The Revolution Will Be Televised
Coming Soon…
"In the underground networks, many people get involved in many different roles, and each different generation also works together, like from the '88 generation, and some people may be older than '88. I was maybe one of the youngest at the time [in 2007], not really knowing enough about how people struggled in the past, but we all shared the way we work. So they know the moves of how intelligence can trace and track people. That's how I learned how to stay low profile. But there's some big experience I encountered, like early in the Saffron Revolution: unfortunately, I got arrested!"
Growing up in Yangon, Aung Tun listened almost religiously to foreign news broadcasts like the BBC and VOA alongside his family. These broadcasts, crackling through a shortwave radio, offered stories otherwise buried under layers of state censorship. At the time, even listening to foreign broadcasts was considered an act of defiance, and could carry consequences leading up to arrest. Yet for many Burmese families, those broadcasts were their only window into the world beyond the military’s iron grip.
Aung Tun was just a boy when the 1988 uprising erupted—a wave of student-led demonstrations that shook the country but ultimately ended in bloodshed. His brother was among those detained, a memory that deeply shaped Aung Tun's understanding of what it meant to stand against injustice. The months without any news of his brother were harrowing for the family. This experience galvanized a sense of urgency in Aung Tun—a need to tell stories, to ensure that the truth could not be easily silenced.
Unlike the bold activists taking to the streets, Aung Tun found his role behind the lens as a videographer, documenting the truth rather than shouting it from a protest line. By the mid-2000s, he had joined the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), an independent media organization founded in 1992 by Burmese dissidents in Norway. DVB was more than just a media outlet for Aung Tun, it was a lifeline operating from exile that challenged the regime's narrative and gave a voice to the voiceless.
Aung Tun's work was clandestine by necessity. He learned how to hide cameras inside bags or beneath loose clothing to avoid detection. The constant caution he exercised was essential, knowing that the possibility of arrest accompanied him everywhere, and with worse consequences beyond that. Back then, even possessing a video camera could be equated with espionage! Yet, he continued undaunted, believing that the power of his images was worth the risk.
In 2007, the Saffron Revolution erupted. The protests began with students demanding political reform and economic relief, and quickly gained momentum as thousands of monks joined in, the color of their robes giving name to the movement. Aung Tun had spent years preparing for just such a moment. Working with a team, he knew this was the chance to document the brutality of the junta and the resilience of the people—images that would tell Myanmar's story in ways that words never could. They were constantly on the move, documenting the monks who led the people through the streets with a peaceful courage that seemed unimaginable just weeks before. The protest footage they captured at great personal risk was then smuggled across borders, edited, and broadcast by DVB. It painted an unflinching picture of the suffering yet hope in Myanmar. The weight of what they were doing was at times almost unbearable, but Aung Tun and his team persisted, driven by the belief that the world needed to see the reality unfolding in Myanmar.
The Saffron Revolution was a pivotal moment in Myanmar's history—and in Aung Tun’s life. He was arrested during one of the demonstrations but managed to talk his way out of serious charges by pretending to be a state-sanctioned reporter. Though released, the fear of re-arrest did not deter him. Whenever people returned to the street to protest, so did Aung Tun, once again blending into the crowds and capturing every crucial moment.
The footage Aung Tun gathered became part of the award-winning documentary, “Burma VJ.” It is more than just a film, however; it is a testament to the power of citizen journalism. The documentary garnered international acclaim, with screenings across Europe that brought the Burmese struggle to global attention. But for Aung Tun, the accolades were secondary. What mattered most was that the world was finally seeing what was happening in Myanmar. In cities like Amsterdam and Prague, viewers approached Aung Tun after screenings, often in tears, asking what they could do to help. It was a powerful realization of the potential of storytelling—one that could transcend borders and inspire action.
In 2021, Myanmar found itself once again facing military oppression, now in the form of a coup. This time, however, the tools of dissent had evolved. Where Aung Tun once relied on hiding and smuggling out tapes, and the courage of couriers, today’s activists have smartphones and social media. However, although the technology may be faster, the danger remains just as real. The brutality of the military has not changed, nor has the courage of those willing to stand against it—a collective desire for freedom, justice, and the right to determine their own future.
Now operating from Thailand, Aung Tun remains committed to the principle that the truth must be documented and shared. He has publicly spoken about the lessons learned from Saffron, emphasizing both the successes and the missteps of the movement. He has pointed out the importance of transparency and self-criticism within the pro-democracy movement, arguing that acknowledging flaws is essential for growth and meaningful progress. This has not always been well-received within the movement, as some fear it could weaken unity or be misused by adversaries to readily admit such shortcomings. Nevertheless, Aung Tun believes that confronting and learning from past mistakes is vital to ensuring the movement's resilience and effectiveness in the future.
Today, Aung Tun collaborates with international media and trains young Burmese journalists. His mission is to pass on the knowledge he acquired during those formative years, skills that he developed at great personal cost. His goal is to ensure that Myanmar’s struggle is remembered and that its people’s voices are never silenced. Storytelling, for Aung Tun, is essential to survival. He asserts that if they do not tell their own stories, others will, and those stories may be misrepresented.
"In [the] Saffron [Revolution], all I could do is to just to keep recording," he says. “So as long as you survive, you keep recording! Somebody will use your footage. So all you have to do is just dutifully do your job. So even though I am in exile, and I cannot film, I still keep telling the story, like I'm telling right now. Even though I cannot film, I will keep sharing the story. So don't think too much! Sometimes you think too much, you'll be overwhelmed by what you have to do. Just look at the present moment."
If you enjoyed this discussion, please consider checking out these past podcast episodes which explore similar themes:
· Aye Chan Naing describes his journey from a student activist during the 1988 uprisings to founding and leading the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB), illustrating the transformative power of information and its role in resistance. He expands on the intersection of activism and journalism, showing how media can bridge ethnic divides, document oppression, and amplify the fight for democracy. He stresses the importance of truth and credibility in countering propaganda and empowering marginalized voices.
· Nyein shares her journey as a female photojournalist in Myanmar amid the backdrop of the coup. Her work documenting atrocities and the history of the revolution in the face of systemic gender discrimination and personal danger highlights her resilience and courage. She reflects on her escape to Thailand and her continued efforts to archive the lives of refugees there. Nyein emphasizes that photography can be a voice for the silenced, a means to convey untold stories, and a tool for reclaiming agency in the face of oppression.
· Swe Win recounts his journey from political prisoner to the editor-in-chief of Myanmar Now, and underscores the critical role of independent journalism in exposing corruption and human rights abuses. He reflects on how his vipassana and mettā practices, cultivated under dire conditions, helped him face down danger, and develop the mental stability needed to lead impactful investigations into Myanmar's complex, socio-political landscape. He highlights the interconnectedness of inner transformation and outer advocacy, and believes that genuine, societal progress requires the ethical grounding of individuals in order to avoid simply replicating systems of oppression.
· Laure, a journalist and media trainer, talks about how her experiences inspired her to co-found Visual Rebellion, a collective dedicated to supporting Burmese photographers and journalists documenting the truth about the military's violent suppression of dissent. She describes how their work helps sustain the global spotlight on Myanmar’s struggle for democracy, and provides a platform for voices otherwise silenced by fear and repression.
· Toe Zaw Latt discusses his experience as a journalist covering Myanmar's turbulent history, and how it illustrates that communication technologies have been used both a tool for state control, and a means for grassroots resistance. He highlights the transformative role of independent media and digital platforms in countering censorship and misinformation, and highlights the critical importance of access to information for the survival and empowerment of those fighting for democracy.