Dimensionally Barrett

In the foreground is one of Sonny’s pieces. From Artists Beyond Boundaries Group Exhibit, 2017 Not that there is anything “usual” about these Myanmar updates, but if anything, this one is more personal. One of Myanmar’s great artists passed from this world from COVID. U Sonny Nyein was a great sculptor and a fine human being. I did not know him well, but I liked him and enjoyed our limited time together.   All of these updates are personal, though. Not that I might not have acknowledged the devastation afflicting Myanmar for less personal reasons, but the simple fact is that if you spend time with people in a country so warm and welcoming, especially artist peers and colleagues, this becomes family. I don’t really want to spend much time on the Tatmadaw. I don’t want to pay them any mind today nor do I particularly want to discuss COVID and how these twin disasters are laying waste to this beautiful country and its people.  I do want to offer support to my friends and the...

Zooming out from the roiling strife in Burma, cause and effect are playing out on a vaster canvas than might seem immediately apparent. As much as despots and dictators would like to hew to the narrative that “our conflict is only internal and doesn’t involve anyone else/is no one else’s business”, this lie has been put to rout repeatedly.   With the Tatmadaw, it is especially egregious given that the military is still receiving support from multinational corporate funding(1), employment of tech from China(2), and purchasing arms from Russia(3). The stage is set for Burma to return to the bad old days for military despotism. Also, it’s important to remember that this is not a civil war. Right now, the various ethnic groups that form Myanmar’s polity are united against this brutal military force. That the unrest in the country is directly tied to support from regional and global players out to make a buck is one side of the story on the international field; the other is the effec...

  For this update, I want to telescope out and look at what is happening among our policy makers and legislators in the U.S. in response to the National Unity Government (NUG)’s search for recognition and establishment among international bodies. At the same time, there’s a question of who is doing what exactly to support the Burmese people and the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). These are not two unrelated elements. And last, I’m offering merchandise to support the International Campaign for the Rohingya. Recognize the NUG “[D]emocratic countries should expressly stand with the people of Myanmar in their struggle for democracy” - Scholars for Myanmar Open Letter The first issue that comes to mind is the NUG’s reluctance to include Rohingya representation as part of its structure. In an exchange earlier this month, Kyaw Moe Tun, Myanmar’s permanent representative to the United Nations did not commit to this inclusion before the US House of Representatives Committee on Fore...

  It’s been gutting, with news of the continued loss of lives across Myanmar and the shutdown of the internet, and ongoing financial support for the military by corporations. However, there are a number of things you (yes, you!) can do to help the Burmese out. First off, apparel leaders profit greatly from employing local labor – predominantly women – at their factories in Myanmar and they have remained largely silent and continued operations throughout the coup. Garment workers held a strike on March 8 despite retaliation and have called upon support from those corporate leaders for support to ensure that they aren’t fired from their jobs from their involvement with the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). But the silence is deafening. There is a campaign to call on someone who has far more clout than most of us and she has her own line for Addidas, one of the more prominent brands with manufacturing in Myanmar. That’s right, Beyoncé herself. This is not as farfetched as one migh...

  Despite the ongoing brutal coup carried out by the Burmese military, there have been some encouraging developments. To be sure, the coup is far from over and there has been a lack of meaningful support from bordering neighbors on the one hand, and outright violence on the part of the military in the country. It is difficult to fathom that there   are parties who are – if not encouraging the junta , turning a blind eye to the suffering it is inflicting. Additionally, China is looming on the horizon under the pretense of protecting its interests . In terms of positive developments, there are newer sanctions being imposed , attempts at stronger alliances with the indigenous populations , this last being promoted by the CRPH which is declaring the 2008 constitution void. This may be problematic but it represents a countervailing action to the military; after all, if the Tatmadaw is not going to recognize the results of a constitutionally supported election, then of what ...

Ming Min Naung, hero . See more about him at the end of this post. Bad news begins with today’s report of 91 [and counting, my edit] Burmese protesters murdered by the military.  As a reminder, it is the military that is the insurgent here, the generals and their followers who are the terrorists. My friend Myo Win Aung has been posting regular updates (mostly on Twitter, but some on Facebook). See screen shots following: I will link to actions at the end of this post, but I also want to address that these tragic circumstances have come about from unchecked power and dismissal of the rule of law by the Burmese military (Tatmadaw) who have received and are still receiving support from a variety of players across the region and yes, from U.S. corporations, as well. There has been some movement on sanctions on the Tatmadaw in Myanmar, but the situation remains grim. There’s more to be said, but the following links will provide a brief update of where the situation stands internationall...

A work from Ko Z that says it all While events darken in Myanmar, I remain hopeful that the people will win, order will be restored and justice served. What strikes me as different about what’s happening in Burma right now is that the world is watching with more eyes than ever, and that there is more of a concerted to increase pressure on corporations to cease  doing business with the military, various governments importing sanctions, and calls for the military to stand down. That said, military juntas are characterized by bull-headed stubbornness and rarely back down until they can vividly see the handwriting on the wall. There’s a larger discussion to be had about how coups by armed forces should be addressed; but right now, the people of Burma are doing it themselves and paying a huge price.  Another aspect of the responses I’ve seen to the coup is that it gives me hope that we might see similar attention paid elsewhere with the same degree of emphasis and hopefully, result...

  MYANMAR: What you can do Here’s a resource cribbed from a variety of places (many of whom are resources themselves) of measures you can take and action items you can choose for yourself. There are a number of organizations that have been applying pressure for years to get corporations to cease relationships with the Tatmadaw/Burma’s military; these groups are listed below and can use funding and additional support. I will continue to add to this entry as time goes on. I’ll post updates on Facebook and you can sign up to receive updates from me directly via email. While much, if not most or what follows is specific to U.S., it’s important to remember that there is great parity with groups across the world in coordination. What helps one helps all. Organizations, updates, how to get involved: Justice for Myanmar ( https://www.justiceformyanmar.org/ ) Burma Campaign UK ( https://burmacampaign.org.uk/ ) Amnesty International – Myanmar: Military, Ltd ( https://www.amne...