Episode #289: These Songs of Freedom
Release Date: December 3
“I've been working on Burma for more than 20 years, inside and out, where ordinary people are called on to do extraordinary things. People whose whole lives have been non-violent and non-confrontational have now been called on to pick up weapons, to do what needs to be done. And it’s a very interesting and very challenging situation for people whose life is based on peace and cooperation, to be called on to enter into this type of standing up to violence in the only way that's going to work.”
Patrick Burgess is an international human rights lawyer who has dedicated decades of his life to working at the intersection of law, conflict, and advocacy. His family background played a significant role in shaping this path: His father was a veteran of the Second World War and war correspondent, and his mother worked as a schoolteacher and grief counselor. This upbringing instilled an empathy for others and a spirit of adventure, which propelled Patrick into the field of human rights, and has taken him into a number of conflict zones, including Rwanda, East Timor, Yemen, Cambodia, and Burma.
Patrick grew up in Sydney, Australia. He decided to travel the world before settling down and starting a career, taking on various jobs such as bartender, truck driver, and lifeguard; a skilled musician, he also played professionally as opportunities arose. When he finally returned home, he decided to pursue a career in law.
After getting his degree, Patrick gained extensive experience in the courtroom, which deepened his sense of justice. While still practicing as a barrister, he became increasingly drawn to international human rights work. This transition began in earnest when he watched the horrors of the Rwandan genocide unfold on television—an experience that deeply affected him and prompted him to take immediate action. Moved to action but with minimal experience in humanitarian aid work, Patrick offered his services to several NGOs, including CARE Australia, Oxfam, and the Red Cross; which eventually led to his deployment by CARE to Rwanda. There, Patrick witnessed firsthand the true scale of the atrocities. He worked tirelessly to set up emergency relief projects for children who had seen their parents killed, and managed a significant relief effort in an area lacking basic infrastructure. This intense experience profoundly shaped his understanding of the horrors of mass violence and deepened his dedication to humanitarian work. Yet despite the extreme situation he found there, Patrick also sensed something familiar. “I was at home,” he says. “It wasn't something that I felt like I wanted to run away from. It was something where I felt I could help, and I felt at home in that sort of chaotic [environment]."
Following his work in Rwanda, Patrick was drawn to East Timor, and the escalating crisis there due to the Indonesian occupation. Motivated by the desire to support communities striving for sovereignty, Patrick played a pivotal role in organizing the independence referendum. He also led the establishment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of East Timor, where he documented human rights abuses and served as its principal legal counsel.
After his time in East Timor, Patrick returned to Australia, balancing his responsibilities as a barrister with his growing dedication to international humanitarian work. He kept the boots he had worn in the field in his barrister's chambers in Australia, as a reminder of what he calls his "schizophrenic” life. His experiences in Rwanda and East Timor laid the foundation for his ongoing work in addressing large-scale human rights abuses in other conflict regions.
In Yemen, Patrick focused on documenting human rights abuses, assisting in relief efforts during the civil war, and advocating for civilian protection. After this came Cambodia, where he worked to address the devastating legacy of the Khmer Rouge. He focused on initiatives that supported survivors of the genocide by establishing frameworks for accountability and reconciliation. He developed a strong belief that the voices of victims should be integral to local and national initiatives, instead of being used for fundraising by Western organizations and countries, which is all-too-often the case. This developed into a central theme in his work going forward.
Patrick then turned his attention to Burma, where he closely collaborated with local organizations, documenting human rights abuses and working directly with impacted communities. Patrick focused on empowering local actors to push for accountability and reform, supporting their efforts to resist the junta's control through grassroots initiatives. His work there also included assisting political prisoners, supporting civil society groups, and building platforms for the Burmese people to tell their stories and advocate for justice.
One project of particular interest was producing a television series titled “The Sun, The Moon, and The Truth,” created after the 2011 political transition at the suggestion of Aung San Suu Kyi. The series aimed to teach Burmese people about democracy, human rights, and gender equality by using popular themes and dramatic storytelling. It was produced in collaboration with an award-winning Australian scriptwriter, Phil Quinn, and featured narratives set within an NGO dealing with legal aid. It covered issues like workers' rights, defamation, and unfair trials, and reached millions of viewers across Burma, distributed on DVDs and shown in tea shops. The series helped to amplify the Burmese people’s stories of resistance and resilience.
