"Comment: Saturday February 1 was the grim fourth anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar. The date seems to have gone unnoticed back here in New Zealand. Even before war in Ukraine and then Gaza, Myanmar got little attention. Yet it is the most destructive conflict in our region. The figures are shocking; nearly a third of the population of 60 million is likely to need humanitarian aid this year. At least 3.5 million are internally displaced; they are escaping indiscriminate bombing and shooting by the army. Around 1.3 million people have fled the country and are living in refugee camps. As opposition to the army grows, its control on the ground has shrunk dramatically. Most border zones are in the hands of local warlords or ethnic resistance groups, and conflict is spilling over into neighbouring states: China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh. Many of these groups have been fighting against the central government for many years. Unfortunately, their differences have often been exploited and there is no clarity among those opposing the junta about the way ahead. Increasing pressure on the junta has resulted in even more untargeted attacks on civilians. Forced conscription has been reinstated and has led to raids in areas under military control. The conscripts are given very little training and used as cannon fodder. Jails are full of people swept up in raids and conditions are appalling. The annual amnesty mainly sees the release of common prisoners, and a few foreigners who have become an embarrassment for the regime. There are around 20,000 jailed for dissent of one kind or another. Myanmar hit the news recently over the kidnapping of a high-profile Chinese actor who was spirited over the Thai border and forced to work in a scam factory in the Myanmar town of Myawaddy. His return to Thailand came quickly, but those working in these scam centres are not always so lucky. While the Chinese and Thai governments are believed to have put pressure on the junta to close down the centres, it is doubtful whether the junta has the ability, or even the political will to do so. Thailand has just cut off electricity, internet and fuel supplies to five locations across the border that host cyber-scam centres. However, these cuts are most likely to hurt innocent locals who already do not receive electricity for more than a few hours a day. All of this is very tough on the small Myanmar community in New Zealand, most of whom came here as refugees. They are desperately worried about family members back in Myanmar, find it increasingly difficult to get funds to them, and are in despair over the New Zealand Government’s unwillingness to make any concession to the gravity of the situation. There is a pathway to bring their family members to New Zealand, called the Refugee Family Support Categories, but very few are arriving here under the scheme, which has a large backlog. Immigration Minister Casey Costello has acknowledged that scheme needs an overhaul, but it may come too late for some families. To put a human face on the situation, I support the Ling* family from Myanmar who came here as refugees in 2010 via Malaysia. The parents and six children are now New Zealand citizens, have bought themselves a house, and are all either working or studying. However, the Lings still have a daughter, son-in-law and three young grandchildren back in Myanmar, who are living in real danger. They have been waiting since 2017 to be reunited under the Refugee Family Support Categories. Not only is there a genuine risk of a tragedy in this case, but the delay is self-defeating. The sooner the Ling family members in Myanmar are brought here, the sooner the children will be in NZ schools and adapting to a new life. The Lings have room in their home, and the close-knit community would provide support, including for airfares if necessary. The New Zealand Red Cross and the Centre for Asia-Pacific Studies published a study in January called ‘Reuniting Families: a Path Forward for Aotearoa New Zealand’. This puts forward a number of suggestions for improving the Refugee Family Support Categories which would transform the lives of families like the Lings..."