Everyday Resistance in Myanmar: The Stories

The story follows “Jessica”, who helped organize protests in Yangon after the military staged the coup in 2021. She sent medical supplies and basic necessities to the People’s Defense Forces at the frontline. She nearly escaped from being arrested by the junta’s forces while she was hiding in Yangon, and she fled to a neighboring country for her safety. Now, she continues to provide medical supplies and basic necessities to the frontline from the new location, while also starting a YouTube channel to keep the general public informed and updated about the developments in Myanmar.

 

The story follows “Snow”, who is a human rights trainer and LGBTQ rights activist from Myanmar. She was arrested and interrogated after participating in the protests against the military coup in 2021. Upon her release from prison, she fled to the border areas together with her husband and continued supporting the pro-democratic movement in Myanmar. She faced many difficulties when her husband got arrested, and the junta’s air force started indiscriminate aerial attacks on the civilian population in the border areas. With no option left, Snow fled to Thailand and started a new life. She is currently working for an INGO and helps the migrant community have access to education and job opportunities.

(Trigger Warning: This story contains mentions of death)

The story follows “Ma Zin Moe”, who is a seamstress and mother of a student activist. It highlights the relationship between Ma Zin Moe and her son and how he became a student activist leader in the nationwide non-violent resistance movement following the 2021 military coup. He was later captured and killed by the junta’s security forces, and it forced Ma Zin Moe and her family to flee to Thailand. Despite losing everything, Ma Zin Moe and her husband continue their activism by helping the Myanmar migrant community in Thailand and providing humanitarian assistance to IDPs inside Myanmar. 

The story follows “Pyae”, a human rights and LGBTQ rights activist from Myanmar. Together with their brother, Pyae provided safe houses and safe passage to young activists who wanted to take basic training with an ethnic armed organization. Pyae also helped civil servants who were forced out of their homes after joining the Civil Disobedience Movement. Upon hearing their brother’s arrest, Pyae fled from home and took refuge in a remote village outside the control of the junta’s rule. Pyae experienced anxiety and night terrors after going through a series of traumatic events. The village was also raided and destroyed by the junta’s forces. Pyae currently provides humanitarian assistance to displaced people in conflict areas and helps with the nation’s rebuilding process.