Many of these flying death machines have been terrorising civilians in #Myanmar for more than a decade.
The export version of Mi-24 (Mi-35) regularly fires on villages and fleeing people, while Su-30 variants bomb entire communities almost every day.
#WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar
The export version of Mi-24 (Mi-35) regularly fires on villages and fleeing people, while Su-30 variants bomb entire communities almost every day.
#WhatsHappeninglnMyanmar
https://twitter.com/IAPonomarenko/status/1500231292226523147
Myanmar's public defence forces lack capability to take down or even constrain these aircraft
Germany and Netherlands alone have sent at least 700 MANPADS to Ukraine in past week
If Myanmar's elected government had just 10 MANPADs, it would be a game changer
Germany and Netherlands alone have sent at least 700 MANPADS to Ukraine in past week
If Myanmar's elected government had just 10 MANPADs, it would be a game changer
Feb last year, Myanmar's UN rep called for "strongest possible action from the international community to immediately end the military coup, to stop oppressing the innocent people, to return the state power to the people and to restore the democracy.” reuters.com/article/us-mya…
Since then, international support has been minimal but elected leaders have allied with the oldest & most democratic ethnic resistance organisations and other key blocs.
The illegal junta has lost control, cannot collect tax, open schools or enforce law
rfa.org/english/news/m…
The illegal junta has lost control, cannot collect tax, open schools or enforce law
rfa.org/english/news/m…
Across Chin, Sagaing, Karenni, Kachin and Karen states/regions, the illegal Myanmar military is on the defensive.
It has become more dependent than ever on its air force to devastate entire communities that support the resistance, displacing tens of thousands every week
It has become more dependent than ever on its air force to devastate entire communities that support the resistance, displacing tens of thousands every week
Nobody wants to see the proliferation of weapons that can shoot down aircraft.
But when a country of 55 milllion people is under occupation from the skies and when one pilot can do so much harm to thousands of children, women and men, surely options have to be explored.
But when a country of 55 milllion people is under occupation from the skies and when one pilot can do so much harm to thousands of children, women and men, surely options have to be explored.
Myanmar's elected government and EROs find it easier to recruit thousands of women and men willing to die
.. and to find millions of impoverished people willing to give 50% + of their salaries
.. than they do to obtain modern weapons, let alone one SAM
What does that tell you?
.. and to find millions of impoverished people willing to give 50% + of their salaries
.. than they do to obtain modern weapons, let alone one SAM
What does that tell you?
We talk about economic sanctions as if they are totally non-violent and we talk about all forms 'lethal assistance' as if they are inherently violent.
But this completely ignores the actual outcomes of different responses and could traps us in downward cycles of crisis
But this completely ignores the actual outcomes of different responses and could traps us in downward cycles of crisis
We have to start talking seriously and consistenly about how to help ppl protect basic rights
We have to start talking seriously and consistently about what constitutes legitimate political leadership.
We have to start talking about what constitutes self-defence of a country
We have to start talking seriously and consistently about what constitutes legitimate political leadership.
We have to start talking about what constitutes self-defence of a country
No international actor should rush to flood Myanmar (or anywhere else) with weapons
But the gap between what is considered completely normal in some contexts and completely unspeakable in others is mind-blowing.
But the gap between what is considered completely normal in some contexts and completely unspeakable in others is mind-blowing.
SU-30s will bomb people tomorrow.Mi-35s will shoot people next week
There is more than enough evidence that the majority of Myanmar people support their elected leaders and the country's broadest ever political alliance has formed
When can we get serious about supporting them?
There is more than enough evidence that the majority of Myanmar people support their elected leaders and the country's broadest ever political alliance has formed
When can we get serious about supporting them?
Recent weeks have been a crash-course of learning for democratic countries trying to help peoples and countries defend themselves from invasion and authoritarianism
Hopefully this will reshape the way that they approach efforts to defend rights and democracy all over the world
Hopefully this will reshape the way that they approach efforts to defend rights and democracy all over the world
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