12/21/2024 Myanmar (International Christian Concern) — A recent Reuters report has uncovered a years-long effort by the military junta in Myanmar to suppress information surrounding the deepening hunger crisis in Myanmar. Since taking power in a 2021 coup, the military — known locally as the Tatmadaw — has been unrelenting in its campaign of violence against ethnic and religious minorities. More than 6,000 civilians have been killed and nearly 30,000 arrested since the coup.
Dozens of aid workers, researchers, and international officials interviewed by Reuters described an environment of fear and intimidation, with various international organizations suppressing reports about the extent of the hunger crisis to protect in-country staff living in fear of retaliation from the Tatmadaw.
Despite the Tatmadaw’s efforts, it is known that millions of Myanmar civilians are facing serious hunger in what Reuters termed “one of the worst food crises on the planet.” According to research by Integrated Food Security Phase Classification, a nonprofit, 14.4 million people experienced acute food insecurity in September and October. A November report by the U.N. suggested that 2 million people could face starvation in the coming months.
While the Tatmadaw has bombed minority communities and rebel outposts for decades, its recent seizure of power has intensified the conflict and led to significant disruption in shipping and agricultural production. Reports also indicate that the junta has blocked or seized shipments of food aid destined for Rakhine state, populated by the Rohingya ethnic and religious minority. The Rohingya are victims of an ongoing, internationally recognized genocide perpetrated by the Tatmadaw.
Burma contains many distinct ethnic and religious groups. Though a strong majority of the population is ethnic Burman, and an even greater percentage is Buddhist, the communities that make up the remainder are well-established, well-organized, and, for the most part, predate the formation of the modern state by centuries.
In many cases, Burma’s ethnic minorities have taken on a distinct religious identity as well. About 20% to 30% of ethnic Karen are Christians, while other groups — such as the Chin — are more than 90% Christian. Rakhine state contains a large Muslim Rohingya population against whom the junta continues to wage genocide. This overlap of ethnic and religious identity has created a volatile situation for non-Buddhists across the country.
Despite support from Russia and China, the Tatmadaw is suffering from a series of battlefield setbacks stretching back to October 2023, when a coalition of ethnoreligious minorities from around the country launched a coordinated offensive against key military strongholds. In the year since, the coalition has wrested control of several key border towns from the military and killed or captured thousands of government soldiers, including high-ranking officers.
In August, the coalition captured the city of Lashio, a major regional hub for the Tatmadaw and home to its Northeastern Command. With this loss, the Tatmadaw is largely confined to the country’s center, surrounded by opposition forces to the West, North, and East.
Experts believe that Myanmar’s military is atrophying rapidly, with as few as 150,000 personnel remaining after the loss of tens of thousands of personnel through casualties or desertions since the 2021 coup. This number is significantly smaller than previous estimates of 300,000 to 400,000 and calls into question the junta’s ability to sustain its nationwide military campaign, especially after a series of high-profile losses in recent months.
In response to its shrinking ranks, the Myanmar government announced in February that it would begin national conscription. The draft applies to all men aged 18 to 35 and all women aged 18 to 27, according to an official announcement, and can extend for up to five years.
Thousands of young people attempted to flee the country after the announcement. Still, many have been forced to join the military despite personal and moral objections to helping the Tatmadaw perpetuate the world’s longest ongoing civil war.
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