A Consistent Terror

In this cartoon, Burmese cartoonist Bulama delivers a sharp and deeply controversial commentary on the selective empathy that has marked Myanmar’s response to human rights abuses over recent years. The two scenes from 2017 and 2021 depict a significant shift in public sentiment and activism as the same oppressive force — the Myanmar military, depicted as a monstrous beast — turns its violence against different groups. In the 2017 panel, the military beast is shown attacking Rohingya Muslims, with a helpless individual lying bloodied on the ground. On the sidelines, a group of bystanders seem to cheer on the terror, while an indifferent Aung San Suu Kyi turns away. This imagery serves as a pointed critique of the widespread apathy or even complicity in the face of the Rohingya crisis, illustrating how much of the Myanmar population either turned a blind eye or tacitly endorsed the brutal actions of the military against a marginalized minority. It hints at underlying cultural prejudices or long-standing nationalistic sentiments that made it easy for many to detach themselves from the violence inflicted on the Rohingya. In the 2021 panel, the military beast is just as ferocious, but this time it has turned against the broader Myanmar population after the February 1st coup, during which the military ousted the civilian government and launched a violent crackdown on pro-democracy protesters. Now, the same people who looked away in 2017 are visibly distressed, pleading for freedom as Aung San Suu Kyi is imprisoned. Their newfound fear and cries for justice underscore the irony of their situation — they are now suffering at the hands of the very same military whose violence they once ignored when it was directed at the Rohingya. The cartoon reveals how selective empathy can have dire consequences, showing that apathy towards the suffering of one group can eventually lead to suffering for all. This controversial cartoon carries a sensitive quality in how it forces introspection among Burmese society. Bulama is not merely criticizing the military but is also holding a mirror up to Myanmar's people, questioning the selective morality that allowed the military to strengthen its grip. It is a self-reflective piece that critiques the inconsistency in empathy and suggests a growing realization that justice and human rights must be defended universally, regardless of who the victims are. By spotlighting the shifting dynamics of fear, complacency, and suffering, Bulama issues a call for his society to confront its past attitudes and embrace a consistent stand for solidarity, empathy, and justice.