EN 
NL 
Photo: Protests in Myanmar against Military Coup in February 2021 – Wikimedia Commons
Myanmar was briefly in the news after a ztrue earthquake on 28 March 2025. Meanwhile, media coverage of the situation has largely disappeared. Although the devastation is similar to the 2023 earthquake in Morocco, Myanmar is getting three times less media coverage. According to the UN refugee agency nearly 3.6 million people are displaced and due to widespread violence, access to humanitarian aid is very limited. Support and attention are desperately needed. However, why does Myanmar seem to make the news only at the time of natural disasters, when since the military statesgrip live under an oppressive regime in February 2021 and democracy is completely under threat?
Myanmar coup in 2021
In February 2021, Myanmar seemed to be taking a step towards democracy. The elections produced an overwhelming victory for the National League for Democracy (NLD). The party achieved 346 out of 476 seats, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The army accused NLD of velection fraud and staged a coup 1 February 2021. Political leaders of the NLD were arrested or killed, as well as artists, actors and ordinary citizens who expressed themselves critically on social media. General Min Aung Hlaing proclaimed himself leader of Myanmar.
This seizure of power did not take place in a geopolitical void: surrounding superpowers saw their opportunity to increase their influence in the land consolidate. Since the coup, the people of Myanmar have been living under a system of violence and oppression. Freedom of speech has all but disappeared and democratic reformsments seem to be far off. The March 28 earthquake has further exposed the fragility of society. While hundreds of thousands of people were hitand, went Army air strikes by. Humanitarian organisations report obstacles at providing emergency assistance due to interference from the military authorities. 
FMS spoke to Aye Kari Soe, human rights activist and founder of Worldwide Burmese Students, an organisation that supports and trains young Myanmarese to become the democratic leaders. Despite repression, it points to her country's strength and potential. Myanmar verdient enduring international solidarity - not only in times of disaster, but also in the daily struggle for freedom and equality.
Aye Kari Soe's perspective: Myanmar is not a helpless country
Soe shares stories of friends who experience the harrowing reality on a daily basis, but also pin their hopes on Myanmar's potential. In doing so, Soe highlights not only the suffering but also the enormous potential of her country. Myanmar boasts rich natural auxiliary bronnen, such as jade, gas, petroleum, precious stones and hardwood. In addition Myanmar has a strategic location between India, China and Southeast Asia. Under the rule of the military junta, these wealth deployed in the interests of foreign powers, instead of benefiting the population. Both China and India invest heavily in infrastructure projects, such as pipelines and rail links, giving them access to Southeast Asia and exercising geopolitical influence. China is using these projects, such as the Kyaukphyu harbour, to strengthen its strategic position in the Indian Ocean. Great powers sometimes use economic projects as soft power to legitimise the junta's position. Russia also plays a role by Military support and arms supplies to the junta. Thus, Myanmar is at risk of falling further and further into the sphere of influence of China and Russia. In this complex geopolitical force field, it is crucial that Western support does not allow itself to be drawn into one camp, but instead contributes to a just, inclusive future for the country and its people.
International solidarity over self-interest
Aye Kari Soe argues for cooperation based on equality. Not only the West, but also neighbouring powers such as India and China fund large-scale energy and infrastructure projects in Myanmar. Often with political conditions. International engagement should start from shared human rights principles and not unintentionally reinforce the political spiral of dependency. Myanmar should not be seen as an investment object, but as a partner.
The situation in Myanmar may seem remote, but according to Aye Kari Soe, current international geopolitical developments may also present opportunities for the Netherlands. With the world order changing, the Netherlands should strategically invest in equal cooperation projects. Stop unilateral aid behaviour and see Myanmar as a partner rather than an aid-needy country.
Break through the saviour mindset
According to Aye Kari Soe, a democratic Myanmar offers huge opportunities for cooperation based on equality, but as long as the military junta retains power, such cooperation is not an option, she argues. The Netherlands must stop seeing Myanmar as just a needy country. "The Netherlands should end 'saviour behaviour' and commit to mutually beneficial business deals. See Myanmar as an equal trading partner. Thus, commitment to democracy and stability in Myanmar is also in the Dutch interest. "There is so much to gain. There is gas. There are a lot of expensive raw materials, like gold and raw materials that we can make the chips of phones with. There is really a lot to be gained. But even with that geopolitics, it is a very interesting country to invest in as the Netherlands."
The Netherlands and international responsibility
The Netherlands has a role in supporting democratic movements, as set out in Article 90 of the Constitution of the Netherlands: promoting the international rule of law. The message is clear: supporting democratic movements in Myanmar is a strategic choice in line with Myanmarese and Dutch interests.
According to Aye Kari Soe, investing in Myanmar's democratic transition is essential, but she stresses that democracy cannot be introduced overnight. It is a process that may take a generation, she says. "If you have never known freedom, what is freedom? Try explaining that and I notice that to young people as well. How are we going to rebuild that with the next generation?"
What is needed?
According to Aye Kari Soe, several crucial steps are needed to give Myanmar a real prospect of a democratic future. A first step is deposing the military junta and not recognising its position. Min Aung Hlaing's participation in international summits is unacceptable. "Today, people are still protesting," she says. And they do so at the risk of their lives. But real change remains difficult as long as the international community continues to legitimise the military regime's position. A glaring example is the presence of General Min Aung Hlaing At the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok. "That is disgraceful," says Aye Kari Soe vehemently. That military leaders are welcome at such meetings implicitly acknowledges their position. This must stop. Her message is clear: the international community should not recognise the junta as a legitimate ruler.
Second are targeted sanctions against regime leaders and organisations, including boycotts of fraudulent elections. In her view, the elections announced by the junta are nothing more than a facade. "It is a marketing tool," she says. Don't take the elections seriously because they are not going to be fair. "People have already given their votes and that was by more than 80% for NLD and all those leaders have been arrested or killed [...] And ra, ra, ra the country that has been invited to come along to see if everything is going to be fair is Russia." Her call is clear: do not recognise the elections, boycott them and do not support this form of sham legitimacy.
In addition, support through alternative aid channels such as the National Unity Government (NUG) is needed so that aid reaches citizens directly. Vigilance is also essential in natural disasters, such as the March 28 earthquake. "If you send money through the junta now, the money is not going to help people, it is literally going to kill people." Aid must go through alternative routes, outside the junta. There are areas under the control of the National Unity Government of Myanmar (NUG), the shadow government. There we can provide aid to children and hospitals [...] so we can still really get to the people."
Finally, we need to invest in long-term building. A democratic transition is a generational process. Invest in education, leadership formation and democratic education. "We are now talking about millions of people who are not getting an education." Initially, she focuses on practical education, such as learning to do maths and speak English. These are basic skills that make people stronger and more independent. But in the long run, it is about much more: People need to learn what it means to live in freedom. What leadership and democracy means. Without these fundamentals, real change will not happen.
The way Myanmar is in the news does not do justice to its complex reality. The image of Myanmar as a helpless country needs to be abandoned. It is a country full of potential, rich in resources and with a young generation yearning for freedom. While the military junta blocks progress, continued international solidarity-with a focus on democratic movements and education-is essential for future success.
