03-17-2018, 10:44 PM
*** 18-Mar-18 World View -- Human rights protests of Cambodia and Myanmar (Burma) overshadow Australia ASEAN summit meeting
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Malaysia's Najib Razak condemns Myanmar's (Burma's) genocide of Rohingyas at ASEAN summit
****
![[Image: g180317b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g180317b.jpg)
Demonstrators protesting Myanmar (Burma) genocide of Rohingyas at ASEAN summit on Saturday (AP)
It used to be a rule of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) that member states are forbidden from interfering in each
other's internal affairs, which means that no member nation is
permitted to criticize the internal policies of another member nation.
That rule was in place to prevent the group from fracturing, and from
discussing happy subjects like trade.
But the extreme genocidal violence and ethnic cleansing of ethnic
Rohingyas by the government of Myanmar (Burma) has caused Malaysia's
Prime Minister Najib Razak to denounce Burma's leader Aung San Suu Kyi
personally, in a speech at the ASEAN summit, while she was sitting on
the stage nearby. Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize years ago,
back before she turned into a modern day Hitler.
Razak justified his open criticism of Suu Kyi by saying that the
situation was a threat to the entire region's security. In
particular, he said that it was encouraging jihadists groups in the
region, such as those in the southern Philippine city of Marawi last
year, of becoming affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (IS or
ISIS or ISIL or Daesh). According to Razak:
<QUOTE>"Because of the suffering of Rohingya people and that
of displacement around the region, the situation in Rakhine state
and Myanmar can no longer be considered to be a purely domestic
matter.
In addition, the problem should not be looked at through the
humanitarian prism only because it has the potential of developing
into a serious security threat to the region.
Rakhine with thousands of despairing... people who see no hope in
the future will be a fertile ground for radicalization and
recruitment by (ISIS) and affiliated groups.
We must be vigilant and increase our collaboration, because the
collapse of (ISIS) territories in Iraq and Syria has forced it to
go underground and re-emerge elsewhere, especially in crisis zones
where it can grow and operate.
We must draw lessons from Marawi and be extremely concerned that
at least 10 militant groups in the Mindanao region (of the
Philippines) have declared their affiliation to
(ISIS)."<END QUOTE>
ASEAN has ten members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Australia
is not a member, but is hosting the ASEAN summit meeting.
Razak has criticized Suu Kyi in speeches in Malaysia. In 2016
he said to thousands of Malaysians at a rally in Kuala Lumpur:
<QUOTE>"The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking
place. The world cannot just say 'look, it is not our problem'. It
is our problem."<END QUOTE>
Razak is under pressure from the hardline Malaysian Islamist group
Hizbut Tahrir, who have in the past demanded that Malaysia's army
conduct a jihad against Burma. AFP and Australian Broadcasting
Related Articles
****
**** Cambodia's Hun Sen threatens violence at protesters at ASEAN meeting
****
The ASEAN summit meeting in Sydney, Australian, was met with large
groups protesting human rights violations by Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi
and Cambodia's Hun Sen.
Before Saturday, it was not even certain that Cambodia's prime
minister Hun Sen would show up, since he was apparently furious at
learning that there would be large protests of Cambodian-Australians
in Sydney. On February 21, he warned protesters not to burn effigies
of him, saying:
<QUOTE>"I will follow you all the way to your doorstep and
beat you right there ... I can use violence against
you."<END QUOTE>
This threat triggered a mass burning by protesters of effigies bearing
Hun Sen's face. Two weeks later, Hun Sen described the protesters as
"crazy and stupid," and said that they had "fallen into his trap": "In
fact, speaking truly and clarifying for you, you are being tricked by
Hun Sen. Do not play with Hun Sen, you are still very weak."
Hun Sen has been in power for 33 years, since 1985, following the
massive Buddhist "Killing Fields" genocide in Cambodia in 1975-79.
