A devastating earthquake brings more uncertainty to Myanmar

Summary

Consider This from NPR: A Devastating Earthquake Brings More Uncertainty to Myanmar

Release Date: April 4, 2025
Host: Ailsa Chang
Co-Host: Mary Louise Kelly
Duration: Approximately 8 minutes

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1. Introduction: Myanmar’s Ongoing Crisis and the Earthquake (00:00 - 00:46)

The episode opens with Ailsa Chang highlighting Myanmar's prolonged state of crisis. Since 2021, the country has been engulfed in a civil war, a situation further exacerbated by a catastrophic earthquake that struck last Friday, resulting in at least 3,000 fatalities. Chang emphasizes the compounded humanitarian disaster, noting the severe shortages of essential resources such as food, water, electricity, and internet access.

Notable Quote:

Ailsa Chang (00:00): “The country of Myanmar has been in crisis for years. A civil war has been going on since 2021. And then last Friday, a devastating earthquake hit, leaving at least 3,000 people dead. The tragedy only deepened the humanitarian crisis in the country.”

2. Humanitarian Response and Ongoing Military Actions (00:26 - 01:01)

Following the earthquake, Myanmar's resistance groups and military rulers announced a temporary ceasefire. However, reports indicate that the military continues its offensive operations. Elena Vuolo, the World Health Organization’s deputy head in Myanmar, discusses the challenges faced by humanitarian teams. Her primary focus is on delivering trauma care and surgical supplies to overwhelmed hospitals, striving to prevent the fragile health system from collapsing under the dual pressures of war and natural disaster.

Notable Quotes:

Elena Vuolo (00:19): “The situation is very difficult. It's very dire. There is shortage of food, water, electricity, Internet.”

Elena Vuolo (00:46): “We're also working to make sure that this earthquake does not disrupt a health system that was already fragile because after all, this earthquake is just an additional crisis within a very dire humanitarian situation.”

3. The Human Toll: Aung San Suu Kyi’s Family and Leadership (01:01 - 03:13)

Prior to the earthquake, United Nations officials had reported that nearly 20 million people in Myanmar were in dire need of assistance. Kim Aris, the son of the ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi, provides a personal perspective on the turmoil. His mother, once celebrated globally for her pro-democracy efforts and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate, was ousted and imprisoned following a military coup four years ago. Aris expresses deep concern over his mother's whereabouts and safety amidst the chaos.

Notable Quote:

Kim Aris (01:29): “Well, we believe in Naypy Door Prison. It's very hard to confirm anything near where the earthquake hit. So we're very concerned about her well being obviously, but it's very hard to confirm anything.”

4. Aung San Suu Kyi: A Complex Legacy (01:42 - 06:19)

Chang delves into the intricate legacy of Aung San Suu Kyi. Celebrated for leading pro-democracy movements and securing the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991, her political journey has been marred by controversy, particularly regarding her response to the Rohingya crisis. While she garnered international acclaim for her activism, Suu Kyi faced criticism for allegedly failing to condemn the military’s actions against the Rohingya, a claim she denies. The episode features an interview between Mary Louise Kelly and Kim Aris, where Aris defends his mother's record and addresses the allegations against her.

Notable Quotes:

Mary Louise Kelly (03:13): “The sentence that she is currently serving is 33 years on corruption and other charges. I will note that human rights groups have called those charges a sham. You are calling for them to be dropped?”

Kim Aris (03:27): “Absolutely. I'm calling for her to be freed along with all the other political prisoners and for the country to be returned to its democratically elected government. The military have shown that they are incapable of ruling or leading their country in any way, and people will not accept it.”

Mary Louise Kelly (05:06): “She defended the military at the International Court of Justice.”

Kim Aris (05:49): “She wasn't defending the military, she was actually defending her country. That's something very different. She was working with the military, but not in any way against the Rohingya. She was always trying to do everything she could for the Rohingya, even before it came to the international community's attention.”

5. The Earthquake's Impact on Political Dynamics and Aid (04:06 - 07:18)

The earthquake has intensified the already precarious situation in Myanmar, complicating both the humanitarian response and the political landscape. Kim Aris discusses how the military has historically exploited natural disasters to manipulate aid distribution, a tactic they are reportedly employing again. Aid organizations face significant obstacles, including restricted access to affected areas and hindrances to journalists, making it challenging to deliver assistance and report on the ground realities.

