Solar Power and Regenerative Agriculture in Burma

Dear supporters,

I am sure that most of you know that Burma (Myanmar), is going through another extremely difficult time and I would like to give you a summary of what I understand is happening there. I will begin by reproducing the GlobalGiving Report I wrote in early in 2017, as background information. It was written at a much more hopeful and optimistic time:

             As we approach the beginning of 2017, I feel that I owe our supporters an update on what is happening in Burma (Myanmar) since the movement towards democracy took hold in 2011.

            In that year, Thein Sein, an ex-military general, took over as President of a nominally civilian government, after 50 years of military rule. Things began to improve – some political prisoners were released, labor unions were allowed, press censorship was lifted and construction of the much-protested Myitsone hydro dam was put on hold. However, the 2008 Constitution, written by the military government, reserved a majority of seats in parliament for themselves, pre-empting any change in the Constitution by democratic means. They also reserved the right to declare martial law and take over from the civilian government when they deemed it necessary.

            In 2012, Aung San Su Kyi was elected to a seat in parliament and her party, the National League for Democracy, (NLD), swept the board in local by-elections. After many years under house arrest, Aung San Su Kyi, was now free to meet foreign diplomats and lead the nation in its struggle towards democracy. In November 2015 the NLD won a landslide election result and formed a government with Aung San Su Kyi at its head, even if she was barred from becoming President by the imfamous 2008 Constitution.

            So much for the historical record – but how do these changes affect the ordinary Burmese citizen, the person that Solar Roots is committed to working with? Although the country is opening up to foreign investment and importation of manufactured goods from outside, there seems to be little improvement in the economic lot of the average subsistence farmer. There is much construction in the cities and the urban economy seems to be flourishing, but, around 75% of the rural population still have no access to the national electricity grid. There is interest in providing electricity to remote villages through a series of independent mini-girds which will generate their power from renewable sources such as solar or hydro and this is a welcome change in policy direction.

            How about peace between the Burman majority and the many ethnic and religious minorities that has been so elusive since independence in 1947? I’m afraid that there is still a long way to go. The Muslim Rohingya people are still under assault from the military and indeed from their Buddhist neighbors. The Christian Kachin ethnic group is back in open conflict with the army after years of cease-fire and there are frequent reports of clashes between smaller groups such as the Kokang and the Wa with the Tatmadaw (Burmese military). These last-mentioned conflicts are fueled by the illicit drug trade, which is growing again. Just as the new political conditions have led to some Buddhist monks inciting race-based violence, they have also led to increased opium production. Unfortunately, there is a new problem of sky-high addiction rates of local youth, since heroin is now being refined in-country, whereas before, just the raw opium was exported.

            So, as you can see, it’s a mixed bag. A very important historical corner has been turned and it seems almost unthinkable that the democratic gains could be reversed. But there still remains a long way to go. I have confidence that the resourcefulness and resilience of the Burmese people will continue to help them weather what is, still a difficult and trying time. I also hope that Solar Roots can play a positive role in the new emerging country of Burma.

          Fast forward to February 1st 2021:

          Just as the new parliament, elected in a landslide vote in November was about to convene, the Burmese military grabbed power in a coup d’etat. They declared an emergency and instituted martial law, arresting Aung San Suu Kyi and other leaders of the legitimately elected government. The exact motivation behind this putsch is hard to discern with certainty, but the clear intention is to dismantle Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party and then hold mock elections, where only military-backed parties will compete – this farce is promised in about a year from now.

         I started going to Burma in 2011, just as the previous military dictatorship was loosening its grip on power and everyone was filled with hope for a more democratic future. And to a great degree, things did improve and open up, as I describe in the 2017 Report. But the Burmese military (the Tatmadaw), has a long history of seizing power and cracking down mercilessly on protesting citizens. This latest coup is no exception, and perhaps the most difficult to witness, as many of the worst atrocities are being documented on video then posted on social media sites.

I am in regular touch with many of my friends and students in Burma, and we even continue some English classes on Sunday nights. But it is a grim situation with no end in sight. The protesters, led by the Generation Z kids who grew up the brief window of openness and hope, are trying to stall the economy through withdrawing their participation. Most businesses and government offices are closed, because all the employees have walked out. However, this tactic also has serious negative consequences for the average citizen – no income, short supply of food etc. But they have no choice – armed insurrection is unthinkable. I have sent some of my own money to support my friends, but after a month, it has still not arrived, as the bank staff have also walked out! The military generals are between a rock and a hard place – they have committed to this ill-conceived power

grab, losing any legitimacy they might have had in the international community, and they cannot back down now. It is one of the many ironies of Burmese history that it was Aung San Suu Kyi’s father, General Aung San, who lead the fight for independence from Britain and was the founder of the Tatmadaw, the self-described defenders of Burmese sovereignty. So we must wait and see what will happen – I hope that outside influence, maybe the militaries in other ASEAN countries, or maybe China, can persuade the Tatmadaw to step down, without losing too much face.

         We are very sad to see this retrograde turn of events in a place where Solar Roots has made so many friends and tried so hard to contribute to the peaceful development of its communities. I have attached some previous photos from happier times.