Led by Pol Pot, this was one of the top mass genocides of the 20th
century. The genocide killed something like 1.7 to well over 2
million people, out of a population of 8 million. So around 20% of
Cambodia's population were killed, making it possibly the worst
genocide, on a percentage basis, of the 20th century.
Hun Sen has remained in power since then, but started becoming
a lot more authoritarian after the opposition political party,
the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) almost won the
2013 election, and has become increasingly popular since then.
Fearing that he might be defeated in the 2018 elections, Hun
Sen has been targeting CNRP leaders, arresting dozens of them
on phony charges. The Hun Sen-controlled Supreme Court
last year declared the CNRP to be an illegal political party.
In addition, Hun Sen has been brutally suppressing protests,
banning all protests and jailing protesters. He's shut
print and radio media sources, and jailed reporters.
One of the lead protesters in Sydney was Bou Rachana, the wife of
murdered Cambodian politician Kem Ley, who was killed in Hun Sen's
crackdown.
Cambodia's parliament has recently amended the constitution to tighten
restrictions on voting rights and freedom of association, and a
provision that insulting Hun Sen can result in being jailed for five
- years.
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, Hun Sen is following
exactly the same pattern that many other countries have followed
following a generational crisis civil war between different tribes or
ethnic groups. After the war ends, the leader of the country, usually
from the winning tribe or ethnic group, refuses to give up power, and
becomes increasingly violent and authoritarian, using as an excuse
that peaceful protests or negative news articles can turn into a new
civil war. This excuse provides justification for mass slaughter,
rape, torture, mass jailings, mutilations, and so forth. I've
described this behavior in Bashar al-Assad in Syria, who has gone to
the extent of using Sarin gas and barrel bombs packed with explosives
and metal and laced with chlorine gas onto civilian neighborhoods and
markets in order to kill as many women and children as possible Other
leaders that I've described exhibiting this type of behavior include
Paul Biya in Cameroon, Pierre Nkurunziza in Burundi, Paul Kagame in
Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and
Joseph Kabila in DRC.
This weekend's ASEAN summit is on economics and counter-terrorism,
but the protests are causing those issues to be overshadowed
by human rights. According Human Rights Watch:
<QUOTE>"Shutting one’s eyes and hoping that closer trade and
security ties will somehow magically transform abusive governments
into rights-respecting ones doesn’t work.
The ASEAN summit shouldn’t just be an opportunity to dance with
dictators, but a chance to publicly press them over horrific human
rights abuses."<END QUOTE>
ASEAN is already divided between countries like Vietnam and Indonesia
that oppose China's illegal creation of a massive military fortress in
the South China Sea, versus countries like Cambodia and Laos that
support China. Myanmar's ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas, and
Cambodia's authoritarian slaughter, rape and torture of political
opponents are issues that are further splitting ASEAN, leading some to
wonder whether it even makes sense for ASEAN to continue to exist.
Quartz (15-Mar) and Phnom Penh Post (5-Mar) and Deutsche Welle (27-Nov-2017) and Australian Broadcasting
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN,
Malaysia, Najib Razak, Hizbut Tahrir, Philippines, Marawi,
Burma, Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, Rohingyas,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh,
Cambodia, Hun Sen, Killing fields, Pol Pot,
Cambodia National Rescue Party, CNRP, Bou Rachana, Kem Ley
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Malaysia's Najib Razak condemns Myanmar's (Burma's) genocide of Rohingyas at ASEAN summit
- Cambodia's Hun Sen threatens violence at protesters at ASEAN meeting
****
**** Malaysia's Najib Razak condemns Myanmar's (Burma's) genocide of Rohingyas at ASEAN summit
****
Demonstrators protesting Myanmar (Burma) genocide of Rohingyas at ASEAN summit on Saturday (AP)
It used to be a rule of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations
(ASEAN) that member states are forbidden from interfering in each
other's internal affairs, which means that no member nation is
permitted to criticize the internal policies of another member nation.
