Summary
It's been a year and a half since the military in Myanmar launched a coup, deposed the democratically elected government and restored a dictatorship. And recently, an ominous move towards further repression amid countrywide upheaval with the execution by hanging of four pro-democracy activists. For a transcript, click here .Five Facts
- When was the coup (violent overthrow of a government) in Myanmar?
- Which group was behind the coup?
- How did the dictatorship describe Phyo Zeyar Thaw?
- Why did the government kill the activists, according to Tom Andrews?
- What is the People’s Defense Forces?
Focus Questions
What impact do you think the death of these four activists will have on average people throughout Myanmar? What do you think was the government’s purpose in killing them? Media Literacy : Myanmar’s state government described the people they executed as “terrorists.” American media described them as “pro-democracy activists.” Can you think of other examples of the ways that the press could use different words to describe the same people or events in very different ways?For More
To learn more about Myanmar and the resistance to the military, check out the PBS NewsHour story by clicking on the photo below.
Leo Kamin a student at Amherst College, wrote today’s Daily News Lesson with editing by Evelyn Chi.
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