Hard truths about Myanmar and the military coup

As Asean holds a meeting about the Myanmar situation, the reality is that nobody has much leverage over the country. Still, Asean is better off being even-handed and not shunning the Tatmadaw.

Demonstrators calling for the release of civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi during a protest against the military coup in Mandalay, Myanmar, on Feb 28, 2021. PHOTO: EPA-EFE
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Today, Asean foreign ministers will, at Indonesia's initiative, hold a virtual informal meeting to discuss the situation in Myanmar.

What can we expect? The short answer is: Not very much. The hard fact is that nobody, regionally or internationally, has much leverage over Myanmar, and that includes Asean.

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