Disgruntled grunts

THE BBC has reported discontent and low-level disobedience in the tatmadaw, the Burmese armed forces. According to the report, some soldiers, angry at cuts in rations, and at not being given access to their savings, are refusing orders to carry out basic tasks—sentry duty, “fatigues” and so on.

The report is based on conversations with soldiers in garrison towns. It is not clear how widespread is the disgruntlement, nor how long-standing the grievances are. But any unhappiness among its soldiers will be unwelcome to the ruling junta as it prepares to hold and rig an election on November 7th.

In the last election, in 1990, the junta was surprised by the massive victory by the opposition, which won seats even in districts dominated by army barracks. Since then, the army has more than doubled in strength, to about 500,000, despite ceasefires in most of the country’s long-running border insurgencies. That is one reason to expect that this election will not bring any surprises. Another, of course, is that much of the opposition is in jail, detention or exile, or is boycotting the poll.

The report is also a reminder of the work of the BBC Burmese Service (to declare an interest:  I once worked just along the corridor from them in London). Not only is it a vital source of impartial news on Myanmar and the outside world to many people in the country. It also has some extremely good Burmese journalists helping report Myanmar to the rest of us. So reports that the service is under threat as the British Foreign office ponders cutbacks are alarming. As The Guardian has argued, the Burmese service should be one of the last to go.