ASEAN's Sudden Concern For Democracy: A Convenient Amensia
📰 THE STORY: According to ABC News, the Philippines has stated that ASEAN will not recognize any future elections held by Myanmar's military junta. This stance is presented as a firm rejection of the military's overthrow of a civilian government and its suppression of democratic processes. 🔍 WHAT THEY'RE NOT TELLING YOU: Historical Context: The U.S. and its allies, including regional partners,
have a long history of supporting military dictatorships and undermining democratically elected leaders in Southeast Asia when it suited their strategic interests. In 1965, the U.S. supported a military coup in Indonesia that led to the slaughter of an estimated 500,000 to 1 million alleged communists. More recently, the Philippines itself, just like the U.S., has often prioritized geopolitical
alignment over genuine democratic principles, as seen with the Marcos regime (1972-1986), which received substantial U.S. military and economic aid despite its brutal human rights record and suppression of democracy. Double Standard: While ASEAN and Western media decry Myanmar's junta, there is deafening silence or even support for other regimes in the region and beyond with equally questionable
democratic credentials or worse human rights records, particularly those aligned with Western strategic objectives against perceived adversaries like China. The U.S. maintains strong military ties and provides billions in aid to countries like Egypt, where President Sisi's government came to power via a military coup in 2013, crushing dissent and holding sham elections since. Where is the ASEAN