No One Is Sleeping

About this poem

Bordered by Bangladesh, India, Laos, Thailand, and China, the Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, land of the pagodas, has had a long and sustaining history of military junta regime insurrection , with ongoing violence between government forces and insurgent groups. In 2011, the military junta conceded de jure rule over Myanmar, and instigated a series of political reforms, mainly in its favor. Not satisfied with its auspicious achievement, the military again , more recently, reasserted de jure control over the nation after the 2021 coup d’etat, which ousted from office the democratically elected leader of the nation, and Nobel prize diplomat, Aung San Suu Kyi, first put under house arrest in 1989, prompting nationwide protest by Myanmar’s ethnic tribes. Today, Aung San Suu Kyi continues to be under military house arrest, as the military regime continues to disregard the international rule of law, waging violence against the Myanmar people. Since 1941, during the period of World War II (with Japan’s occupation of Burma), and after more than 70 years of perpetual conflict, Myanmar remains awash in bloody warfare, men, women and children dying amidst the vengeance of a Covid-19 pandemic, and with no relief in sight. Children, made homeless by war, famine and natural disasters, are weeping; and no one with a conscience is sleeping. more »