12 May 2026 By Mon Lay
NAYPYIDAW, Myanmar — In a move described by critics as a “dark historical irony,” the Myanmar military junta has launched a UN Peacekeeping training course in the capital, Naypyidaw, even as its forces face daily accusations of crimes against humanity across the country.
The training, which commenced on 11 May, is a joint initiative between the Myanmar military and the Indian Army. While the curriculum reportedly focuses on civilian protection and human rights, the reality on the ground tells a vastly different story of aerial bombardments, mass arson, and the displacement of millions.
“This is perhaps the worst joke in history,” an anonymous political analyst told MPA. “How can an organization that is actively fueling a bloody civil war and terrorizing its own citizens be training to maintain world peace? It is utterly contradictory.”
The course, now in its ninth iteration, claims to instruct officers in Child Protection and Civil-Military Cooperation (CIMIC). However, human rights groups point to a grim reality: since the 2021 coup, hundreds of school-aged children have been killed in junta airstrikes, and the military is frequently accused of using civilians as human shields.
India, which often brands itself as the “world’s largest democracy,” has come under fire for facilitating the drills. Activists argue that New Delhi’s continued military engagement with a regime accused of genocide ignores the democratic aspirations of the Myanmar people.
“Seeing Myanmar soldiers under the symbol of the ‘Blue Helmet’ is sickening for the people who face their oppression every day,” a local activist stated. “Using the UN flag to legitimize a force that the UN itself has repeatedly condemned for its brutality is an insult to the international community’s dignity.”
Observers note that officers who previously attended these courses have often returned to the field only to participate in some of the military’s most brutal operations, showing a total disregard for UN standards once in active combat.
As the junta attempts to use international frameworks to polish its tarnished image, the irony remains sharp: the very force being taught to “protect civilians” is the same one responsible for the largest humanitarian crisis in Myanmar’s modern history. Neither the UN nor the Indian government has issued a formal statement clarifying the optics of the training as the nation’s conflict shows no signs of abating.
