Summary

Myanmar, a country that has spent significant portions of its history under military rule or influence, has had much of its history defined by military intervention and tragedy. 

Cyclone Nargis 2008

In 2008 Myanmar was significantly affected by Cyclone Nargis, suffering heavy flooding and storm damage. On the 2nd of May Cyclone Nargis made landfall in Myanmar as a Category 4 system where it wreaked havoc for two days. The Irrawaddy Delta was the hardest affected region due to river flooding and tidal surge. The region comprises many river outlets and low lying densely populated villages. The area is used for fishing and rice cultivation.

In the lead up to the storm, Myanmar was ill prepared with no cyclone prediction capabilities, early warning systems, storm shelters, or evacuation plans. In addition, the low quality of domestic buildings in the region meant that it was impossible to shelter safely from a storm of this magnitude. It is estimated that more than 700,000 homes were destroyed along with three quarters of the country’s health clinics. Casualty estimates vary greatly from 80,000 to 140,000 deaths and many more injured. Around 2.4 million people were affected by the natural disaster. 

The response and clean-up efforts were significantly hampered by the junta’s focus on security and maintenance of control over the region. Many foreign aid agencies were denied entry to the country to support the clean-up. Internal organisations had to be generated by the civilian population to provide services that were otherwise unavailable or unable to be provided by the military government. One example of this was a doctor and his 20-year-old daughter starting an organisation they simply called “The Group that Buries the Dead”.

For further information on Cyclone Nargis, see the resources below:

Articles:

1. Cyclone Nargis Floods Burma (Myanmar) (nasa.gov)
2. Myanmar: Cyclone Nargis 2008 Facts and Figures - Myanmar | ReliefWeb
3. The Lessons of Cyclone Nargis | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
4. 10 years after, Cyclone Nargis still holds lessons for Myanmar | PreventionWeb
5. Cyclone Nargis and the Responsibility to Protect

Military Coup of 2021

In February of 2021, after a short period under democratic constitutional rule, the Myanmar government was overthrown by its military who declared the results of the November 2020 election invalid. They immediately instated a year-long state of emergency and many senior government officials were arrested for fraud in the election. 

Since seizing power over the nation, the military junta have committed many crimes against human rights: oppressing their people and jailing the innocent. There have also been instances of electricity and internet blackouts due to difficulty in maintain civil services. The junta is accused of conducting attacks and airstrikes on heavily populated civilian areas and denying medical treatment to those injured as a result. 

The junta continues to be challenged by rebel groups with regions and provinces changing hands as recently as late 2023 under Operation 1027. Operation 1027 was a military operation credited to the Three Brotherhood Alliance which consists of the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) against the junta. Many political commentators now believe the Junta is weakening and losing what little control it has over Myanmar. 

For further information on Myanmar’s Military Coup in 2021, see the resources below:

Articles:

1. The Myanmar coup: a quick guide – Parliament of Australia (aph.gov.au)
2. World Report 2023: Myanmar | Human Rights Watch (hrw.org)
3. Myanmar’s revolution against repression | The Strategist (aspistrategist.org.au)
4. There’s No ‘Political Solution’ to Myanmar’s Crisis – The Diplomat
5. The Myanmar Military Is Facing Death by a Thousand Cuts – War on the Rocks
6. ‘Operation 1027’: The End of the Beginning of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution – The Diplomat
7. Sean Turnell reunited with wife in Australia after two years in Myanmar prison | Australia news | The Guardian

Videos:

1. Is Myanmar's Civil War at a Turning Point? (youtube.com)
2. Inside a Military Dictatorship (Myanmar Documentary) | Real Stories (youtube.com)
3. The Gen Z army fighting Myanmar's military dictator (youtube.com)
4. Myanmar military pledges decisive action against opponents (youtube.com)
5. Myanmar military stretched on multiple fronts | The World (youtube.com)
6. Why Has There Been a Coup in Myanmar? | History of Burma/Myanmar 1942-2021 (youtube.com)