An interesting article about the background to the current state of affairs in Myanmar:

 

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/02/world/asia/myanmar-coup-aung-san-suu-kyi.html?smid=em-share

 

 

I recently read "The Hidden History of Burma" by Thant Myint-U who is the grandson of former UN Sec Gen U Thant. It really gives a lot of great background of what happened from the time of British colonization to the present. And the author has spent quite a lot of time in the country the last several years running an NGO and advising some government ministers in the original post dictatorship (ish) government. 

The current state of affairs is so sad and hopeless. The current military dictator doesn't seem to have had much of a plan or any goals beyond ousting ASSK and the NLD. And certainly they were surprised by the strong rejection on the part of everyday people to what they're doing. It's on it's way to becoming a failed state. I wonder what they're really trying to accomplish. People expecting ASEAN to do something constructive seem to have forgotten that much of the alliance is run by military strongmen and dictators who aren't going to do anything lest their own situations get a brighter spotlight.