The secret deal that betrayed Myanmar’s people

This reversal in turn reflected a secret agreement, and furthermore it constituted surrender. Suu Kyi, acting as if she were the sole legitimate voice for literally everyone in and from Myanmar – including refugees, migrant workers and exiles – sacrificed the country’s decades-old pro-democracy movement. There would be no freedom or democracy and certainly no respect for rights.

Those who joined the deal with Suu Kyi included the military dictatorship, the United States, the European Union and US and European businesses. 

The rewards for the dictatorship were immense. As is now clear five years later, the generals would not have to yield any political power. They would retain control of the most important ministries and functions of the government, and their fraudulently passed 2008 constitution, which guarantees them this power, would not be changed. They would not be prosecuted for any of their countless crimes. Even more, they would retain the impunity to commit additional crimes – which their soldiers, police and other agents continue to do on a daily basis, notably against the Rohingya and other ethnic nationalities. 

There would be no peace. Instead, they would retain the right, which they freely exercise, to launch attacks against anyone and at any time. And they would not have to forfeit any of the huge sums of money that they have stolen, including through cronies and business partners, both domestic and international. 

Moreover, not only would this wealth not be confiscated, but they would be fully protected to extend their armed robbery – their entire mafia apparatus of regime and business cronies would remain intact and, now, is actually being expanded. In summary, the deal was simply an extraordinary one for Myanmar’s dictators. They got everything they wanted.

Roland Watson