Is Myanmar on the brink of collapse?
The Inquiry
BBC
4.6 • 1.7K Ratings
🗓️ 23 May 2024
⏱️ 24 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
In February 2024, Myanmar reactivated an old law which had been on hold for 14 years, stating adult men aged up to 35, and women up to 27 years old, must serve at least two years in the country’s armed forces. The plan is to add sixty thousand new recruits annually – and anyone caught avoiding conscription faces prison and a fine.
It’s part of the military-led government’s bid to fight back in a brutal civil war, which broke out in 2021 after its coup seized power from the democratically elected party. A violent crackdown on the peaceful public protests that followed triggered widespread armed resistance and has energised other groups who are determined to end military leadership.
Myanmar is no stranger to internal unrest, but this latest conflict is pushing it closer to the edge.
This week we’re asking - Is Myanmar on the brink of collapse?
Contributors: Tin Htar Swe, Former Editor of BBC Burmese Service & freelance Myanmar consultant Professor Michael W. Charney, Professor of Asian and Military History, SOAS, University of London Dr David Brenner, Senior Lecturer in International Relations, University of Sussex Dr Min Zaw Oo, Executive Director, Myanmar Institute for Peace and Security
Production team: Presenter: Charmaine Cozier Producer: Lorna Reader Researcher: Matt Toulson Editor: Tara McDermott
Image: A protester holds a placard with a three-finger salute in front of a military tank parked aside the street in front of the Central Bank building in Yangon, Myanmar, on 15 February 2021 (Credit: Aung Kyaw Htet/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Take some time for yourself with soothing classical music from the mindful mix, |
| 0:06.0 | the Science of Happiness Podcast. |
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| 0:16.1 | And just one thing, deep calm with Michael Mosley. |
| 0:19.4 | I want to help you tap in to your hidden relaxation response system and open the door to that |
| 0:25.4 | calmer place within. Listen on BBC Sounds. |
| 0:31.6 | Welcome to the inquiry. I'm Charmaine Kosea. Each week one question, four expert |
| 0:36.4 | witnesses and an answer. |
| 0:40.3 | February 2024, Myanmar. An old law which has been on hold for 14 years is reactivated. |
| 0:50.0 | It means adult men aged up to 35 and women up to 27 years old must serve at least two years in the country's armed forces. |
| 1:00.0 | Anyone caught avoiding conscription faces prison and a fine. |
| 1:04.0 | The plan is to add 60,000 new recruits a year. |
| 1:08.0 | It's all part of the military-led government's bid to fight back in a brutal civil war. It broke out in 2021 after its |
| 1:16.9 | coup seized power from the democratically elected party. A violent crackdown on the peaceful public protest that followed triggered widespread armed |
| 1:25.9 | resistance. That's energized other older groups who are determined to end military leadership. This Southeast Asian country is no stranger to |
| 1:35.8 | internal unrest but this latest conflict is pushing it closer to the edge. |
| 1:40.3 | This week we're asking is Myanmar on the brink of the after the King. The country has undergone a profound transformation. |
| 2:00.9 | The Burmese military is now facing a nationwide uprising that spends the bread of the country. |
| 2:09.0 | Tinta Sway is a freelance Myanmar consultant. |
| 2:12.0 | She's also a former editor of the BBC's Burmese service. |
| 2:16.0 | Before officially changing its name in 1989, me and Mar was known as Burma, |
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