Student Activism and Myanmar’s Revolution

The February 2021 attempted military coup in Myanmar has been catastrophic for the country. Military elites tried to wrest power from Aung San Suu Kyi’s elected National League for Democracy (NLD) government. Yet the military have failed to gain effective control of the country. Widespread conflict continues, and banking, health and education systems under the military’s control have collapsed or are under severe strain. It is therefore a failed coup d’etat by the Burmese military. The initial street protests and opposition to the military around the country have now evolved into a multi-pronged opposition known as the Spring Revolution, and many ethnic minority groups also continue their armed struggles against the military, particularly in the country’s border areas. Elected civilian members of the previous parliament – who were ousted in the coup – formed a National Unity Government (NUG) which now operates in parallel to the military’s State Administrative Council (SAC) and claims to be the legitimate government of Myanmar.

Read the article on Australian Outlook: Student Activism and Myanmar’s Revolution – Australian Institute of International Affairs – Australian Institute of International Affairs