With Ukraine in the Limelight, Spotlight on Myanmar Fades

By Jayanta Kalita 11 March 2022

Nations throughout the globe have unequivocally condemned Russia’s navy motion in opposition to Ukraine. The Western bloc led by the US has imposed the heaviest doable sanctions with a purpose to cripple Moscow economically and isolate it globally.

However the identical solidarity is lacking in terms of Myanmar, which is reeling underneath a protracted civil conflict. Does it point out an inherent Western bias in opposition to Asia as an impoverished area that may be handled simply by paying educational lip service to democracy and growth?

The position of the UN is much from passable. For the UN is meant to make sure that the rule of legislation, basic to worldwide peace and safety and political stability, prevails not simply on one continent however throughout areas. The sense of urgency it confirmed within the Ukraine disaster is sort of lacking within the case of the Southeast Asian nation.

On Feb. 1, 2021, Myanmar’s navy generals ousted a democratically elected authorities, triggering countrywide protests and civil disobedience. Since then, junta forces have launched a brutal marketing campaign to suppress pro-democracy voices, killing greater than 1,600 individuals and arresting over 9,500, in accordance with the Help Affiliation for Political Prisoners (Burma), a monitoring group.

Lengthy earlier than frequent residents in Ukraine took up arms to defend their land in opposition to the invading Russian troops, Myanmar’s ousted authorities shaped what is called the Individuals’s Protection Pressure (PDF) comprising tons of of civilian resistance teams throughout the nation to struggle a marauding navy. All this has led to a civil conflict that’s unlikely to finish anytime quickly.

However the query is, why has the UN not been proactive in tackling the Myanmar disaster? Louis Charbonneau, the United Nations director at Human Rights Watch, mentioned, “Requires the Safety Council to carry a public assembly to debate the violence since final yr’s coup have gone unheeded, as has a marketing campaign by dozens of organizations urging the council to impose a world arms embargo on Myanmar and focused sanctions on the junta leaders and navy corporations.”

He additionally famous that whereas the US, the UK and the European Union have imposed sanctions on Myanmar, “none has introduced a draft decision for the Safety Council to barter,” in all probability fearing a Chinese language and Russian veto.

“However a veto risk hasn’t stopped them earlier than. Russia, often backed by China, has vetoed 16 resolutions relating to Syria’s armed battle since 2011. The US and EU persistence has despatched a robust message that the worldwide group is decided to carry events to the battle accountable for critical abuses,” in accordance with Charbonneau.

Western media bias?

The Russia-Ukraine conflict, the most important standard navy assault on a European nation since World Battle II, is being extensively coated by Western liberal media. Studies and editorials condemning Russian motion in opposition to its neighbor, nonetheless, elevate some pertinent questions on bias and impartiality in media protection. As an example, the Arab and Center-Jap Journalists Affiliation, has accused Western leaders and media of utilizing discriminatory language, primarily based on race and faith whereas discussing the current invasion of Ukraine by Russia.

Arguments about integrity, impartiality, freedom of expression and human rights “are solely used when it serves of their pursuits, and this was evident within the Western media’s protection of refugees from Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan, and the way completely different it’s to the protection of refugees from Ukraine,” Jordanian journalist Khaled Qudah says.

This can be a legitimate commentary as conflicts in lots of components of Asia don’t get ample protection within the Western media. One can see a distinction within the protection of Ukraine and Myanmar. Visuals of gun-toting Ukrainian younger ladies and aged individuals in addition to these fleeing to Europe on account of the conflict dominate the digital area. However related photos of Myanmar’s civil resistance, inside displacement and refugees haven’t made it to a lot of the worldwide media.

Even a Ukrainian journalist has known as out Western reporters for what she calls their “racist” narrative. “I’m completely appalled at some people who dare to name themselves reporters referring to refugees from the Center East as ‘uncivilized’ versus Ukrainians who’re fleeing. Anybody who helps this narrative is a racist bigot, and deserves colossal disgrace,” tweeted Anastasiia Lapatina from the Kyiv Independent.

How Asian nations react

Asian nations are sharply divided of their response to the Ukraine disaster. As an example, India, China and Pakistan have tacitly supported Russia by abstaining from voting on a key UN Basic Meeting decision condemning Moscow’s aggression. Whereas India faces a two-front navy risk from China and Pakistan, every of those nations maintains an in depth relationship with Russia.

International locations reminiscent of Japan and South Korea, then again, voted in favor of the decision. Tokyo has additionally despatched bulletproof vests and helmets to Ukraine, aside from different nonlethal objects, together with tents, winter clothes, emergency meals objects, hygiene merchandise, cameras and energy mills, in accordance with Kyodo Information.

Aside from that, India’s place has as soon as once more highlighted its ambiguity in worldwide relations. With Moscow being the most important protection provider for India—round 65 p.c of its navy {hardware} is of Russian origin—New Delhi, naturally, can’t abandon Russia. On the similar time, India is getting nearer to the US and the 2 strategic companions, together with Japan and Australia, are a part of the Quadrilateral Safety Dialogue (QUAD) to nook China within the Indo-Pacific.

India faces the same dilemma whereas coping with Myanmar, because it shunned condemning the navy generals for the coup however has known as for the restoration of democracy within the neighboring nation.

Moreover, Russia is accused of supplying weapons to the Myanmar junta, thereby not directly contributing to the mass murders being dedicated within the Southeast Asian nation.

That mentioned, the Russian invasion of Ukraine has uncovered quite a few geopolitical fault strains. It additionally underscores inherent biases of the Western media towards Asia and the inadequacy of their protection of the area.

Jayanta Kalita is a senior journalist and creator primarily based in New Delhi. He writes on points referring to India’s northeast and its speedy neighborhood. The views expressed are his personal.

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