Myanmar military tries ‘divide and rule’ in bid to cement power

Ethnic minorities say they feel betrayed by politicians who have taken positions with the military’s State Administration Council.

Since seizing power from the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi on February 1, Myanmar’s military, known as the Tatmadaw, has been working to entice rival ethnic political parties into its new administration, in a sign of the divide-and-rule tactics it has long used to control the country. Saw Mu Daw*, an ethnic Karen youth in the central Ayeyarwady Region, feels betrayed by the ethnic party he once supported. Leading up to national elections in November, he and his friends went door-to-door campaigning for Mahn Nyein Maung of the Kayin People’s Party, who was running for a seat in the national legislature.