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Despite the ongoing and bloody crackdown against Myanmar protesters by the military junta, the people of Myanmar took time over the last 48 hours to express solidarity with their Thai counterparts.
Thai security forces violently crack-downed on a pro-democracy rally on Saturday with batons, rubber bullets, and water cannons. Over 30 people were injured and at least 32 protesters were arrested including seven minors. (Read more here)
The violence has come under intense criticism from Thai Civil Society and rights groups. Under the banner of the pan-Asian Milk Tea Alliance, Myanmar protesters have also joined to lend their support and add a voice of solidarity.
In fact, on our Twitter Page at Thai Enquirer, no other group has stood by the Thai pro-democracy movement more than the Myanmar people – despite a much more intense situation going on inside Myanmar.
Since Saturday, we have received hundreds of mentions and notices from the people of Myanmar supporting the movement in Thailand.
Stay strong and stay safe Thailand 🇹🇭 Wish from Myanmar 🇲🇲 . Every #Dictatorship must fail ✊
— 𝓡𝓮𝓿𝓸𝓵𝓾𝓽𝓲𝓸𝓷_🇲🇲 (@burmese_guy_TZ) March 21, 2021
Stay strong, Thailand
— Aung Ko Ko Win (@AungKoK53397251) March 21, 2021
We, Myanmar People stand with you.
Let's fight together
Junta must fail #WhatsHappeningInThailand #MilkTeaAlliance
🇲🇲 people stand with 🇹🇭 #MilkTeaAlliance
— Thein Min (@theinminx) March 21, 2021
Deteriorating Situation
The situation in Thailand’s western neighbour, however remains grim. The United Nations has reported that almost three hundred people have died at the hands of the military-backed government for peacefully protesting the takeover of power.
Rights groups, however, say that the actual number of dead is probably much higher.
Reports from Thailand’s border regions suggest an increasing number of refugees arriving from Myanmar to border camps.
Despite the crimes against humanities being perpetuated by the military of Myanmar, disturbing reports from the borders suggest that Thailand’s own armed forces were looking to supply rice to the Myanmar military’s border units. These reports have been denied. The Thai government has so far been unwilling to criticize the Myanmar junta. (Read More Here)
But, even without Thailand’s voice, governments from across the globe have joined together to pass sanctions and condemn the Myanmar junta. Yet this international criticism seems unable to deter the Myanmar coup-makers from proceeding with their massacre.
Whatever realities Thailand’s pro-democracy protesters currently face, they should be thankful to receive such continued and unwavering support from friends from Myanmar who face a much grimmer reality at home.