In looking at the body of Patrick’s far-reaching and important work in conflict zones, a frequent theme has been transitional justice; that is, seeking accountability, reparations, and institutional reforms in societies emerging from conflict. As noted above, Patrick’s methodology situates victims at the heart of the process, ensuring that justice initiatives are not just top-down, but deeply informed by the lived experiences of those who have suffered. His approach is informed by his extensive experience across different cultural contexts, which posits that sustainable peace and reconciliation can only be achieved when communities are actively involved in crafting their paths forward.
Patrick uses his skills as a singer-songwriter to complement his work in a unique way, merging music, activism, and legal expertise together into an unconventional approach. His belief in the power of music and storytelling reflects his holistic approach to justice. His experiences in various conflict zones have repeatedly demonstrated the ability of these mediums to bridge gaps and convey the human side of struggles, often transcending what legal discourse alone can achieve. Storytelling enables people to communicate complex and often traumatic experiences, as well as inspiring resilience. To Patrick, music is not just a form of artistic expression, but also a tool for connecting with people on a deeper level.
Patrick co-founded Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) with his wife, Galuh Wandita, a noted Indonesian human rights activist. AJAR's mission is to build the capacity of local human rights defenders and support survivors of mass atrocities throughout Southeast Asia. AJAR also plays a significant role in facilitating community-driven efforts to document abuses, advocate for accountability, and foster reconciliation. Not surprisingly, a core aspect of AJAR’s methodology—reflecting what Patrick’s has learned over decades in this work—is its victim-centered approach. In this endeavor, he emphasizes the value of local approaches, supporting community-led investigations and empowering grassroots organizations to take ownership of the transitional justice process.
AJAR works to build the capacity of local human rights defenders, focusing on survivors of mass atrocities, transitional justice, and grassroots empowerment.
Since the military coup in 2021, Patrick has intensified his advocacy efforts for Burma, using his platform to provide essential support to civil society organizations resisting the junta. His focus has been on ensuring that international attention remains on Burma’s crisis, particularly emphasizing the need for accountability and international solidarity with the Burmese people. He has been actively involved in documenting the atrocities committed by the military, assisting in creating networks for humanitarian support, and advocating for targeted sanctions against the junta. Patrick remains hopeful about the resilience of the Burmese people and continues to support the resistance movement.
As Patrick puts it: "In this context of Burma right now, one of the amazing things is that there are millions of heroes, and they're sustaining each other, and I just hope we can sustain that sense of community inspiration as time goes forward as well."
If you found this talk with Patrick Burgess of interest, here are some recommendations for related episodes:
• Kyar Phyu delves into the lives of Myanmar civil servants who joined the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). To her, they embody the resilience and moral courage needed to resist oppressive forces even at great personal cost. She shares stories of everyday citizens taking extraordinary risks for democracy, offering a close-up look at the strength that human rights defenders display in the face of systemic violence.
• Liam Scott discusses the Responsibility to Protect (R2P) doctrine, exploring how the global community has a duty to step in when civilians are at risk of mass atrocities. By unpacking R2P’s principles, he addresses how it can mobilize support for Myanmar and protect vulnerable populations, reinforcing the importance of international action in upholding human rights.
• Jiri Sitler draws compelling connections between Myanmar’s democratic struggles and the Czech Velvet Revolution, highlighting the resilience of those who challenge authoritarian regimes. He feels that freedom fighters in Myanmar today mirror the courageous efforts of those who brought change to Czechoslovakia decades ago, showing that the fight for justice is both timeless and universal.
• Han Gyi explores the long road toward justice and reparations in Myanmar, emphasizing the importance of documenting abuses and advocating for accountability. He recognizes the tenacity needed to pursue justice against entrenched power structures, resonating with the broader call for transparency and redress in societies striving to recover from conflict.
• Debbie Stothard shares her journey from journalism to regional activism, discussing her commitment to amplifying voices across Asia’s marginalized communities. She describes how human rights advocacy can empower communities to stand up to injustice, reinforcing the necessity of solidarity and local leadership in creating lasting change.