Generational Dynamics World View

[John J. Xenakis]

** 15-Feb-2021 World View: Myanmar / Burma - Violence escalates further

• Tanks of the streets of Yangon during rush hour on Monday (Guardian)

The army in Myanmar / Burma is escalating its operations to try to
bring anti-army protests to an end. The protests began with the army
coup on February 1, when the sainted leader Aung San Suu Kyi and her
government officials were arrested for reasons still not fully
understood, and were replaced by an army junta. Protesters are
demanding that she be released, and that democracy be restored.

The army had hoped that the protests would fizzle quickly, but they've
continued. In Yangon, the protests are at the Chinese Embassy, as the
protesters accuse China of backing the protests. (The Chinese
Communists consider democracy to be a "poison," so the protesters are
probably right.)

Security forces have begun targeting peaceful protesters with rubber
bullets in Yangon, Mandalay, and other cities according to reports.
Tanks have been filling the streets, and in Yangon, eight-wheeled
armoured vehicles have been seen trying to navigate the rush-hour
traffic, sometimes surrounded by cars honking their opposition to the
coup.

The army shut down the internet across the country on Sunday for eight
hours, but finally restored it.

It's believed that the army is building up to massive bloody violence
against protesters, such as it used in 2007 and 1988.

However, they may be reluctant because of international pressure from
the UN, US, EU and other nations. Furthermore, the Biden
administration is threatening sanctions that would target the
international business dealings of the army generals, and that threat
may temporarily delay further escalation of violence.

However, according to some reports, the security forces may be
planning a new tactic. The army has pardoned 23,000 prison inmates,
and the reports indicate that they have been exhibiting "thuggish
behavior" late at night to create community disturbances. Many
neighborhoods have formed night-time vigilante groups to deter these
thugs, who are rumored to have been dispatched by the army junta.

This is quite believable, since it's part of the standard playbook
used by government officials before a violent crackdown. The
government provokes some kind of violent incident, then uses that
violent incident to declare that all the peaceful protesters are
really "domestic terrorists," so that violence against them can be
justified. See:

** 12-Jan-21 World View -- America and the standard Genocide Playbook
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/x...tm#e210112


This is the same playbook used by Burma against the Rohingyas and by
China against the Uighurs. So if these reports are correct, then we
can expect to see a lot more violence in the next few days.


---- Sources:

-- Myanmar: troops and police forcefully disperse marchers in Mandalay
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/f...an-suu-kyi
(Guardian, London, 15-Feb-2021)

-- Myanmar coup: Protesters face up to 20 years in prison under new
law
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-56067423
(BBC, 15-Feb-2021)

-- Tycoons Close to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Interrogated by Myanmar
Military
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/tyc...itary.html
(The Irrawaddy, Burma, 15-Feb-2021)

-- Myanmar Vigilante Groups Formed to Handle Night Thugs A vigilante
group patrols in a Yangon neighborhood.
https://www.irrawaddy.com/news/burma/mya...thugs.html
(The Irrawaddy, Burma, 14-Feb-2021)

-- Myanmar security forces intensify crackdown on protesters
https://apnews.com/article/aung-san-suu-...2ff6827978
(AP, 15-Feb-2021)

-- Aung San Suu Kyi detention extended
https://www.taipeitimes.com/News/front/a...2003752334
(Taipei Times, 16-Feb-2021)

-- US sanctions on Myanmar: 5 things to know
https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Myanma...gs-to-know
(Nikkei, 12-Feb-2021)


---- Related articles:

** 12-Jan-21 World View -- America and the standard Genocide Playbook
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/x...tm#e210112


** 8-Feb-21 World View -- Violence feared in Myanmar/Burma as pro-democracy protests grow -- Similarity between Burma and Washington DC
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/x...tm#e210208


** 2-Feb-21 World View -- Myanmar (Burma) military coup as army arrests Aung San Suu Kyi government officials
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/pg/x...tm#e210202