The term "watermelon" ought to ring a familiar note to the people of West Bengal. Indeed a generation now past its prime had dubbed some of the leaders of the then Opposition who served the cause of the Left Front government as 'watermelon' or the 'Tarbuj Brigade. But there is nothing frivolous about the situation in Myanmar. Individuals with outward military-loyalty are nursing pro-democracy sympathies and undermining the junta.
Theirs is an impactful resistance in the ongoing struggle for restoration of Myanmar's democracy. As a fallout of their acts stemming from pro-democracy sentiments the junta controls less than a quarter of the country's territory. This is a far cry from the situation in 2021, when the junta came to power. Ethnic armed groups and civilian armed forces are either contesting or holding sway over the rest of the area.
The situation is a pointer to more than battlefield losses. It reflects a broader loss of legitimacy. Disillusioned by brutality against their own people, the junta's soldiers are turning against it. Drawn to don the uniform by promises of stability and national pride, they are confronted by the horrific outrages of a regime that targets its citizens.
This mindset is the ideal recruitment ground for "watermelon" spies leaking sensitive information. It gives finishing touches to ambushes of government forces, avoiding counter attacks and disrupting the game plan of the ruling regime.
But spying has always been a risky enterprise. A slip or a leak which triggers suspicion leads to torture death and Myanmar is no exception. Yet the "watermelons" resolve highlights the moral fissures within the junta's ranks. Its leading lights have only to blame themselves for the disunity among its men who had sworn allegiance to it.
It is a moral dilemma to which Myanmar's rulers have no answer. For they are faced with the unpredictable human factor. One must not yet jump to the conclusion that the "watermelons" are game-changers. The junta still controls urban centres, critical infrastructure and sources of revenue. Aerial warfare is still giving an upper hand to the junta, which continues to deploy sophisticated weaponry in areas held by rebels.
Resistance against the junta is fragmented while its leadership is sometimes uncoordinated. But at the same time the military junta is looking away from the writing on the wall. It clearly reads that no regime can sustain itself indefinitely on fear and coercion. The present model of governance is unsustainable while resilience of the pro-democratic forces in Myanmar are increasingly coming to the fore.
It once again demonstrates in unambiguous terms that even within an authoritarian regime dissent is possible. The junta is losing its grip. It may wield power for now but it is going to slip out of its authority in the not too distant future. (IPA Service)
MYANMAR'S 'TARBUJ BRIGADE' GETS SET TO ENACT A REGIME CHANGE
FRAGMENTED RESISTANCE DESPITE THE JUNTA’S UNCOORDINATED LEADERSHIP
Tirthankar Mitra - 2024-12-27 11:39
Longevity of a regime, democratic or otherwise, rests on its popularity. A dispensation has its days numbered after meting out reprisal to its people for what it considers to be acts of defiance. Myanmar's military junta is one such dispensation. Once feared as a monolithic regime, its signs of decay are looking at it in the face. Many of its men in uniform have turned against it. These soldier-spies are referred to as "watermelons' for being employed in the junta while serving the cause of the rebels.