Inside Myanmar’s Gilded Capital, Empty Streets and Moldy Corners
The New York Times••world
Key Points:
- Naypyidaw, Myanmar's capital, is a vast, largely empty city designed as a secure stronghold for the military junta, reflecting their fear of invasion and desire for control.
- The city features wide highways and manicured landscapes but notably lacks typical urban traffic, underscoring its artificial and stage-managed nature.
- Since the 2021 military coup, Myanmar has experienced renewed repression, a culture of fear, and a brutal civil war that has displaced millions.
- The military junta, led by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, remains entrenched in Naypyidaw, isolating itself from the ongoing national crisis.
