Thread by @DavBrenner

We need to seriously stop fabricating baseless rumours that Chinese soldiers are in #Myanmar. They are not and they will not be. Outside observers claiming anything else is senseless, irresponsible and dangerous.

#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar #myanmarcoup
Some thoughts - thread 1/10

I understand that people in Myanmar are afraid and that media restriction and secrecy on side of the Tatmadaw is aiding this kind of fake news. There's a reason why "rumour" has such a prominent place in Myanmar politics after decades of dictatorship. I can't blame them. 2/10

However, these fears are not only baseless but dangerous: The Tatmadaw has enough soldiers to brutally suppress protests. No need for a few Chinese foot soldiers. More importantly the Tatmadaw is the most anti-Chinese institution in the country and would never agree to that 3/10

This does not even yet take into account the perspective from Beijing: Why on earth would China want to send foot soldiers to help suppress peaceful protests in Myanmar? What's in for them other than international condemnation? China is comfortable in Myanmar as it is. 4/10

I am seriously afraid that stoking anti-Chinese sentiment might result in violence against ethnic Chinese people in Myanmar. It would not be the first time to see junta-induced anti-China sentiments turning lethal in Myanmar (1967 anti-Chinese riots in Mandalay). 5/10

All this is contributing to the Tatmadaw's strategy: 1) Creating anti-Chinese sentiments is the same old military divide and rule strategy along ethnic lines; 2) Creates another scapegoat for military wrongdoing; 3) Stokes fear that China intervenes if protests don't stop. 6/10

Side note: seeing discussions on how some soldiers look Chinese because they have a different skin colour / ethnic appearance makes me sad. Myanmar is such an ethnically diverse country. Let's celebrate this diversity and not reduce people to the colour of their skin. 7/10

In all of this I don't blame any Myanmar twitter users. They are genuinely afraid. But I cannot but get angry when outside observers contribute to this dangerous mix by stoking fear of what is completely out of the question with posting groundless fake news. 8/10

.@StuAlanBecker claims to have been the previous Myanmar Times Bureau Chief of Mandalay (!). And he claims to know "Myanmar Army's tactics" even though he admits that he has no evidence after
@ZweLwinMyanmar very thoughtfully challenges him about his evidence 👏 9/10

Great to see how Myanmar people check the completely irresponsible use of twitter by outside "experts"! 👍👍👍 10/10