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Madness in Myanmar

The country’s ruthless junta and unaccountable army are running a campaign of summary executions, forced relocations, rape, arbitrary arrests and forced labour targeting the Karen minority. The so-called anti-insurgency operations launched by the army have displaced hundreds of thousands of Karens from their homes creating an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.

Unfortunately, the situation in Myanmar — cut off and isolated as it is — generates little interest in the West or for that matter in Asia. This indifference on the part of the world community has allowed Myanmar’s generals to get away with murder.

But the shenanigans of the junta have lately acquired unacceptable proportions. It’s time the world reined in the ruthless dictators of Myanmar. It is good that Asean, the regional economic bloc, has decided not to allow Myanmar to take its turn at the helm. Other key players must demonstrate similar moral courage in dealing with the dictators in Yangon. The big powers of the region, in particular, like China and India can play a big role in bringing the junta to its knees. About time the farce in Myanmar is stopped.