Myanmar is mired in conflict and chaos a year after the coup

[ASEAN NOW Content Team]

 

The once-loud and colourful protests have been replaced with an unnerving silence. Protest leaders have called for a "silent strike" on the anniversary of the military takeover.

 

Millions of people took to the streets in Myanmar in the days after the military seized control on Feb. 1 last year, walking off their jobs in what has turned into a statewide civil disobedience movement and rejecting the junta's brutal violence.

One year later, the Southeast Asian country is engulfed in strife, its economy has been destroyed, warfare has spread throughout the country, and public institutions have crumbled.
Thousands of citizens have been slain, including peaceful protesters. Suspects have been tortured.

 

The original daily protests, which were noisy and colourful, have given way to an unnerving silence.

Protest leaders have called for a "silent strike" on Tuesday to mark the anniversary of the coup, urging people to stay at home, close their shops, and refrain from outdoor activity for six hours.
The junta distributed flyers warning that those who took part would face charges of terrorism, provocation, and breaking the legislation on electronic communications.
Hundreds of people have already been arrested.

 

The regime has created so much animosity that it has been unable to maintain power.
Hundreds of armed rebel units have cropped up across the country, and a shadow National Unity Government has emerged, led in part by deposed elected officials, to assist spearhead opposition to the junta.

"The war has expanded to the rest of the country since the early days of the coup, when protests were centred in the cities," said Khu Ree Du, a spokeswoman for the Karenni Nationalities Defense Force, one of numerous armed organisations opposing the military.
"Because what the Myanmar military has done is terrible, the shape of the conflict will intensify in the following year."

 

The military detained around 100 elected politicians, including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the country's senior civilian leader, during the coup.
On 17 charges, she may face up to 173 years in prison, according to her supporters.
So far, she has been found guilty on five counts.

However, the army commander in chief and coup leader, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, appears to have misjudged public disdain for him and his generals, who have responded with a ruthless crackdown.