Leaders | The penniless v the merciless

Myanmar’s shadow government deserves more help

International recognition—and the money it would bring—would be a good first step

KAYIN STATE, MYANMAR - 2021/11/22: Members of the People's Defence forces from the 101 Company are seen during an assembly.The People's Defence force (PDF) is the armed wing of Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), which was formed following the Coup d'etat of February 1st 2021. The NUG opposes the current military junta, claiming to be the legitimate government of Myanmar. The NUG's armed wing was formed by Myanmar youths and pro-democracy activists on 5th May 2021. The military junta designated the PDF as a terrorist organization on 8th May 2021. (Photo by Kaung Zaw Hein/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)

Five years ago this month, Myanmar’s army launched a pogrom against Rohingyas, a Muslim minority, that ended up pushing 750,000 of them out of the country. The unlucky refugees are still rotting in camps in Bangladesh. The Rohingyas that remain in Myanmar, meanwhile, suffer systematic segregation and discrimination (see Asia section). Not content with persecuting a minority of its citizens, however, the army has since overthrown the civilian government and brutally suppressed nationwide protests against the usurpation of democracy. That has spawned violent resistance, which the army is attempting, without success, to crush.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “The penniless v the merciless”

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