Myanmar Journal: Three Months In...
The following thread is being written by a vipassana meditator from the tradition of S.N. Goenka who is currently in Myanmar, who has played a pivotal role in the organization’s mission. For his safety, personal details have been obscured, but he has made it his desire that his observations be read by meditators everywhere. Please note that we are able to ensure donations reach this person as well as the community he is supporting.
I want to take some time here to provide information about the situation here, today. Understand that despite my best efforts to give as accurate an accounting as possible, inaccuracies do from time to time get past me. Since all mobile data was cut a few weeks ago it has been difficult to get news from the internet and even more difficult to confirm certain events.
Internet Service: The internet in large measure still remains shut down. The most recent closures were all wifi networks. The only remaining service are fiber connections which, because of the cost and lack of availability in more rural areas, very few people have access to. The vast majority of internet usage occurs through mobile data and that was shut down many weeks ago. I would estimate that with the shut downs more than 95% are left without internet. More than anything else the loss of mobile data has had the greatest impact on the failed economy as so much of business is conducted on mobile data. It does show just how frightened the Junta is about allowing people to communicate via mobile data. As desperate as they are to get the economy running again they do not do the one thing that will have the greatest positive impact on the economy. As for allowing fiber connections there is no doubt that they would prefer to see it shut down but to do so would almost completely close the economy so they have to tolerate it. But even at that fiber internet connections remain closed for 8 hours each day. I believe that the next thing we will see is that anyone wishing to use fiber connections will be required to first obtain a license.
Business: At this time, most businesses remain closed and almost all large businesses have been shut down. Many outside investors have also ceased investing anything further due to the unstable situation here. The construction industry has also been hit hard and I have heard estimates that suggest this has resulted in the loss of more than 500,000 jobs. The only business I see still open are largely limited to food stores, mobile phone shops and beauty salons(!!).
Health Care: Most health care providers still remain out on strike despite the regime’s efforts to get them back to work. As I understand there are hundreds of arrest warrants out for physicians. I want to also note that these same Health Care providers have been nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize foe their non-violent opposition to the Junta.
Train service: Approximately 3 weeks ago the military tried to bring railways back into service but to do so they had to go into housing compounds where rail workers are provided lodging and some were forced at gunpoint to return to work. Others were told that if they were not going to return to work they had to vacate their government provided housing. Happily, we heard that most workers opted to move out. Since that time the railroads have been ‘operating’ but very, very few passengers have been seen and these are mostly the very poor who try to get to the city to hopefully earn some money. By and large the trains have been used to ferry soldiers and police from one area to another but even this has been infrequent. You can always tell when soldiers are being transported because the window shades are closed and the interior lights are turned off. While the military may think that they are being cunning it just further exposes their ineptitudes.
We have been delighted to see so few passengers on the trains because it keeps the military from earning the revenue they so badly need and instead given the lack of passengers they certainly are operating at a loss. Another new sight is that each of the trains is headed up by a flat bed car loaded down with steel in anticipation of explosives being placed on the tracks.
Today we witness something very different; there has only been 1 small passenger train consisting of 3 cars with just a few passengers and a second train also consisting of 3 cars but at least one of the cars was filled with soldiers. But the strangest part of all of this is that they are not running on the 2 primary tracks but rather two alternate tracks that I cannot say I have ever seen used before for through traffic and just as strange is that the trains are headed out of the city rather then into it which is the opposite direction they ordinarily run in the morning hours. And finally, there have only been these 2 trains throughout the entire morning hours. We have repeatedly heard rumblings that citizens would be destroying rail lines and over the past couple of weeks we have seen some odd occurrences on the tracks. I think it quite possible that overnight the primary rails were cut or burned but this is the only a guess of mine and in now way confirmed. We will just have to wait and see what unfolds.
