As Myanmar marks the fourth anniversary of the military coup on February 1, 2021, the nation remains engulfed in violence, human rights abuses, and political repression. The coup, which overthrew the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy (NLD), has left the country in turmoil. Over 6,000 civilians have been killed, more than 3.5 million people displaced, and over 21,000 political prisoners continue to languish in detention.

Despite the unrelenting struggle for democracy, the international community’s response has been tepid and insufficient. The need to amplify calls for justice, advocate for Aung San Suu Kyi’s freedom, and restore democracy in Myanmar has never been more urgent. The world’s inaction risks prolonging the military junta’s grip on power, delaying meaningful change, and abandoning the people of Myanmar in their direst hour.

Since the coup, the military regime, led by General Min Aung Hlaing, has unleashed a brutal campaign of terror against civilians and opposition forces. Thousands have died in indiscriminate bombings, shootings, and targeted killings. Reports from human rights organizations highlight the junta’s systemic use of torture, enforced disappearances, and extrajudicial executions. At least 2,000 individuals have perished in custody, with countless others subjected to horrific violence, including beheadings and burnings.

Women have been particularly vulnerable, facing rampant sexual violence and abuse, as documented by the International Commission of Jurists. Political dissidents, activists, and even children are under constant threat of arbitrary detention and death. The denial of medical care in prisons has led to over 100 preventable deaths, underscoring the junta’s blatant disregard for basic human rights. Today, more than 20 million people in Myanmar are in desperate need of humanitarian aid, according to United Nations estimates.

Global condemnation of the junta’s atrocities has been woefully inadequate. Sanctions, though imposed, have failed to curtail the military’s access to weapons or disrupt its violent operations. The United Nations, ASEAN, and other international bodies have largely fallen short of taking meaningful steps, leaving Myanmar’s people to fight for democracy and justice on their own.

Aung San Suu Kyi, who has become a symbol of Myanmar’s democratic aspirations, remains imprisoned under fabricated charges, serving a total of 27 years. Her unjust detention epitomizes the junta’s broader campaign to crush dissent and undermine democracy. Despite international calls for her release from figures like three former British foreign secretaries and Japanese filmmaker Toru Kubota, the global outcry remains muted. Her 19 cumulative years in detention are a stark reminder of the regime’s determination to silence opposition. Renewed efforts to secure her freedom and justice for Myanmar’s people are imperative.

The failure to hold the military junta accountable underscores glaring gaps in global governance. Human rights advocates stress the urgent need for stronger measures: targeted sanctions, humanitarian aid delivered through independent channels, and support for Myanmar’s legitimate representatives, including the National Unity Government (NUG) and ethnic resistance groups. The international community’s hesitance has emboldened the junta, enabling its campaign of violence.

Pope Francis has been one of the few global leaders consistently calling for peace and justice in Myanmar. During his 2024 visit to the Asia-Pacific region, he emphasized the urgent need to respect human dignity and restore democracy. His advocacy for Aung San Suu Kyi’s release has been a rare and vital signal of international solidarity.

Countries such as India, ASEAN member states, and the UN must play a pivotal role in addressing the crisis. Concrete actions are urgently needed, including severing ties with the junta, excluding its representatives from ASEAN platforms, and providing direct support to civil society organizations and people-led governance structures. Transitional justice mechanisms are essential to hold the junta accountable for genocide, war crimes, and crimes against humanity.

Myanmar’s geographical proximity to India and China underscores its strategic importance. India shares a 1,643-kilometer land border with Myanmar and has provided over $1.75 billion in development assistance. Despite being Myanmar’s fifth-largest trading partner and the world’s largest democracy, India has yet to take a firm stand against the junta’s repression. India’s leadership in restoring democracy could prove crucial, both for Myanmar’s future and for regional stability.

Human rights experts, including UN Special Rapporteur Tom Andrews, emphasize that international action can significantly weaken the junta’s capacity to perpetrate violence. His “Billion Dollar Death Trade” report exposes the arms networks that enable atrocities in Myanmar and calls for immediate global intervention. The international community’s failure to act decisively has prolonged the suffering of Myanmar’s people.

A group of United Nations human rights and international law experts including Tom Andrews, Gabriella Citroni, Grażyna Baranowska, Aua Baldé, Ana Lorena Delgadillo Pérez, Mohammed Al-Obaidi, Matthew Gillett, Ganna Yudkivska, Priya Gopalan, Miriam Estrada-Castillo, Mumba Malila, and Morris Tidball-Binz have urged a “course correction” in the global response to Myanmar’s deepening crisis as the civilian death toll surpasses 6,000.

“There are now 6,000 reminders that the international community is failing the people of Myanmar,” the experts stated. “It is time for a change, starting with moving this disaster out of the shadows of international attention. We know that international action makes a difference.”

The experts emphasized that international intervention has shown measurable impact. “We have documented how it has reduced the junta’s access to weapons that it uses to attack civilians,” they noted. Efforts to restrict the junta’s procurement of weapons, dual-use technologies, and manufacturing equipment have led to a one-third decline in these supplies.

However, the experts stressed that these measures fall far short of what is needed. “As welcome as these actions have been, they remain grossly inadequate and lack the coordination and strategic targeting necessary to deliver the support the people of Myanmar need and deserve. We can and must do better.”

The military’s indiscriminate attacks on civilians, including assaults on homes and infrastructure, have led to widespread devastation. Reports indicate nearly 2,000 people have died in custody, while others have suffered horrific fates: 365 individuals were shot in the head, 215 were burned alive, and many were tortured to death. Beheadings, dismemberment, and disfiguration of bodies have become disturbingly common, according to credible sources.

“Governments and donors also need to significantly step up assistance to civil society organisations documenting human rights abuses, protecting civilian populations, and delivering life-saving humanitarian aid. It would be unconscionable to allow thousands more innocent lives to be lost when options for effective action by the international community remain on the table,” the experts concluded.

Though the road to peace and democracy in Myanmar is long and fraught with challenges, it is not insurmountable. By supporting locally led initiatives for federal democracy and durable peace, the international community—with India’s leadership—can help bring stability to Myanmar and the broader region. The time to act is now.