That rule was in place to prevent the group from fracturing, and from
discussing happy subjects like trade.
But the extreme genocidal violence and ethnic cleansing of ethnic
Rohingyas by the government of Myanmar (Burma) has caused Malaysia's
Prime Minister Najib Razak to denounce Burma's leader Aung San Suu Kyi
personally, in a speech at the ASEAN summit, while she was sitting on
the stage nearby. Suu Kyi won the Nobel Peace Prize years ago,
back before she turned into a modern day Hitler.
Razak justified his open criticism of Suu Kyi by saying that the
situation was a threat to the entire region's security. In
particular, he said that it was encouraging jihadists groups in the
region, such as those in the southern Philippine city of Marawi last
year, of becoming affiliated with the so-called Islamic State (IS or
ISIS or ISIL or Daesh). According to Razak:
<QUOTE>"Because of the suffering of Rohingya people and that
of displacement around the region, the situation in Rakhine state
and Myanmar can no longer be considered to be a purely domestic
matter.
In addition, the problem should not be looked at through the
humanitarian prism only because it has the potential of developing
into a serious security threat to the region.
Rakhine with thousands of despairing... people who see no hope in
the future will be a fertile ground for radicalization and
recruitment by (ISIS) and affiliated groups.
We must be vigilant and increase our collaboration, because the
collapse of (ISIS) territories in Iraq and Syria has forced it to
go underground and re-emerge elsewhere, especially in crisis zones
where it can grow and operate.
We must draw lessons from Marawi and be extremely concerned that
at least 10 militant groups in the Mindanao region (of the
Philippines) have declared their affiliation to
(ISIS)."<END QUOTE>
ASEAN has ten members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. Australia
is not a member, but is hosting the ASEAN summit meeting.
Razak has criticized Suu Kyi in speeches in Malaysia. In 2016
he said to thousands of Malaysians at a rally in Kuala Lumpur:
<QUOTE>"The world cannot sit by and watch genocide taking
place. The world cannot just say 'look, it is not our problem'. It
is our problem."<END QUOTE>
Razak is under pressure from the hardline Malaysian Islamist group
Hizbut Tahrir, who have in the past demanded that Malaysia's army
conduct a jihad against Burma. AFP and Australian Broadcasting
Related Articles
- Bangladesh formally protests Burma's (Myanmar's) troop buildup near border (02-Mar-2018)
- Asian jihadists become radicalized by Burma's (Myanmar's) Rohingya slaughter (07-Dec-2016)
- Burma's (Myanmar's) ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas witnessed by BBC reporter (09-Sep-2017)
- Generational history of Burma (Myanmar) (26-Sep-2007)
- Malaysia expels North Korean ambassador as relations deteriorate (05-Mar-2017)
****
**** Cambodia's Hun Sen threatens violence at protesters at ASEAN meeting
****
The ASEAN summit meeting in Sydney, Australian, was met with large
groups protesting human rights violations by Burma's Aung San Suu Kyi
and Cambodia's Hun Sen.
Before Saturday, it was not even certain that Cambodia's prime
minister Hun Sen would show up, since he was apparently furious at
learning that there would be large protests of Cambodian-Australians
in Sydney. On February 21, he warned protesters not to burn effigies
of him, saying:
<QUOTE>"I will follow you all the way to your doorstep and
beat you right there ... I can use violence against
you."<END QUOTE>
This threat triggered a mass burning by protesters of effigies bearing
Hun Sen's face. Two weeks later, Hun Sen described the protesters as
"crazy and stupid," and said that they had "fallen into his trap": "In
fact, speaking truly and clarifying for you, you are being tricked by
Hun Sen. Do not play with Hun Sen, you are still very weak."
Hun Sen has been in power for 33 years, since 1985, following the
massive Buddhist "Killing Fields" genocide in Cambodia in 1975-79.