Electric Service: The electric service in our area is operated by government staff rather then by private electric companies. Since the early days of the coup these government employees have been out on strike refusing to work for the military regime. In the beginning we had thought that electricity would eventually be turned off as there was no one around to monitor, operate or repair the systems. Fortunately, the workers have courageously stepped in and are providing services outside of military controls. When something in the service does break down (a frequent occurrence) we now call a special number and the technicians quickly arrive to repair the problem. When they are finished restoring power the neighbors in the immediate area get together and pool money to compensate the workers. It’s a nice way of keeping the civil disobedience going.
Best of all is that we have not paid for electric usage since our last meter bill which we paid in early January but still everyone has electric! Early on the regime announced that we must continue to pay for our electric use at which time many that we know decided to let them cut off our power. The people have a lot of experience dealing without electric given the lack of supply during prior regimes so they are not overly concerned. Those with gas powered generators share their generators with others. As for cooking, which for the most part is with electric, the people turn to more traditional methods which are clay or cement pots under which charcoal or sticks are placed for heat. Rainwater that is collected throughout the year is used for washing and if that runs short bottled water can be used.
While everyone is prepared to return to these traditional methods it has not been necessary. Despite demands by the regime for us to pay that has been impossible because office staff has been supporting the CDM movement and meter readers are also on strike! So, a perfect revenue stream for the military has all but dried up. Another great example of civil disobedience at work.
Education: The regime has announced that primary school (grades 1-10) will resume on May 5 or June 5. (I am told they have said both dates). About 2 weeks ago the military announced a special training session to be held a week ago and anyone who attends the meeting will be given a promotion. In reality, all teachers were forced to attend by the head mistresses who were likely going to each teacher under duress. Also, approximately half the teachers are already out on strike many of whom are in hiding. What we hear locally is that many parents are refusing to send their children to State schools.
As for university students, all I can say is good luck! Past regimes have already had experience with keeping universities operating during such times and these schools just became a hot bed of resistance. During the previous regime (General Thant Shwe) universities were moved far outside of the city so if there was student unrest it would not spread into more urban areas. It was also during this time that they instituted what is called ‘Distant Education’. I had an assistant that I worked with for a few years that received his degree in this way and in an entire semester he only had to attend an actual class less than a few times. Needless to say his professional skills were very poor although his computer skills were quite good because he was self-taught but computer skills was never part of the professional curriculum at that time.
Banking Services: For much of the past 2+ months the banks for all intents and purposes have been closed with most staff supporting the CDM movement. Of course, no one is so stupid to deposit money into their accounts and the only service they want is to be able to withdraw. While some ATM services are available they are woefully inadequate. You first need to locate a branch where the ATM is working and then you have to wait in a long line hoping the money does not run out before your turn. It is just a nightmare and people are very angry as they fear the longer their money is in the bank the greater the risk that their savings will just disappear or be confiscated. A few branches of some banks have been open however to use their services you must first fill out and submit an application online stating the service you require and the amount you wish to withdraw. After submitting the application and after it is approved you are given a booking date as to when you must appear at the bank which could be as long as a 1 week wait. Just more nonsense and more controls.
The military has been desperately trying to get the banks reopened threatening staff in a multitude of ways including at gunpoint but have been largely unsuccessful. They have now issued a warning that all staff must return to work by 29 April and those failing to do so will be automatically terminated. The opening of banks is nothing more than a dog and pony show. Without people to deposit money, how can they expect to earn a profit?
The other difficult part of this is that most people use some form of mobile banking to pay and receive funds either through banks or other similar institutions. Of course, with more than 95% of the people without internet this method of moving money has essentially come to a halt.
One of the great tragedies in all of this has been the loss of companies that loaned money to individuals and served largely the poorest of the population. In the past if a poor person needed money they would have to turn to a black market money lender where they would have to pay 20% to 30% each month to borrow money. (These money lenders are the scum of the earth and have done as much to enslave the people as the current regime!!). Several years ago licensed companies were now able to make small loans to the poor people but could only charge 1%-1.5% per month which helped a great number of people. Sadly, because of the great instability here these companies are no longer making loans which is sad because this is the time the poor need the most help.
In general, banking is in freefall and total collapse cannot be too far away even if magically all banks were to open. In fact, if all banks were to open it will likely only hasten the collapse.