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Jan 19 • 20 tweets • 9 min read
1. This History Thread is an overview of relations of ASEAN members with Burma (Myanmar.) Association of South East Asian Nations is regional political & economic organization which Myanmar controversially joined in 1997. Ineffective regarding 2021 coup. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
2. Thailand most significant of ASEAN members for relations w. Myanmar (Burma.) Constant Burmese-Siamese Wars 16th-19th C. Burma rulers repeatedly invaded Ayutthaya (Siam) & were invaded in turn. 19th C. British colonized Burma but Siam (wd. become Thailand) remained independent.
3. After Burma 1948 Independence & 1962 military rule, Thailand border rife with smuggling incl. drugs. Ethnic Armed Organizations fighting Burma (Myanmar) regime were tolerated by Thailand as buffer zone. Refugees fled Burma (Myanmar) mil. govt. human rights abuse to Thailand.
4. After Burma (Myanmar) suppression of 1988 democracy uprising Thailand gained resource concessions, plundering Burma's teak, seafood, minerals. Thai govt.-owned PTT (+ Unocal/Chevron, Total) invested in gas pipeline w. Myanmar military to bring offshore Myanmar gas to Thailand.
5. Thailand PM Prayuth Chan-ocha had originally taken power in a coup but Thailand didn't recognize Myanmar Feb. 1, 2021 coup regime. Thailand abstained June 2021 UN Gen. Assembly resolution vs Myanmar coup (arms embargo.) More refugees cross Thai border. koreatimes.co.kr/www/world/2021…
6. Ancient links & overlap between lands that would become Burma & Cambodia included 10th C. Hariphunchai empire & Khmer empire regions. In modern times Burma dictator Ne Win was 1st head of state to visit Khmer Rouge Cambodia, 1977.
7. Cambodia abstained June 2021 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. Cambodia PM Hun Sen (had seized power in a coup) Jan. 2022 meeting as ASEAN Chair w. Myanmar coup leader Min Aung Hlaing was criticised by other ASEAN members & reviled by people of Myanmar. aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/14…
8. Burma under Ne Win regime was neutral during Vietnam War. Recent decades Vietnam imported timber from Myanmar (Burma.) Vietnam military-owned Viettel joint venture w. Myanmar military: Mytel. Vietnam voted for June 2021 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. myanmar-now.org/en/news/destro…
9. Burma’s Taungoo Empire twice conquered Lan Xang (Laos) & twice lost it, during 16th-18th Centuries. In 20th Century opium/heroin trade & related conflict spanned Burma/Laos border (Mekong River.) Laos abstained June 2021 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup.
10. Old Malay seaports traded w. lands like Arakan, Thaton, Pegu that wd become part of Burma. After 1988 military-ruled Burma sold resource concessions, Malaysian companies imported timber, invested in palm oil plantations. Malaysia govt.-owned Petronas invested in offshore gas.
11. Rohingyas, Chins & others fleeing oppression in Myanmar reached Malaysia by sea or land, facing many dangers on the way. Refugees & migrants contribute to Malaysia’s economy but endure exploitation & harassment by vigilantes. 2007 Project Maje report: projectmaje.org/malaysia.htm
12. Malaysia most vocal ASEAN member against Rohingya genocide. Malaysia voted for June 2021 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. Oct. '21 Malaysia For. Min. raised possibility of engaging w. Myanmar’s National Unity Govt. (legit Myanmar govt vs. coup regime.) thediplomat.com/2021/10/malays…
13. Like Malaysia, Singapore has a substantial population of people from Burma (Myanmar.) Also Burma’s (Myanmar) military elite have long used Singapore for banking & medical treatment. Singapore has sold weapons & tech to Burma (Myanmar) military. reuters.com/article/us-mya…
14. Singapore was Myanmar’s largest foreign investor at time of 2021 coup. Singapore voted for June ’21 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. Jan. '22, Singapore PM Lee Hsien Loong told Cambodia PM Hun Sen ASEAN shouldn't engage w. coup leader Min Aung Hlaing. reuters.com/article/uk-mya…
15. Ancient sea trade linked lands like Java and Sumatra that wd become Indonesia & lands that wd become Burma. Indonesia supported Burma's neutrality during Cold War. In 21st Century Rohingya Muslim refugees fled Myanmar to Indonesia (Aceh) by boat.
trtworld.com/magazine/centu…
16. Since 2017 Indonesia's Foreign Min. Retno Marsudi tried diplomacy regarding Myanmar’s genocidal oppression of Rohingyas. Indonesia offered support for refugees in Bangladesh. Indonesia voted for June 2021 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. dw.com/en/indonesian-…
17. Brunei’s state owned BEST company has invested in Myanmar’s military-controlled petroleum sector since 2014. Brunei diplomat Erywan Yusof was named ASEAN Special Envoy to Myanmar, Aug. ’21. Brunei abstained June 2021 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. justiceformyanmar.org/stories/brunei…
18. Since ousting dictatorship 1986, Philippines govt. was supportive of Myanmar democracy movement. Duterte years signals mixed: Philippines voted against 2017-18 UN measures on Myanmar human rights but voted for June '21 UNGA resolution vs Myanmar coup. bulatlat.com/2021/02/23/fil…
19. Deeply flawed governing & human rights violations common among ASEAN members. ASEAN stresses non-interference (except economic engagement.) ASEAN response to 2021 Myanmar coup slow, 5 Point Plan ineffective. Coup leader excluded from Oct. ASEAN summit. irrawaddy.com/opinion/asean-…
20/20. For more information: @Altsean is SE Asian “organizations & individuals working to support human rights & democracy in Burma/Myanmar.” My previous Burma (Myanmar) History Threads and reports are at projectmaje.org

