Jae-Hyun Lee, Senior Research Fellow, Asan Institute for Policy Studies
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■ Broadcast: JTBC Morning & / Progress: Lee Jung-heon
Five days after the coup in Myanmar, protest movements from Myanmar people are spreading. The pressure from the international community is also increasing. At the dawn of our time today (5th), the UN Security Council in a statement called for the immediate release of detainees, including adviser Aung San Suu Kyi. The first street protest against the military coup took place yesterday in front of the medical school in Mandalay, Myanmar’s second city. It was a small demonstration with about 20 people participating, but the citizens cheered and cheered at the protesters. Medical staff in more than 70 hospitals across Myanmar have gone on strike to resist the coup. Members of the ruling party, led by advisor Aung San Suu Kyi, also gathered together to open a symbolic parliament and write a statement against the coup. Let’s listen directly to the ruling party lawmaker.
[퓨퓨틴/민주주의민족동맹 국회의원 : 미얀마 국민이기도 한 우리는 지난 임기 동안 임무를 두려움없이 수행했습니다. 쿠데타가 일어난 지금, 이런 공포정치가 나라에서 일어나도록 내버려 둘 수는 없습니다.]
But the military that caused the coup is taking power very quickly. Facebook, which is used by half of Myanmar’s people, has blocked access for spreading fake news. Advisor Aung San Suu Kyi was charged with using an illegally imported walkie talkie. If convicted, you can face up to three years in prison. The UN Security Council issued a statement and urged the immediate release of detainees, including adviser Aung San Suu Kyi. Let’s listen to the British Ambassador, who is the chairman of the UN Security Council circuit.
[바바라 우드워드/유엔 주재 영국대사 : 안보리 위원들은 지난 1일 발생한 미얀마 군부의 비상사태 선포와 아웅산 수지 고문, 윈 민 대통령 등 정부인사들의 구금에 깊은 우려를 표명했습니다.]
Under such circumstances, strategic competition between the United States and China is intensifying over Myanmar, a geopolitical hub in the Indo-Pacific region. Some analysts say that the United States’ security strategy in the Indo-Pacific region faced a major negative problem as the Myanmar military, which had maintained close relations with China, took power. As Myanmar is an important part of the long-awaited one-on-one project, China is consistent with a lukewarm attitude in the military coup of Myanmar. Let’s take a closer look with experts in the ASEAN region. Jae-Hyun Lee, Senior Research Fellow, Asan Institute for Policy Studies Connected by phone.
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The protest movement of the people of Myanmar is spreading. The pressure from the international community is also increasing. How is Myanmar’s military accepting this resistance and pressure?
It seems that the people’s resistance is appearing immediately, as I said now. Medical staff are also refusing to work now and are joining these protests, which will certainly be pressured by the military. However, it remains to be seen how much the pressure will affect the military’s actions. Armed suppression is not that difficult if the military makes up its mind. The important point is that the resistance of the people and the pressure of the international community must work together at the same time to help improve this situation. International pressure is essential.
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However, as long as China continues to show a lukewarm attitude to the Myanmar military, pressure from the international community will not have a significant effect. As previously mentioned, competition between the United States and China over Myanmar is also increasing. How do you view this part?
According to the news that came out yesterday, it is reported that the Chinese foreign minister visited Myanmar a few weeks ago and talked with the military commander. There is. It seems that the Myanmar military is already preparing to some degree against Western pressure. Now, the worry is that China will virtually tolerate the Myanmar military, but the worry is on the US side. It is difficult if Myanmar sticks to China in a strategic competition with China. That is why the United States cannot be left alone in Myanmar over Myanmar’s military rule. In particular, the Biden government puts democracy and human rights first, so we have to put some pressure on it. That’s a big dilemma for the US government.
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Adviser Aung San Suu Kyi accused of using an illegally imported walkie-talkie. They say they can get up to three years in prison. Do you think that advisor Aung San Suu Kyi can become the hope and center of democracy in Myanmar again in the future?
Looking at the past performances of Aung San Suu Kyi, she has already experienced house arrest for more than 15 years from the early 90s to the 2000s, so there seems to be no big problem with overcoming this pressure. Most of all, I can’t see anyone but Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of democracy in Myanmar, who will symbolize the forces that resist the military forces. So it’s still symbolic and will play a central role. It is true that the image of Aung San Suu Kyi has been damaged a lot due to the Rohingya issue in the international community, but in reality there is no other alternative in Myanmar other than Aung San Suu Kyi. That is why it seems that it can still play such a symbolic and centripetal role.
In 2015, the spring of Myanmar, which was difficult to find after half a century of military rule, collapsed again after six years. The people of Myanmar are now calling again the protesters who were called during the so-called ’88 Uprising’, a large-scale democratization movement that began on August 8, 1988. The international community needs attention and support so that the spring of real democracy can come to Myanmar.