Her column The Truth Will Set You Free is geared towards all age groups, backgrounds and professions. Katelyn aspires to inform readers of major legislative, political and humanitarian activity, in order to supply the general public with an unbiased analysis that allows them to cultivate opinions by their own free will. This column will not engage in ideological favoritism or promote party identification to any degree.
Steeped in a gruesome civil war with a dictatorial government, Myanmar (formerly Burma) has now been subjected to a horrendous 7.7 magnitude earthquake that has shattered the country. Thousands of people are dead, thousands more injured, and the need for humanitarian aid has skyrocketed. The government, ruled by the junta, is making access to aid nearly impossible, while teetering on the line of ceasefire with rebel groups. AP News has reported this to be a “compounded humanitarian crisis” caused by a civil war. How could a country be confronted with so much turmoil? Read on to find out.
THE EARTHQUAKE
On March 28th, Myanmar was struck by a 7.7 magnitude earthquake that was the second largest ever recorded in the area (the country suffered from a magnitude 8 quake in 1912). The aftershock reached a magnitude of 5 later on. The World Health Organization (WHO) has reported that tens of thousands of buildings are damaged to various degrees, and the death toll has rapidly increased to 3,000 with over 4,000 injured. Sources say that most of the bodies that have been retrieved are so disfigured that forensic testing is required to be able to identify who has all been killed. Rescue efforts are lacking in progress, as the need for heavy machinery to dig through concrete and iron is escalating, and the government is not offering any significant help.
Tens of thousands have resorted to sleeping outdoors in makeshift camps, whether that’s because their homes have been destroyed or they’re afraid to stay inside a building.
Other countries felt the disturbance including Bangladesh, China, India and Thailand. In Thailand, hundreds of buildings are damaged and 22 people have died. The United Nations (UN) has estimated that over 28 million people across Southeast Asia have been affected by the earthquake. The organization has put together $12 million in emergency funding.
HUMANITARIAN AID
Myanmar does not presently have stable relations with the United States and Britain. Nonetheless, one disaster assessment team with the US agency for International Development has been sent and supplied to help in the effort. The majority of humanitarian aid is being delivered and requested from China, India and Russia. However, the military government is making it difficult for groups to deliver aid where it is needed. A Chinese Red Cross convoy was reportedly shot at after allegedly not reporting their route to the Myanmar military. Other rescue teams have been sent from Russia, India and the United Arab Emirates.
Because of previous conflict between the military government and resistance groups, the Human Rights Watch has urged that the government allow access to humanitarian aid in light of a mutual truce.
THE TRUCE
With the increasing death toll from the earthquake, Myanmar rebel groups called for a ceasefire so people could receive the help they need. The military government, led by Min Aung Hlaing, did not quickly agree to the proposal but has allowed for a truce to take place until April 22nd; unless “necessary measures” need to be taken. The UN World Food Programme has said that despite the truce, it is still challenging to launch relief operations as the configuration of territory is confusing and difficult to navigate.
The government has been difficult to work with in terms of sending aid to civilians on multiple accounts. In 2008 and 2023, the country was struck by cyclones Nargis and Mocha. During these disasters, foreign aid was rarely welcomed despite 100,000 people dying from the 2008 storm. Resistance groups hope the ceasefire will allow for more aid and international condemnation of the military’s combative actions (AP News).
MYANMAR CIVIL WAR & GOVERNMENT
Upon gaining independence from Britain in 1948, Myanmar has had decades-long conflict between elected government and their military (the junta – an invasive police force). In 1962, they first established a democratically elected government, but it was soon overthrown in a coup. In 2008, the country’s constitution was altered so that 25% of the parliamentarian seats had to be filled by the military. In 2015, another democratically elected government, the National League for Democracy, assumed power with Aung San Suu Kyi becoming the winner. This was not set to last as another coup took place in 2021, leading to the civil war that is still in motion.
There is an election scheduled to happen this year, but many speculate this will be manipulated by the junta’s interference. Genocide Watch reports that the junta will be vetting which parties are allowed to run in the 2025 election.
Due to the instigated violence between the junta and over 2,000 rebel groups comprised of civilians and ethnic communities, it is estimated that nearly 3.5 million people have been displaced. Additionally, there have been an estimated number of 6,000 casualties and mass famine – all prior to the earthquake in March. The junta rules from an odd sort of minority, as the resistance groups have control over more territory. This means that the ruling elite is solely reliant upon the military and has stark dominance, given that civilian institutions in Myanmar are severely weak.
Genocide Watch has deemed Myanmar a “geopolitical tinderbox” on account of the war and external influences. It is reported that China, India and Russia have placed skin in the game without directly intervening with the war.
China & Russia are Myanmar’s largest economic supporters, and China is specifically the junta’s largest weapons supplier. India is also said to be selling weapons to the junta. However, China is playing both sides by supporting ethnic rebel groups along the Myanmar/China border. This proves that China is indirectly involved for their own interests. Another example of this occurred in 2024, when Beijing mediated a meager ceasefire that unfortunately unraveled within five months.
Overall, there is an alarming reality taking place in Myanmar as the military government is seemingly exploiting natural disasters to manipulate authority over the country. BBC reports that Hlaing is scheduled to attend the BIMSTEC (Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical & Economic Co-operation) Summit alongside leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Thailand.
For context regarding US-Myanmar relations, the State Department stated that the US still recognizes Myanmar as Burma and “supports the people of Burma”. Following the 2021 coup, the nation implemented sanctions, and visa bans to strike accountability of the military leaders and their human rights abuses.
Should the US intervene to a greater extent? Will more sanctions encourage the end of the civil war? Are sanctions actually practical? Why would China want to get involved in Myanmar? Is Britain to blame for the conflict in Myanmar following their release? How could Southeastern Asian geopolitical conflict impact the West? That is for you to decide.
RESEARCH
BBC
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ygpplz72yo https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c2dep0r5ygnt
Al Jazeera
AP News
UN
Wall Street Journal
Hindustan Times
France 24
Genocide Watch
NBC News
The Economist
Independent
Time
US Department of State
Congress.gov