https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55902070
On February 1st, the Myanmar military began a coup on the citizen elected government. This government was only put into place in the past six years, as Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the citizen elected government, was only able to host a free, democratic election in the country in 2015. With allegations of voter fraud, the military began arresting leaders of the quasi-democratic government, and released news putting the country under a State of Emergency for the next year. They also cut off all internet and TV programming, and replaced it with military propaganda. Citizens have begun protesting this coup in the streets. Nurses, teachers, and students have walked out; others wear ribbons to show their opposition. The UK, EU, and US have all condemned this coup, whereas China has blocked the UN statement condemning it.
This coup reminds me a lot of the attempted coup on the US Capitol back in January. Although it was committed by civilians, their motive was the same: voter fraud. Both groups committed the crimes against their countries to combat voter fraud that most citizens do not believe happened, voter fraud that there is no evidence to support. When comparing the two coups, however, it’s easy to see how one succeeded quite easily and one failed. The United States has had a democracy in place for over 200 years. A democracy including multiple levels of government, a constitution, a bill of rights. A democracy with organization. The democracy in Myanmar is less than six years old. It’s led by citizens rather than politicians, it has problems with stability, and evidently it is not a very reliable government. This is not the fault of the country, as they have only been free for less than 100 years, and their abrasive military has ruled for most of that freedom.
Myanmar is a member of the United Nations, and has been since they were liberated from British rule in 1948. The UN has put out a statement condemning the coup, supporting the democratic government, and demanding that Aung San Suu Kyi be released from house arrest by the military. Since international organizations are a part of liberalist ideals, we can view this situation from a liberal perspective. If this coup continues, the liberal and moral response from the UN and nations like the United States or the UK is to intervene. The UN often gets involved in humanitarian crises, and if the military’s rule becomes abrasive, it’s their responsibility to do so from a liberal perspective.