Diary of a Revolution
Diary of a Revolution emerges from a community-led activist project called Myanmar Voices of Democracy. Initiated in the early days of the February 2021 military coup, the project sought to record, translate and platform the individual voices of student activists, especially in the Shan state and the city of Mandalay. The aim was to create different possibilities from the expected and experienced violence, especially by grassroots people on the ground. By giving people space to express themselves, Myanmar Voices contributes to consideration and action towards and against the imposed curfews, crackdowns, and killings led by military forces.
The texts themselves often highlight the feelings of the moment. They are not news in the sense of reporting on current events, but highly personal reflections on what it is to be oppressed at this very instance. They are raw and many of the activists live in perilous circumstances. That includes sleeping in safe houses away from family, trying to hide away from raids, fleeing persecution and violence because of their courage in speaking up and out against the military regime. They are from witnesses who demand that we listen, and though they are anonymous, each one has an individual presence because it reflects the speaker themselves.
In the context of Portside Review, it was also important for us to think about what the freedom to protest means in a place where democracy itself has been hard won and long fought for. As a journal, we focus on literary expressions, but this expands to include culture and politics at a general level for how they matter to people often marginalised. These first person, brief, reflections are testament to a specific moment in time and speak to the importance of giving voice to the voiceless, especially now. They are a contribution to the dialogue that many are having, which media outlets large and small are covering, and all of which intersect with the interests of other writers and activists right across the Indian Ocean.
We hope you read these texts and listen to the recording as a show of solidarity. Below, we have outlined ways that you can take action in your own community.
With solidarity and love to Myanmar, Portside Review shares this with you.
With thanks to Dipti Vaghela and Tarek Ketelsen.
Voices
Activist One
They shut down the internet yesterday, um, February 6...we were disconnected from both local and global information and news and felt very helpless…
Fake and propaganda information are intentionally released by the military such as the release of Aung San Suu Kyi both on Facebook and with SMS. It’s hard for an average person to know which information is correct and which is false.
We have only a tiny hope left and we don’t have any intention to let go of it. We will fight the dictators until they fail.
Activist Two
Recent protests, events, should not be highlight on the parties or on the leader it is…this event is representing all of the country regardless of their party, regardless of the leader because everybody is leader in this time.
So, the message I would like to give to the international society: the movement in Myanmar is not only for the party or its not only for the leader, it’s for all peoples, all ethnicities in Myanmar, uh, trying to fight the dictatorship. Thank you.
Activist Three
The next thing I know, is that the military have announced a curfew, that no more than five people can gather at one place. It’s weird. How do you do that? Knowing this exactly was what damaged the country for over 60 years. How do you do that again like, only 10 years after democracy has been in practice?...For me it’s so depressing.
I don’t know how it feels to be in the country at the moment. But to be outside of it, and to know that all these things are happening to the people I really care about and love...so much pain.
Activist Four
Hi there, I am one of the citizens and a student from Myanmar. As many of you are probably aware on the first day of February 2021 a president of Myanmar and the state counsellor from Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi and many other people who support the democracy, and even monks, were detained in the early morning by the military just hours before the first sessions of the new parliament.
In Myanmar recent history, the military took over the country once state in it was…the state emergency and what followed was 25 plus years of dictatorship and declining economy. And most importantly the country’s finest thinkers and leaders were either bullied or put into jail. When I was a child my whole family, my grandpa, grandma, mum, dad - they suffered a lot…by the military took over their farm land and everything they, just wanted…they have lost almost everything. Now, half a century later, the history is getting repeated. They are doing it again in the same name. So to whoever is listening to this audio I want to request you to save our country, Myanmar. We don’t want the history repeated again. We have suffered enough. Please help us. Thank you.
A Call to Action
Support these voices by sharing this page with friends and family. Conduct a letter writing campaign to your politicians and diplomats (resources below), write a letter of solidarity to those fighting for justice in Myanmar (form below), and take action with diaspora and homeland communities. It is never too late to act, and Diary of a Revolution is grounded in the optimism that true power lies with the people, no matter where we are and stand. And finally, follow Myanmar Voices on Instagram and Twitter.
Andrea Faulkner
Australian Ambassador to Myanmar
Vantage Tower
623 Pyay Road
Yangon, Myanmar
Myint Swe
Myanmar Ambassador to South Africa
210 Leyds St, Arcadia
Pretoria, 0007
South Africa
Tha Aung Nyun
Myanmar Embassy to Australia
22 Arkana street
Yarralumla, ACT 2600
Australia
Jukr Boon-Long
Thai Ambassador to Myanmar
No.94, Pyay Road
Dagon Township, Yangon
The Republic of The Union of Myanmar
Gaddam Dharmendra
Indian Embassy
561 Merchant Rd
Yangon
Myanmar (Burma)
Monjurul Karim Khan Chowdhury
The Embassy of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh
11-B Than Lwin Road, Yangon,
Myanmar
Tin Oo Lwin
Myanmar Ambassador
to Singapore
15 St Martin's Dr
Singapore, 257996
Iza Fadri
Indonesian Ambassador to Myanmar
No.100, Pyidaungsu Yeiktha Road,
Dagon Township, Yangon,
Myanmar
Write a letter of solidarity.
Let these brave activists know that they are not alone. Share what their stories meant to you and how you are supporting them from across the Indian Ocean.
Portside Review and Myanmar Voices will make sure your letter reaches those who need it most.