Irrawaddy-Dec 14
When nationwide nonviolent protests were brutally attacked by Myanmar military and police, demands for international intervention under the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) principle went ignored. Pleas for help have also fallen on deaf ears after the junta launched a full-fledged war of terror against the civilian population, committing atrocities across the country. Myanmar’s people have been abandoned to their fate – though they are not alone in this. The reality of today’s world is that hardly anyone is willing to help nations that become victims of state terror and brutal dictatorships. And when democracies and international intergovernmental organizations like the UN and ASEAN are unable or unwilling to provide meaningful assistance to a brutalized population, other authoritarians are emboldened to help out dictators facing protests and uprisings by their own people. Russia, China, Iran and others are increasingly willing to jump in and provide assistance and diplomatic cover to shaken dictators. Meanwhile, democracies and intergovernmental organizations express concern and regret. Western democracies like the US and EU at least provide some funding for limited humanitarian aid while supporting favored civil society organizations and independent media. For populations under attack and in desperate need, this is welcome and useful, but it is far from sufficient. However, if the balance of power starts to shift in Myanmar and the junta looks vulnerable to the expanding resistance offensive, countries around the world will start reconsidering their policies on the state and its military rulers.Recent gains by resistance forces across the country, coupled with the coordinated and synchronized character of their attacks on military posts and bases, have suddenly increased the policymaking focus and media attention on Myanmar. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/opinion/guest-column/myanmars-spring-revolution-must-open-two-new-fronts-to-oust-junta.html
