Unsilenced: Chronicles of Courage in the Shadows of Tyranny
Treble Clef is working with a non-government organisation in Myanmar. She is an inspiring youth enthusiastically working in the development of the education sector. Her story was collected on July 12, 2023.
“A blessing in disguise from this situation is that people have become more open-minded and empathetic towards people who have different experiences; it is like a ray of hope. I also noticed that people in the community have become more resilient in adversity.”
"I still remember it vividly; I was in Yangon and woke up early that day. The night before, I was working on a report till late and then I woke up early and found pieces of news on Twitter. Although the information was unconfirmed, I was slightly startled and worried. Before the coup, we heard about many tensions in the capital, and tanks roaming around in the city. However, I did not expect it to happen like that. Our boss rang and informed us about the situation, and I was very shocked by the news. I planned for what was necessary for the organization and only participated a little at first. At first, I thought they might not get violent against unarmed protestors, but they did, and I was devastated. I was attending a diploma course then and was about to do field research, but I needed to figure out the way forward. I started to participate in protests, but since I was busy with my work, I did not get to participate much.
Since the coup, I’ve faced a lot of difficulties in my personal, work, and social life—I also lost contact with some people. I am still in the country and currently working with an organization. Since I have to work remotely, I spend time at home during working hours and do other things during my free time. I like to spend time with friends from my church network during weekends. We see and hear atrocious news daily, and I feel sad and try to find the root causes of why these things are happening. As a human, I feel sad and angry. I live with my family and spend time with close friends from the church network. I have become socially disconnected from friends from university due to the situation, whether they are CDM-ers or not. Some friends are fighting on the frontline, some have been arrested, and others have had to run away.
Looking back at the situation, we have had different options and opportunities, but in reality, we don't have much freedom of choice. For example, even if I had ten options, there would only be three remotely realistic ones. Initially, there was a united sentiment among the public eager to build a collective force to fight against the military—without using weapons but with social punishment and civil disobedience. As time passed, the unity weakened, and when it came to the education sector, there were few alternatives. On a personal level, I questioned myself about what I was doing, tried to get a bird's-eye view and thought about how it would benefit myself and others. I also have a supportive network of friends, so I meet with them and sometimes spend time cycling. Besides, I pray and take quiet time for my spiritual growth.
My family moved to Yangon for my schooling; hence, I come from a background that values education. I have always had this lifelong mission that I carry with me, which is to share the education I’ve gained with broader society. As part of this mission, I initiated an education program with two or three orphanages after the coup, but we’ve paused it for now and are discussing a way forward. I also teach some university students subjects related to politics to open the minds of youth.
People still have different perspectives when we look back to last year. People might have something in their mind, but due to their situation, they have to act in another way. There are so many things that make us depressed. A blessing in disguise from this situation is that people have become more open-minded and empathetic towards people who have different experiences; it is like a ray of hope. I also noticed that people in the community have become more resilient in adversity. For instance, ethnic communities have initiated education services even at university level. In the past, we used to say capacity building is what is needed for future Myanmar. However, because of the situation, local people in the community have even had to take on roles like security administrator for their community. The local strength is shedding light on the local power. Other services, such as health, should also be supported in this protracted conflict.
My short-term plan for now is to keep working at my current job related to civilian protection since I am fond of it. I would also like to upgrade my education by doing further studies, such as a master's degree. My long-term goal is to be in an advisor for community leaders. I want to serve in the communities which call me and motivate me based on my experiences and the needs of this country.
The change I want to see, genuinely, is that I wish this human society to solve problems and disagreements without violence. To become more aware that there are alternative ways other than violence. Although it might sound like a utopia, I want a place where institutions that treat their civilians with violence, killing and bombing does’'t exist. Besides, instruction is the most important and necessary thing; educating people about conflict resolution is essential. I want to be more involved in sharing and teaching what I have and cultivate people to be fulfilled in every aspect of their lives."
These stories are collected by the Real Stories Not Tales team. Real Stories Not Tales is a dedicated team in and out of Myanmar that aims to bring awareness to the reality of people's lives since the Myanmar military staged a coup on February 1st, 2021. Stories are collected through interviews with each protagonist by the team, either in Burmese or in English. Each character is drawn by a professional illustrator. RSNT is an anonymous name that is used by the group to guarantee security to all parties involved in the collection of the stories.