The violent conflict between citizens and military forces in Myanmar is undoubtedly an escalating crisis of international importance. On the day of writing (May 10), 100 days have passed since the deposition and arrest of Myanmar’s civilian government leader Aung Sang Suu Kyi by military generals on February 1. In that time, at least 780 people have been killed in bloody crackdowns on protests from the junta, with at least a further 3,800 detained. The violence shows little sign of relenting, and the strengthening of a new military dictatorship is prompting concern from governments and organizations around the world.
Among these, the KAIST Graduate Student Human Rights Center (HRC) released a statement on May 12 in collaboration with the 49th KAIST Graduate Student Association (GSA), Edge, and the KAIST Committee on Social Inclusion against the “crimes against humanity” being committed by Myanmar’s military. 1,973 members of KAIST signed the statement, including students, staff, and professors. Additional support has been garnered from KISA, supported by ISSS, which will donate 40 percent of the profits from their May 14 Food Festival to support “the Myanmar cause”. While these actions unquestionably have good motive and intent, the sudden show of support from KAIST organizations has left many students questioning the statements and the legitimacy of the sentiments behind them. After all, why now, but not previously? Why Myanmar, but not Palestine or Ethiopia?
Well, the support doesn’t seem to have been a carefully planned or organized affair; it comes not from KAIST overall administration, but rather certain groups and offices within the university, possibly implying that it was based on the personal motivation of relatively few individuals. However, taking action in this case has several points of justification. With their statement, the HRC also provided an explanation of why it is “worth it to release a statement domestically,” focusing on the influence Korea has as one of Myanmar’s top ten trading partners. More significantly, Myanmar’s current political situation mirrors South Korea’s own relatively recent history of military dictatorship, “evok[ing] in Koreans memories of [their] own painful past”. A better social understanding of the atrocity of the Myanmar situation could be the main reason KAIST has been vocal in this case over others, provoking a stronger sense of responsibility and camaraderie.
With this shared experience, donations to Myanmar from KISA’s event seem to have been quickly approved and supported. Although certainly justified morally, there isn’t an effective standard by which KAIST selects causes to support. Considering the diverse backgrounds of students here, there is also justification for supporting and fundraising for many issues. But, we should question whether it is really an obligation of the university to respond or react to human rights issues such as these. Can KAIST really make any significant contribution? The thing is, whether or not this is the case, there has now been this example, setting a precedent or expectation that will be difficult to follow. If the KAIST administration wishes to engage internationally in this way, they should establish clear criteria or guidelines of an appropriate response. And surely, at least ISSS and KISA should realize the concerns of many international students about previously ignored crises in this context.
Perhaps this is precisely the issue; the relevant people in the KAIST administration simply aren’t well-informed enough to even think of taking action. So then, it falls to those students with enough political or activist energy to bring up the details and encourage (or even demand) a coordinated response. Unsurprisingly, this doesn’t happen often — particularly for overburdened students, awareness and engagement with international issues can fall to a low rung of priority. Always expecting this initiative from students is not sustainable, nor is it clear whether this is now being encouraged, based on this precedent. It’s relieving to see that, in this Myanmar case, at least such actions have had an effect. But it’s also disquieting to suspect that part of the negative response from international students, visible on platforms such as Here at KAIST, perhaps stems from a simple discomfort at having political international issues enter the bubble of study and isolation by way of email and poster. People never like to be reminded of something terrible yet important, because they would rather not think about it. Political apathy and lack of action is a recognized problem among STEM students in particular, but — hypocritically — there seems to be no lack of negative reaction to KAIST’s efforts, which in themselves can only be regarded as positive.
It is not hypocrisy that KAIST hasn’t released equivalent statements on every current and past crisis globally. There is a stronger connection between Korea and Myanmar than other current issues, both historically and geographically. However, the inconsistency and lack of structure behind the HRC statement and KISA’s donation has left students wondering whether this is a short-lived, one-off display of concern.
This article has been edited for accuracy on May 24.