Notable Quotes:

Kim Aris (04:06): “The military have used natural disasters in the past to weaponize aid and they're doing so again on this occasion. And they're still bombing innocent civilians at the same time. At the moment, they've cut off aid organisations getting to the most needy areas and they're stopping journalists getting in.”

Despite these challenges, some aid groups are making progress, albeit with immense difficulty and a pressing need for medical supplies. Kim Aris remains hopeful for a political shift, expressing confidence that the resistance is winning ground despite international indifference and the military's external support from nations like China, Russia, and India.

Notable Quote:

Kim Aris (07:47): “I do see hope that the resistance will win and soon.”

6. Conclusion: The Path Forward for Myanmar (07:18 - End)

In wrapping up, Chang reflects on the dual crises facing Myanmar—the devastating earthquake and the ongoing civil war. The humanitarian situation continues to deteriorate, with millions still in need. The political future remains uncertain, hinging on the resilience of the resistance movements and the capacity of international actors to support democratic aspirations in Myanmar.

Notable Quote:

Ailsa Chang (08:18): “Consider this. The earthquake has brought more devastation to Myanmar, raising questions about whether the country's military can stay in power and about the future of its ousted leader, Aung San Suu Kyi.”

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Key Takeaways:

• Compounded Crises: Myanmar grapples with both a long-standing civil war and a recent devastating earthquake, exacerbating the humanitarian situation.
• Military Unrest: Despite a declared temporary ceasefire, the military continues its offensive, undermining efforts to stabilize the country.
• Humanitarian Challenges: Aid organizations face significant barriers in delivering essential supplies, with the military potentially exploiting the disaster for political leverage.
• Political Uncertainty: The future of Aung San Suu Kyi and the possibility of restoring democratic governance remain uncertain amidst ongoing conflict and international disengagement.
• Hope Amid Despair: Despite dire circumstances, there is optimism from figures like Kim Aris that resistance movements may eventually prevail against the military junta.

This episode of Consider This provides a comprehensive overview of the multifaceted challenges facing Myanmar, blending on-the-ground reporting with personal narratives to illustrate the profound impact of the earthquake on an already beleaguered nation.

Transcript

[Ailsa Chang]

The country of Myanmar has been in crisis for years. A civil war has been going on since 2021. And then last Friday, a devastating earthquake hit, leaving at least 3,000 people dead. The tragedy only deepened the humanitarian crisis in the country.

[Elena Vuolo]

The situation is very difficult. It's very dire. There is shortage of food, water, electricity, Internet.

[Ailsa Chang]

In the aftermath of the quake, resistance groups and the country's military rulers declared a temporary ceasefire. But there are reports the military continues to launch attacks. Elena Vuolo is the World Health Organization deputy head in Myanmar. She says her team has been focused on getting trauma and surgical kits to hospitals.

[Elena Vuolo]

We're also working to make sure that this earthquake does not disrupt a health system that was already fragile because after all, this earthquake is just an additional crisis within a very dire humanitarian situation.

[Ailsa Chang]

Even before this earthquake struck, UN officials said that nearly 20 million people were in need in Myanmar. One person watching the situation closely is Kim Aris. His mother is Aung San SUU Kyi, who was the country's de facto leader before the military ousted and imprisoned her at after a coup four years ago. When Aris spoke to us earlier this week, he wasn't even sure where his mother was or whether she was safe.

[Kim Aris]

Well, we believe in Naypy Door Prison. It's very hard to confirm anything near where the earthquake hit. So we're very concerned about her well being obviously, but it's very hard to confirm anything.

[Ailsa Chang]

Consider this. The earthquake has brought more devastation to Myanmar, raising questions about whether the country's military can stay in power and about the future of its ousted leader, Aung San SUU Kyi. From npr, I'm Ailsa Chang. It's Consider this from npr. Let's take a step back and talk a little more about Aung San SUU Kyi. She led pro democracy protests against military rule and in 1991 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Peace Prize. Suu Kyi spent years under house arrest before her party in 2015 won the country's first democratic elections in decades. And although the constitution did not formally allow her to take power, she became the country's de facto leader. That is, until she was ousted in 2021. Suu Kyi earned international praise for her pro democracy activism, but she has also drawn criticism for her response to the plight of the Rohingya, a minority group in Myanmar, and allegations that she stood by as the military committed genocide, allegations which she has denied. My colleague Mary Louise Kelly spoke with her son Kim Aris earlier this week before the military ceasefire was announced.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

The sentence that she is currently serving is 33 years on corruption and other charges. I will note that human rights groups have called those charges a sham. You are calling for them to be dropped?