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More from @EdithMirante

Edith Mirante Profile picture
Aug 12, 2021
1. This History Thread is about relations between Burma (Myanmar) and China, the powerful & influential neighbor to the north. It’s a particularly long thread (30) but is still just an overview of this complex subject. #WhatIsHappeningInMyanmar
2. Over millennia ancient migration routes along rivers connected lands that would become China with lands that would eventually be called Burma. Some peoples spoke languages of Sino-Thai family, others Tibeto-Burman languages; joined other ethnic groups inhabiting plains, hills.
3. Ancient trade routes from Shan lands that would become Burma to Dali Kingdom (present day Yunnan, China.) Muslim traders' caravans from China. Sea trade, Chinese ships at ports in Pegu, Arakan, Martaban. By 15th C. precious stones, metals mined in Shan lands for China trade.
Read 30 tweets
Edith Mirante Profile picture
Jul 7, 2021
1. This History Thread is about Burma (Myanmar) relations with Russia. Over many years the relationship has had some interesting twists & turns. Currently the connection consists mainly of Russian arms deals + diplomatic enabling for Myanmar coup regime. #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar ImageImageImage
2. Among earliest descriptions of lands that would become Burma by travelers from far away: 15th C. Russian merchant Athanasius Nikitin told his readers about Pegu, “a not inconsiderable port” inhabited by “Indian dervishes” (Muslim mystics) who traded in rubies & other gems. Image
3. Britain colonized Burma in late 19th C. during a time when Britain & Russia were rivals in HImalayas & Central Asia “Great Game.” Ivan Minayev of the Russian Geographical Society traveled in Burma 1885-6 to study Buddhist manuscripts & archeology. Image
Read 20 tweets
Edith Mirante Profile picture
Jun 24, 2021
1. This History Thread is about the music of resistance in Myanmar (Burma.) This is a brief overview, not including all important bands or songs. It is a multi-ethnic array of many musical styles — put your headphones on & pump up the volume. 🎧 #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar 🌿
2. In the independent (often warring) lands that would become Burma, music was created by different cultures, absorbed, captured, traveling. Royal courts sponsored musicians. Resistance to tyrannical rulers was sometimes expressed in subversive, satirical folksongs & chants.
3. Early 20th C. defiance of British colonial rule of Burma was expressed in songs extolling glorious past of Burman (Bamar) ethnic group. “Dobama” by YMB Saya Khin, imprisoned for incitement. Unfortunately some nationalist songs attacked Muslims, Indians. myanmore.com/2020/05/the-st…
Read 25 tweets
Edith Mirante Profile picture
Apr 10, 2021
1. This History Thread is about sabotage in Burma (Myanmar) from cutting British colonial telegraph lines to hacking websites. Sabotage as a tactic is: destroying or damaging infrastructure or other property (not people) to prevent use by an opponent.
#WhatsHappeningInMyanmar 🌿
2. From 1880s through 1930s there were rebellions against British colonial rule in Burma. Saya San rebellion 1930-32 challenged British control w. tactics including destroying cutting telegraph lines & destroying telegraph stations, timber industry facilities & railway bridges.
3. World War 2, as Japanese forces invaded Burma 1942, British 17th Indian Infantry Div. attempted to halt Japanese advance on Rangoon in battle at Sittang River. British destroyed Sittang bridge but that stranded 17th & other units in a major defeat. thisworldrocks.com/war-history/un…
Read 17 tweets
Edith Mirante Profile picture
Mar 19, 2021
1. This thread is about responses by Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) vs Myanmar coup. #R2P (Responsibility to Protect) not only international, can also apply to EAOs within borders. EAOs have various capabilities. Not all have taken a stand vs. coup. #WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar 🌿
2. EAOs did little to support previous civil uprisings vs Burma/Myanmar military. Failure to join in 1988 uprising other than sanctuary for fleeing students. Failure to support 2007 “Saffron Revolution.” Few EAOs spoke out against 2016-17 govt/mil genocidal attacks on Rohingyas.
3. After Feb. 1 Myanmar coup, Restoration Council of Shan State (Shan State Army - South) spokesperson on Feb. 2: “We oppose the coup. The RCSS wants federalism and democratic norms & the overthrowing of a democratically elected government goes against democratic norms.”
Read 12 tweets
Edith Mirante Profile picture
Mar 7, 2021
1. This History Thread is about the poetry of Burma (Myanmar) + political resistance. Myanmar is a place where poets are significant politically as well as culturally. This is a brief overview & doesn’t include all important poets. Inspired by K Zar Win: #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar
2. From ancient times lands which would become Burma resounded with poetry. Bards like Kachin Jaiwas recited epics. Court poets incl. Arakan’s Muslim poets such as Alaol & 16th C. Lanna’s Queen Hsinbyushin Medaw composed odes, ballads, verse plays. Ainggyin were sung in villages.
3. When Britain colonized Burma late 18th C. some poets resisted with words. Thakin Kodaw Hmaing wrote influential Laygyo gyi poems incl. “On Boycott.” 1930s Khitsan poetry movement used formal rhyme structure, emphasized local culture. Min Thu Wun was a prominent Khitsan poet.
Read 23 tweets

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