Coup Year in Review Analyses Series (CYRAS)
The attempted coup on February 01, 2021, and its subsequent events have led Burma into a state of disarray. From the violence inflicted on the general population by the Tatmadaw to the political persecution of Burma’s pro-democracy forces, the military takeover had created a series of political, security, and humanitarian crisis in Burma.
Coup Year in Review Analyses Series (CYRAS) is a series of analyses covering the impacts of the military coup on various aspects of Burma. The purpose of this series is to better understand the major developments that have taken place since February 01, 2021, and the evolving crises Burma is facing.
Political Developments Since the Coup
The February 01 Coup triggered several responses from all facets of Burma. From public demonstrations and protests to the formation of the anti-junta political forces, the military takeover prompted a sudden and difficult political realization of Burma’s democratization process. The anti-junta forces from the public and political spheres culminated in the creation of various pro-democracy forces while several EAOs continue to engage politically and militarily as the political and security crisis unfolds.
You can read the full report here.
Burma’s Foreign Relations Since the Coup
Since the February 1 coup in Burma, Burma’s foreign relations have been in disarray. Democracies from the around world denounced and issued statements of condemnation of the coup while Russia and China continue to support the Burmese military regime in various capacities. The West led by the US, UK, and the EU has imposed sanctions on the individuals and entities responsible for the coup and the ensuing atrocities committed by the Burmese military. ASEAN and regional neighbors are at a crossroads in dealing with a growing political crisis in the region and reexamining their policy of non-interference in their member’s affairs. In the meantime, the NUG and the military regime are engaged in a contested battle for official recognition on the international stage.
You can read the full report here.
Political Persecution, Torture, and Detention
The junta has deployed a wide array of political, legal, and security tools to punish and clamp down on those who oppose the military regime. Political opposition and established political forces such as the NLD have been systematically persecuted by the junta in an attempt to remove them from Burma’s national politics. Independent media and journalists are forced to operate in hostile circumstances as the junta tries to cover up its brutal crackdowns on the civilians. Junta’s security forces continually dehumanize political detainees and tortured them in prisons and interrogation centers. Numerous accounts of abuses and violations have been reported since the coup and these numbers will continue to rise as the junta is set on instilling fear and terror on its population.
You can read the full report here.
Impact of the Coup on the Economy and Businesses
The twin crises of the coup and COVID-19 had a devastating impact on Burma’s economic growth and development over the past year. The post-coup year was gripped with grim economic outlooks, spikes in unemployment, rising inflation, and banking crisis. The impact of the coup and the pandemic on the economy will linger on for years to come as they hinder the productive capacity of the population and human capital development.
You can read the full report here.
Armed Conflict and Its Impacts on the People
The levels of destruction, loss of lives and properties, and violence that stemmed from the ongoing political and security crisis in Burma continue to climb each day. While the junta continues to commit extreme levels of violence and atrocities against civilians all over the country, the clashes between the local resistance forces and the junta as well as the fighting between the EAOs and the junta have led to a severe loss of lives and properties. Additionally, the violence has forced thousands of Burmese civilians from their homes, contributing to the rising number of those internally displaced and those seeking refuge in neighboring countries.
You can read the full report here.
Attacks on Freedom: Violations Online and Restrictions Offline
The post-coup internet outages foreshadowed months of nightly internet blackouts across Burma and the junta’s tightening control on civil liberties. Moreover, the junta shored up its online surveillance and censorship efforts to crack down on the resistance and cement its control. From revising penal codes to persecute the opposition to restricting access to the internet, the junta has shown few signs of loosening its grip on civil liberties as Burma enters its second year since the military coup.
You can read the full report here.
For research inquiries, contact SFB Research at research@studentsforfreeburma.org.