Auctioning Enemies Assets: Myanmar’s Forgotten Fight for Democracy

Protestors in Myanmar supporting the Shadow Unity Government [Reuters]

Author: Catherine Chai Maloney

Background

Since Myanmar achieved its independence from Great Britain in 1948, the people have suffered a great deal in their quest for democracy. Many have been jailed. Others were killed for protesting, and suggesting they should have the leaders they democratically elected serve in office. Instead, time and again, military leaders have beaten and jailed democratically elected leaders. The military junta is infamous for torturing ethnic minorities and genocide. Suu Kyi, the leader of the democracy movement and daughter of Myanmar’s independence hero General Aung San spent over 15 years under house arrest. With the junta having taken hold of Myanmar again in the last two years, she has been detained. Others have been even worse off.

A Recent Development

Recently, Myanmar’s Shadow government raised $100 million to restore democracy in the country. The funds came from the sale of properties controlled by the military junta that seized power two years ago when the nation had elections that the junta lost. Since then, the country has been in turmoil. The Shadow government (made up of those democratically elected, civil servants, and ethnic minorities) has promised to repay the money when democratically elected officials are able to take over the country again.

Looking Ahead

As the shadow government continues efforts to oust the junta, the United States and other democratically elected European countries continue to diplomatically exert pressure and provide aid. Given the billions of dollars the military junta gets from exporting opium and natural gas, the USA and other nations who care about democracies and the rule of law could respond strongly by boycotting these exports. Other countries invested in Myanmar’s return to democracy could help by pressuring Israel to stop selling surveillance equipment and technology to undemocratic and problematic regimes like the junta, who are employing this technology against democracy activists. With continued and increased help from abroad, the Shadow Government may be able to regain control of Myanmar using the funds it has recently acquired.