Securing the Insecure: An Insight into Human Security in Myanmar

Abstract

Ensuring all human beings have a life without fear and want remains one of the primary objectives of the United Nations (UN) ever since its inception in 1945. However, what obstructs the resonating objective from its fulfillment and relegates that to less prominence is the conflicting national interest pursued by the individual states in their relationship with other states and the irresponsibility of some governments vis-à-vis their people. In other words, one state violates human rights, and the others overlook it. These two stand on the road to human security. Myanmar is one such bright example wherein there have been blatant human rights violations over several decades, and the other states prefer to remain passive onlookers. The plights of the Rohingya refugees and the saga of the suffering of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi (a Noble Laureate) are representative cases of repression and torture meted out to them by the Military Junta (called Tatmadaw). Arrest and murder of people without any crime, landmine blasts, explosions, shootouts, rape, violence, beating and gagging the press, etc. are widespread in that country. There have been constant international censure and disapprobation. But the fact remains that human security has been the victim. This writing has humbly attempted to understand such a situation in that country while assessing its future. The points of hope and despair, too, have been discussed and analyzed. It argues that Militarism, Majoritarian Nationalism, ill-conceived national interests of some friendly states of Myanmar, and the lip service paid by inter-governmental organizations such as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and the United Nations (UN), etc., have been responsible for this state of affairs in that Southeast Asian state. The chapter finds solace in the resolve of the awakened public and the civil society groups in that country to fight the military rule.