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Spotlight Myanmar



Myanmar has various ethnic groups and one of them is the Karen (KNU). They have an independent military and they have put others on notice that they're willing to fight. (source) There was a military Junta in Feb. 1, 2021. They want democracy. As a force resisting the current military regime, 600k Karen have been displaced due to conflict with the regime. They wish the international forces would step in to rebuild the democracy. Corruption with Chinese crime syndicates is a problem. The KNU operates almost as a government within a government, with its own bureaucratic center. "There are more than 1.2 million people under KNU administration, which oversees vital services such as health, education, agriculture, forestry and transport as well as dealing with humanitarian emergencies alongside military affairs."

Burma was ruled by Great Britain, and they gained independence in 1948. It is bordered by Bangladesh and India to its northwest, China to its northeast, Laos and Thailand to its east and southeast, and the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal to its south and southwest. (Wikipedia) Burmese, the mother tongue of the Bamar and official language of Myanmar, is related to Tibetan and Chinese. 88% Buddhist, 6.2% Christian, 4.35 Islam.

"Life in Karen state reflects the deeply conservative roots of the KNU's founding in 1947, the year before Burma gained independence from Britain. This includes archaic laws, for example, that prohibit adultery and pre-marital sex." (op cit)

"One case that recently provoked controversy in Burmese social media was the KNU's move to prosecute two PDF fighters for a same-sex marriage. The case has not been resolved but Naw Dah Dah, head of the KNU's disciplinary committee, told the briefing, "If we look at our criminal code, such sexual acts can lead to five years in prison."" There are forces that see LGBTQ rights as human rights, and to be protected. The place of women in society is also a fight.

The current military regime bombs schools. Sounds like they're trying to move past grievances, and think about how they can work together. 


Links:

My Homeland Is Being Ruled by Terror. The World Must Pay Attention. (Nation)

Reddit doesn’t think Rohingya genocide is a genocide.

Myanmar Junta Declares Support for Niger Military Coup

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