With its strategic ally the Russian Federation dominating

 With its strategic ally the Russian Federation dominating the headlines by continuing to show scant regard for human rights in its invasion of Ukraine, Myanmar’s Tatmadaw appears to feel justified to continue with its own human rights violations across the country.

Earlier this month, we tracked four mass hostage takings in Sagaing Region, as well as the use of civilians as human shields in Myanmar’s rural areas as the Tatmadaw desperately attempts to stem a growing insurrection against its rule. Shelling of villages is commonplace.

This past weekend, we tracked at least 108 violent incidents across Myanmar including simultaneous IED, small arms fire and grenade attacks in Yangon, the attack of residential houses of SAC staff, tax and electricity offices, military checkpoints as well as municipal government offices. The SAC will continue with violent reprisal attacks against communities they perceive are supportive of PDF groups.

Taking into consideration the above, as well as the wider geopolitical climate, we assess that more sanctions against the SAC are on the horizon. This is likely to follow the US announcement later this week that violence committed against the Rohingya minority by the Tatmadaw in August 2017 amounts to genocide and crimes against humanity. More than 700,000 Rohingya fled to neighbouring Bangladesh as a result of the violence.



The United States believes the formal determination will increase international pressure to hold the SAC accountable. However, as the above infographic and our reporting demonstrates, a genocide determination does not necessary indicate that there will be any change in behaviour. Jack M. Adam Castillo Terence Wang

#whatshappeninginmyanmar #sanctions

Image: Infographic detailing military attacks against civilians 1 February – 18 March 2022

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Barber Mullan and Associates (B&MA)

  Barber Mullan and Associates (B&MA)  is a boutique risk management consultancy with offices in Kuala Lumpur and Singapore supported by full-time staff in Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam. We specialize in providing tailored and discreet research, political risk analysis, market entry support and security risk management to our clients operating in South East Asia.  BM&A  is trusted by over one hundred corporate clients, risk and management consultancy firms, IGOs and high net worth individuals.  BM&A’s  CEO Jack Mullan has worked on over 100 projects in Myanmar since first visiting Myanmar in 2010. This has included successfully negotiating complex extortions in upper Myanmar on behalf of multinational clients who have faced sustained threats from EIOs. He has also conducted a number of market entry studies, stakeholder mapping and supply chain investigations across Myanmar. Along with BM&A’s Myanmar team, Jack has conducted due diligence in...
Read more

Vietnam’s 13th Party Congress

Image
  The Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) concluded its 13th National Congress last week. Nguyen Phu Trong (“Trong”) was re-elected as General Secretary of the Party, despite both his age and having already served two terms. The other positions in the country’s traditional ‘four-pillar’ leadership model will not be confirmed until the next meeting of the National Assembly in a few months. However, even before the Congress concluded there were leaks as to who would hold office. [1]   The publication of the new Politburo places Nguyen Xuan Phuc (“Phuc”), Pham Minh Chinh (“Chinh”) and Vuong Ding Hue (“Hue”) immediately behind Trong and is consistent with the earlier leaks. * Full title - Communist Party of Vietnam Central Commission of Personal and Organisation BM&A presents its analysis on the new leadership line-up as well as the possible policy implications and challenges. Brief bios Trong  became Party Secretary in 2011 and will now serve a third term, despite also brea...
Read more