Civil War in Myanmar

 

Context

Recently, almost three years on from its bloody coup, Myanmar’s military junta is facing the biggest threat to its hold on power as it fights wars on multiple fronts across the Southeast Asian nation. Background of the Current Civil War in Myanmar

1. 2020 Elections and Military Coup:

1. In the November 2020 elections, Aung San Suu Kyi's party National League for Democracy (NLD) won the election. However, the military junta, known as the Tatmadaw, claimed electoral fraud without substantial evidence and rejected the election results.
2. In February, 2021, the military staged a coup, detaining Aung San Suu Kyi and other elected leaders, declaring a state of emergency, and seizing control of the government.

2. Protests and Resistance:

1. The coup triggered widespread protests across Myanmar, with citizens demanding the restoration of democracy and the release of detained leaders.
2. Civil servants, activists, and various groups joined the civil disobedience movement, staging strikes and demonstrations.

3. Formation of Resistance Forces:

1. As the Tatmadaw intensified its crackdown on dissent, opposition groups, including Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) and armed civilians, formed the People's Defence Forces (PDFs) to resist the military junta.
2. These groups aligned themselves with the National Unity Government (NUG), established by ousted lawmakers, aiming to challenge the military's authority.

4. Current Scenario: Fighting has also broken out elsewhere in the country, led by various local resistance forces — in the Rakhine State, Kayin State, Sagaing region bordering Manipur, and Chin State bordering Mizoram.

Ongoing Civil War in Myanmar Mean for India

1. Balanced Stance:

• India has so far walked a fine line between expressing concern at the “interruption” of democracy in Myanmar, and engaging with the junta to protect its “vital interests”.

2. Immediate Concern for India:

1. The influx of Myanmarese nationals in the border states of the Northeast.
2. This too at a time when the situation in Manipur remains volatile.

3. Capturing of Two Important Towns by Rebels:

1. The anti-junta forces have captured two important towns close to the only two border crossing points between Myanmar and India. These are:

• Rikhawdar, close to Zokhawthar in Mizoram, and
• Khampat in Sagaing region, around 60 km from Moreh in Manipur.

2. The latter (Khampat in Sagaing region) is also part of the proposed India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway project.

 

 

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