Myanmar’s Weaponization of COVID-19 4. Ethnic Responses to COVID-19 in the Context of Government Exclusion, Resistance While the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Con- EAOs’ health teams to fight the virus. Its four tainment and Emergency Response Committee members include three representatives from is mandated to work with civil society entities existing government peace negotiation bodies and other “relevant organizations” to prevent, and the government-appointed ethnic affairs control and treat the virus, ethnic armed or- deputy minister.52 It remains unclear how ganizations (EAOs) and civil society organi- the committee will fulfill their mandate and zations (CSOs) alike have reported a lack of coordinate with ethnic health organizations cooperation on the part of the government in in practice.53 Since the committee’s chair, Dr. fighting COVID-19 in ethnic states. Tin Myo Win, is also the vice chairperson of EAOs have launched their own COVID-19 the government’s National Reconciliation and awareness and prevention campaigns in their Peace Council, EAOs are reportedly cautious territories. For more than one month after the about first coronavirus infection was confirmed in “interfere with their administration of their Myanmar, there were no offers of support or territory.”54 collaborating, lest the committee collaboration from the Myanmar government Members of the Ethnic Health Commit- for these ethnic initiatives, suggesting a lack of tee (EHC) – representing health organizations interest by the state in fully stopping the virus in EAO-controlled territories – “welcomed” from reaching the country’s most marginalized the government’s recognition of ethnic health and disenfranchised areas. However, on 27 April, partners in the formation of the coordination President Win Myint signed into action the committee.55 However, the EHC also empha- Committee for Coordination and Cooperation sized the need for further decentralization in with the EAOs for COVID-19 Prevention, order to facilitate effective implementation of Control and Treatment. The national team COVID-19 prevention activities in ethnic areas. has been assigned the task of liaising with In a statement published on 6 May, they called 52 Nyein Nyein. “Myanmar Sets Up COVID-19 Committee With Rebel Armies.” 28 April 2020. The Irrawaddy. Available at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/myanmar-covid-19/myanmar-sets-covid-19-committee-rebel-armies.html 53 Ja Tu Hkawng, Emily Fishbein & Yuichi Nitta. “Myanmar’s ethnic conflicts obstruct COVID-19 aid to minorities. 3 May 2020. Nikkei Asian Review. Available at: https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/Coronavirus/Myanmar-s-ethnic-conflicts-obstruct-COVID-19-aid-to-minorities 54 Kachin News Group. “EAOs Cautious About Collaboration With Government’s COVID-19 Coordination Committee, Insiders Say.” 12 May 2020. Available at: https://kachinnews.com/2020/05/12/eaos-cautious-about-collaboration-with-govts-covid-19-coordination-committee-insiders-say/ 55 Ethnic Health Committee. “Ethnic Health Committee’s statement on the Government formation of COVID-19 prevention Coordination Committee to cooperate with EAOs.” 6 May 2020. Available at: https://progressivevoicemyanmar.org/2020/05/06/ethnic-health-committees-statement-on-the-government-formation-of-covid-19-prevention-coordination-committee-to-cooperate-with-eaos/ 17