ASEAN's 'Concerns' vs. Western 'Democracy Promotion': The Myanmar Echo Chamber
📰 THE STORY: ABC News reports that Malaysia, representing ASEAN, has stated the bloc will not endorse elections in military-ruled Myanmar, citing concerns over fairness and inclusivity. This comes after the military junta dissolved Aung San Suu Kyi's party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), ahead of the anticipated polls. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The current
'military rule' in Myanmar (formerly Burma) didn't emerge in a vacuum. The country has a long and tragic history of external interference. Post-WWII, the US and UK actively supported Kuomintang (KMT) forces incursion into Burma from China, destabilizing the newly independent nation. More directly, the US government, through agencies like the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) established in
1983, has funded numerous NGOs and 'pro-democracy' groups within Myanmar for decades, often under the guise of civil society development. This long-term strategy of funding opposition groups was highlighted by writers like William Blum and researchers at the Transnational Institute, demonstrating a pattern of 'democracy promotion' that often fuels internal conflict and weakens state sovereignty,
making it ripe for military intervention or, conversely, civil war. Double Standard: Western media and governments often decry 'authoritarian' regimes in countries that resist US hegemony, while remaining conspicuously silent, or even supportive, of far more egregious human rights abuses and election fraud in 'allied' nations. For example, the US provides $1.3 billion annually in military aid to