At its next meeting on Thursday, June 9, the Local and Global Discussion Group (LGDG) of the Weston Council on Aging will take up the topic of the seemingly never-ending series of crises in Myanmar (Burma). Since achieving independence from Britain in 1948, the country has been plagued by coups, violence, chaos, the ascendance of military rule, and
accusations of genocide.
The meeting will run 1:15-3pm on Zoom. Susan Wagner, a longtime resident of Asia, will lead the meeting. Among the questions to be considered are: Given the long history of authoritarianism in Southeast Asia, is it possible for democracy to prevail in Myanmar? Can ethnic conflict in the nation ever be resolved, especially in view of the military’s five-year campaign of mass killings, rape, and arson against the Muslim Rohingya minority? What policies and actions should the United States take toward Myanmar?
Bordering China, India, Bangladesh, Laos, and Thailand, Myanmar is country of more than 54 million people representing a diverse patchwork of different ethnic groups, religions, languages, and cultures. After securing independence from Britain in 1948, the nation soon found itself plagued by separatist forces, ethnic political grievances, and multiple communist insurgencies.
The military, which has held power through a series of coups for most of the time since then, has prevented the emergence of a capable centralized government, while its economic mismanagement has kept the country mired in poverty for decades.
The LGDG Group’s meeting is open to all who are interested in a civil discussion of the issues with a wide variety of participants. For further information, or to request a link, contact Susan Wagner at 508-733-8810 or susanwgnr@gmail.com