[Kim Aris]

Absolutely. I'm calling for her to be freed along with all the other political prisoners and for the country to be returned to its democratically elected government. The military have shown that they are incapable of ruling or leading their country in any way, and people will not accept it.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

We mentioned the earthquake, a terrible event, obviously, with so many people killed and survivors desperate, even more desperate than they were for food, for medicine, for vital supplies. The quake has made what sounds like an already difficult situation in your country far more difficult.

[Kim Aris]

Yes. The military have used natural disasters in the past to weaponize aid and they're doing so again on this occasion. And they're still bombing innocent civilians at the same time. At the moment, they've cut off aid organisations getting to the most needy areas and they're stopping journalists getting in.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

We had the Myanmar country acting director for a major aid organization on the program who was describing that his teams are able to move, they are getting access, but it's incredibly difficult and there is vast need for medical supplies. Acknowledging the horror of the situation, does it open any doors, any opportunities for a change in your mother's circumstances?

[Kim Aris]

We can only hope, but at the moment there isn't any indication of that. And I haven't heard of what the results are of that earthquake in the prison. Really? I've heard that she's safe, but there's no way of confirming that.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

I need to ask about a part of your mother's record. She won, as we said, the Nobel Peace Prize. She has also come under criticism for her response to the Rohingya crisis for refusing to acknowledge the military's role in massacres.

[Kim Aris]

That's incorrect. She never refused to acknowledge the military's role. She refused to condemn the military on the count of genocide. That's something else. But she always said the military were responsible for.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

She defended the military at the International Court of Justice.

[Kim Aris]

She wasn't defending the military, she was actually defending her country. That's something very different. She was working with the military, but not in any way against the Rohingya. She was always trying to do everything she could for the Rohingya, even before it came to the international community's attention. And the fact is that she was doing more for the Rohingya than anybody else in the world, which the media at the time failed to report on because it didn't fit their narrative.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Well, I will ask you, with no narrative or agenda, but just part of what has prompted criticism are the basic facts that there was a horrific exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya across the border to Bangladesh. The secretary general of the United nations called what was happening in Myanmar ethnic cleansing, and your mother was the de facto leader. My question for you, did she ever express any regrets about how she handled that situation, whether she might have been able to do more?

[Kim Aris]

I don't get to talk to my mother about political issues really, since we only communicate over the phone often and we know the military will be listening in. But I think actually she may have some regrets, but it wouldn't be the ones you think she will be able to hold up her head and say she was doing everything she possibly could for the Rohingya. And if you read the evidence which is out there, I'm sure you would agree.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

When were you last in Myanmar?

[Kim Aris]

I think it was about eight or nine years ago, maybe.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

Is that because you were not able to return because of security reasons?

[Kim Aris]

Well, I wouldn't be able to go back now, certainly. But in the past, I generally go to Burma to see my mother, and she's been extremely busy, so I get to see her when I can.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

You call your country Burma?

[Kim Aris]

Yes.

[Mary Louise Kelly]

In this moment, do you see a way out for Myanmar?

[Kim Aris]

I do, for how this war does, despite the fact that the world is turning a blind eye to what's happening over there and is doing nothing to help. The military are losing and they have the weaponry, the fighter planes, the backing of countries like China, Russia and India, and still they're losing. They're not in control of even 70% of the country now. So I do see hope that the resistance will win and soon.

[Ailsa Chang]

That was Kim Aris, the son of imprisoned political leader Aung San SUU Kyi of Myanmar, speaking to my co host, Mary Louise Kelly. This episode was produced by Mallory Yu and Alejandra Marquez Hanse. It was edited by Courtney Dorning and Patrick Jaron Watananan. Our executive producer is Sammy Yenigun. And thanks to our CONSIDER THIS plus listeners who support the work of NPR journalists and help keep public radio strong. Supporters also hear every episode without messages from sponsors. Learn more at It's Consider this from npr. I'm Ilsa Cheng.