Led by Pol Pot, this was one of the top mass genocides of the 20th
century. The genocide killed something like 1.7 to well over 2
million people, out of a population of 8 million. So around 20% of
Cambodia's population were killed, making it possibly the worst
genocide, on a percentage basis, of the 20th century.
Hun Sen has remained in power since then, but started becoming
a lot more authoritarian after the opposition political party,
the Cambodia National Rescue Party (CNRP) almost won the
2013 election, and has become increasingly popular since then.
Fearing that he might be defeated in the 2018 elections, Hun
Sen has been targeting CNRP leaders, arresting dozens of them
on phony charges. The Hun Sen-controlled Supreme Court
last year declared the CNRP to be an illegal political party.
In addition, Hun Sen has been brutally suppressing protests,
banning all protests and jailing protesters. He's shut
print and radio media sources, and jailed reporters.
One of the lead protesters in Sydney was Bou Rachana, the wife of
murdered Cambodian politician Kem Ley, who was killed in Hun Sen's
crackdown.
Cambodia's parliament has recently amended the constitution to tighten
restrictions on voting rights and freedom of association, and a
provision that insulting Hun Sen can result in being jailed for five
- years.
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, Hun Sen is following
exactly the same pattern that many other countries have followed
following a generational crisis civil war between different tribes or
ethnic groups. After the war ends, the leader of the country, usually
from the winning tribe or ethnic group, refuses to give up power, and
becomes increasingly violent and authoritarian, using as an excuse
that peaceful protests or negative news articles can turn into a new
civil war. This excuse provides justification for mass slaughter,
rape, torture, mass jailings, mutilations, and so forth. I've
described this behavior in Bashar al-Assad in Syria, who has gone to
the extent of using Sarin gas and barrel bombs packed with explosives
and metal and laced with chlorine gas onto civilian neighborhoods and
markets in order to kill as many women and children as possible Other
leaders that I've described exhibiting this type of behavior include
Paul Biya in Cameroon, Pierre Nkurunziza in Burundi, Paul Kagame in
Rwanda, Yoweri Museveni in Uganda, Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and
Joseph Kabila in DRC.
This weekend's ASEAN summit is on economics and counter-terrorism,
but the protests are causing those issues to be overshadowed
by human rights. According Human Rights Watch:
<QUOTE>"Shutting one’s eyes and hoping that closer trade and
security ties will somehow magically transform abusive governments
into rights-respecting ones doesn’t work.
The ASEAN summit shouldn’t just be an opportunity to dance with
dictators, but a chance to publicly press them over horrific human
rights abuses."<END QUOTE>
ASEAN is already divided between countries like Vietnam and Indonesia
that oppose China's illegal creation of a massive military fortress in
the South China Sea, versus countries like Cambodia and Laos that
support China. Myanmar's ethnic cleansing of Rohingyas, and
Cambodia's authoritarian slaughter, rape and torture of political
opponents are issues that are further splitting ASEAN, leading some to
wonder whether it even makes sense for ASEAN to continue to exist.
Quartz (15-Mar) and Phnom Penh Post (5-Mar) and Deutsche Welle (27-Nov-2017) and Australian Broadcasting
Related Articles
- Cambodia dissolves the opposition political party so that Hun Sen can be reelected unopposed (17-Nov-2017)
- Burma's (Myanmar's) leaders may be inspired by Pol Pot's Cambodian 'Killing Fields' genocide (29-Sep-2017)
- Cambodia bans all sales of sand to Singapore (20-Jul-2017)
- Thailand vs Cambodia border clash damages ancient Hindu temple (17-Feb-2011)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, ASEAN,
Malaysia, Najib Razak, Hizbut Tahrir, Philippines, Marawi,
Burma, Myanmar, Aung San Suu Kyi, Rohingyas,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh,
Cambodia, Hun Sen, Killing fields, Pol Pot,
Cambodia National Rescue Party, CNRP, Bou Rachana, Kem Ley
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
