The British government has welcomed Aung San Suu Kyi being placed under house arrest. The statement stood in stark contrast to western allies, who carefully avoided welcoming Aung San Suu Kyi being placed under house arrest. It is also notable for avoiding using the language political prisoners to describe political prisoners. This is not accidental. It is also a calculated decision that this statement came directly from a Minister, not a spokesperson or the Embassy in Burma.
Burma Campaign UK’s new briefing analyses this further softening in the British government’s approach to the Burmese military, which has echoes of the approach taken after 2010. It appears there is a danger of the mistakes that enabled genocide and the latest coup being made all over again.