YOUTH REVOLUTION

As we pointed out in our 23 February article, “YOUTH REVOLUTION 2021: MYANMAR MILITARY VS. THE PEOPLE,” the youth in the country have been a force to be reckoned with after the military coup.
Last Thursday, the Wall Street Journal ran the headline: 

Youths Take the Lean in Myanmar Protests

In the article, the WSJ noted that many protesters in the country are high-schoolers and college students who refuse to give up what they see as the democratic gains the country made over the last few years. 

Many of these protesters support the country’s deposed leader Suu Kyi, but the report also pointed out the movement is becoming decentralized, which has led to more nimble protests, making it increasingly difficult for police to respond.

Brian Wong, the founder of the Oxford Political Review, wrote in Time,

“Many [the youth] are tired of the West’s virtue signaling and lack of real support—and are equally disillusioned with Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD)… Inspired by similar protests in the region, they are attempting to develop a decentralized movement to paralyze the country and force the army to come to the table.”

The report noted some of those killed at protests included a 17-year-old high school student who suffered a gunshot wound to the chest and another to the hip and a 19-year-old woman who was shot in the head.

TREND FORECAST: As we have forecast since the protests began early last month, the military in Myanmar will face challenges as protesters remain intent on fighting a multi-front war, joined by workers across a spectrum of businesses and industries in both the public and private sectors.

With the backing of China, however, the Myanmar military will continue its open warfare response to quell the insurrections and will remain in full power.