Geplaatst op

E en vreselijke situatie nu Aung San Suu Kyi is afgezet en de militairen opnieuw de macht proberen te grijpen. Myanmar keek naar een mooie toekomst, de afgelopen jaren was er ontzettend veel ten goede veranderd. De situatie is onzeker nu en er spelen veel verschillende emoties. Boosheid, verdriet maar ook trots en hoop. Sinds de coup gaan door het hele land mensen massaal de straat op om op een vreedzame manier te laten weten dat zij dit niet accepteren.

Edwin Briels, al jarenlang onze zeer vertrouwde lokale partner, woont in Yangon en schreef onderstaand artikel:

Throughout the country, individuals and organisations have joined the Civil Disobedience Movement to express their disapproval at the military taking control of the country. The aim is to show the military there is no support for this coup and that it is not recognized as a legitimate authority. Bank staff, farmers, artists, fireman, doctors & nurses, children on roller skates and people from all walks of life, from all over the country, are protesting peacefully. Brides have worn their wedding dresses, the LGBTQ community have waved rainbow flags and punk musicians have performed flash mobs. The people protesting on the street are a cross-section of Myanmar’s diverse society. Their unity and spirit is humbling and inspiring. Travellers have always noticed the friendliness, generosity and resilience of the Myanmar people and we are glad that these admirable character traits are on show to the world even during this difficult time:

 

 

Friendly, peaceful and disciplined

The demonstrations are carried out peacefully without any destruction of property. No trash is left on the streets, there is no violence and demonstrators even offer flowers & water to the riot police in an effort to convince them to join the movement. There was even a case where protesters helped the police move a truck carrying a water canon that had broken down in the street.

 

Generous

The general public is offering free food, drinks and other refreshments to the demonstrators and funds have been set-up to donate money for government staff who have lost their income, housing and pension due to going on strike and joining the movement.

 

Respecting culture and tradition

In Myanmar culture it’s a tradition to scare away bad spirits by striking metal on metal. For the last two weeks, every night at 8 pm the whole country has been hitting on pots and pans for 15 minutes to show their discontent. This has been referred to as ‘The Iron Revolution’ and “Myanmar’s Roar.’ The sound of banging reverberates around the country, bringing to mind people rattling the bars of a cell, and is often followed by communities, from balcony to balcony, singing songs.

 

Goodhearted (and with a sense of humour)

Myanmar’s Generation Z is one of the active groups walking in the daily demonstrations. They carry banners and signs and dress-up in creative and funny ways to keep demonstrators in high spirits and make their message heard. The comical – and sometimes bawdy – memes printed by the younger protesters is a sign of a generation connected to the rest of the world, and not willing to retreat into isolation.

 

Brave

But the humour and good cheer of the demonstrators should not mask the seriousness of their cause. It takes guts to stand up against tanks and machine guns and the Myanmar people have shown that that is exactly what they are willing to do in the face of injustice.