Bloomberg
Bloomberg OpinionNisid Hajari
18 April 2021,
A Q&A with Derek Mitchell, former U.S. Ambassador to Myanmar, on how to support the aspirations of Myanmar’s people and build a better future for democracies around the world.
Braving bullets in Yangon.Photographer: STR/AFP
This is one of a series of interviews by Bloomberg Opinion columnists on how to solve today’s most pressing policy challenges. It has been condensed and edited.
Nisid Hajari: Since Myanmar’s military ousted the country’s elected government on Feb. 1, security forces have reportedly killed at least 700 people. Observers are warning that Myanmar risks turning into a Southeast Asian Syria, with a failed economy, open warfare in border areas and refugees pouring into Thailand and India. You served as the U.S.’s ambassador to Myanmar from 2012 to 2016, the first person to hold the position in 22 years. How bad do you think things are going to get there?