a communique released after meetings on Monday and Wednesday by foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asians.

Erywan will begin his work in Myanmar to “build trust and confidence with full access to all parties concerned", according to a joint statement.

He will also oversee a humanitarian aid package, although no details of the assistance were announced, according to Reuters.

Instead, the statement called for the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance to start work on "policy guidance".

The ministers reiterated their concerns, including reports of fatalities and violence. But they stopped short of calling for the release of political detainees, saying only they “heard calls” for their freedom, in a reflection of the sensitivity over the issue.

 

Erywan was among at least four candidates proposed by the grouping, and Myanmar was believed to have preferred a former Thai diplomat. Its decision to cave in to the grouping’s demands indicated the military rulers are still hoping to rely on ASEAN support as they face international condemnation.

 

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/asean-appoints-brunei-diplomat-erywan-yusof-myanmar-envoy-15379594

 

[Lonnie]

3 hours ago, reader said:

Brunei Second Foreign Minister Erywan Yusof

I know nothing about Mr. Yusof...but I wish him luck...he'll need it.

[caeron]

 

I made a short trip to Yangon before the pandemic, and really enjoyed it and hoped to go back. 

Feels like Trump has helped lead a global slide back into fascism and totalitarianism.

[fedssocr]

US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman had a Zoom meeting with reps of the "national unity government" today. And put out a statement welcoming the new ASEAN envoy. I don't expect ASEAN to do much given all of the undemocratic governments in the group.

[Gaybutton]

Military efficiency in Myanmar.  Anyone who dares to oppose, just imprison them, torture them, and kill them.  Have they opened the concentration camps yet?  They're currently building them in Belarus.  Maybe that's giving the Burmese military an idea.

Why is it that the wrong people always seem to make it into positions of power?  And how do they convince the soldiers to do these things to their own people?

[fedssocr]

probably by threatening them with the same fate

[PeterRS]

1 hour ago, fedssocr said:

probably by threatening them with the same fate

Judging by the fact that soldiers have been escaping to neighbouring Bangladesh, that is probably very true.

I have a dear friend who is half Thai and half Burmese. His Burmese father lives in the Shan States. For decades the central government has been fighting the rebel states which mostly border Thailand. Now my friend tells me the Shan army is calling up a lot of young men to fight the junta. As in Thailand, lads can buy their way out of army duty with what for Burmese will be an impossible amount of cash. Thankfully my friend has a job here in Thailand and has been able to send enough money to his father to buy out his younger brother and himself.

[faranglaw]

Yes a very sweet and funny Karenyi massage young man I went to a few times, in the On Nut area, has disappeared from LINE.  No more sweet emoticons from him. He is the youngest of five in his family, and I worry for his safety.

[Guest]

I suspect the only way the population of Myanmar will get rid of the awful military is after some kind of revolution.   That's probably going to be messy and prolonged, unless large numbers in the army either swap sides or desert.    

The young people of Myanmar might as well either get ready to take on the military or try illegal emigration.    Prospects are poor with the military government.   

Also, whilst we're complaining about Covid or whatever the latest issue is, remember we are all really fortunate compared with the people of Myanmar.

[PeterRS]

8 hours ago, z909 said:

I suspect the only way the population of Myanmar will get rid of the awful military is after some kind of revolution.   That's probably going to be messy and prolonged, unless large numbers in the army either swap sides or desert.  

With China backing the military and the mandarins in Beijing nervous of any revolutionary movements anywhere on their border, the supply of arms will continue flowing to the military. If there is to be a revolution, some other country/counries will have to side with those with those fighting against the present junta. So far it seems those fighting the government are on their own.

[reader]

From the BBC

Two arrested over plot to kill Myanmar UN ambassador

Two Myanmar citizens have been arrested in the US for allegedly plotting to kill or injure Myanmar's UN ambassador.

The US attorney's office in New York said Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw had planned to hire attackers to force Kyaw Moe Tun to step down.

He is a vocal critic of Myanmar's military rulers, who seized power in a coup on 1 February.

The junta later fired him - but he continues to represent the country's civilian government at the world body.

"Phyo Hein Htut and Ye Hein Zaw plotted to seriously injure or kill Myanmar's ambassador to the United Nations in a planned attack on a foreign official that was to take place on American soil," US Attorney Audrey Strauss said in a statement on Friday.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58088866