There are some similarities between Egypt and Myanmar, particularly the army’s role in the economy, the full-throttle pursuit of neoliberal policies, the facade of democracy, the domination by the IMF and World Bank, and the increasing power of multinational corporations, and the consequent deepening of poverty and widening of the gap between rich and poor; as well as, of course, the use of “security” as a pretext for repression. Also, as with Egypt, the Myanmar conflict (the genocide of the Rohingyas) has largely been viewed without considering the economic issues at play.
An important difference, however, is how quickly activists struggling for the rights of the Rohingya Muslims have recognised the unparalleled importance of economics and the influence of multinational corporations in Myanmar, once this angle was brought to their attention. The strategy of “No Justice, No Profit” is becoming a crucial element in the campaign against the Rohingya genocide. That is what happens when people sincerely want to achieve change, and are not primarily interested in advancing their own careers and seeking power.