The people of Myanmar can’t seem to catch a break. Here’s my plea to the international community | Thin Lei Win
Guardian7 days
UN Condemns Myanmar Junta for Breaking Earthquake Ceasefire
Above: A boy stands among the debris of buildings damaged in a fire in Mandalay, Myanmar, on April 11, 2025, following the March 28 earthquake. Image copyright: Sai Aung Main/Contributor/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The Myanmar junta's relentless violence — leaving thousands dead since 2021 — only worsens an already dire natural disaster. Breaking the truce with over 120 attacks since March 28 has resulted in needless misery for millions already under rubble without food or care. With a 50% poverty rate and hospitals crumbling, this cruelty must finally stop. If the junta wants to claim jurisdiction over the people of Myanmar, it should start acting as a protector.
Establishment-critical narrative
While calls for peace are admirable, Myanmar's crisis is a regional matter. The junta, engaging India and Thailand, has sought aid and stability post-quake, with neighbors like China delivering technology-driven relief. The UN's aid gripes and ceasefire demands oversimplify a civil war where rebels also strike. ASEAN and nearby powers should handle this — Western meddling risks chaos, not solutions.