Faces of Change
[2021]
Portraits of Myanmar’s Democratic Awakening
On February 1, Myanmar’s army invalidated the nations’ second democratic election, seized power, and abruptly sank the coup-prone country back into a retrograde military dictatorship. Myanmar’s political leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, has been arrested.
For the first few days, Myanmar’s population of more than 54 million people seemed stunned into silence. But by the fourth day, after police raids and arrests began, people flooded the streets in peaceful protests led by the youth of this conservative Buddhist nation. Even older citizens—who had endured five decades of ruthless military dictatorships and had tasted some freedoms during the past decade of hybrid democratic rule—joined in resisting with exuberant fury.
Within days, the military and police began shooting unarmed protesters. As of August 18th, 1007 people have been confirmed killed and 5747 people have detained according to AAPP. It has been reported in international and local media outlet that the torture and sexual harassment of several women activists in custody.
Who are these brave people?
Faces of Change will provide an intimate answer to that sprawling question: a subtle, human-focused portrait gallery of ordinary individuals who are participating in the revolution and—as strangers acting in unison—radically changing their country’s history.
This gallery of ordinary people—at an extraordinary juncture in their lives—is aimed to bring a needed counterpoint perspective to the imagery of Myanmar’s Spring Revolution.
Social Worker, 27
"First I felt angry but later sad as soon as I hear the news of the coup. But my anger beat my sadness later. We have lost our youth, dream, hope and our loved ones in this revolution. When I feel sad or weak in this long war, I am driven by my anger to carry on. I will be carrying this anger until we win"
Protesters in Yangon burn copies of Myanmar"s 2008 constitution on Feb 19th 202, which gives the military significant political power, includ- ing a guaranteed 25 percent of all seats in parliament.
Businesswoman , 32
“My mom always talks about the hardships she faced during the last big uprising against the Myanmar military in 1988. She was four months pregnant with me. She was starving. She and her brother tried to es- cape to her hometown of Myitkyina without a train ticket, because theydidn"t have money. She lived on a broken-down train for five days while she was on the run. They faced death. She says I might have to face this all over again. She told me, “You survived while you were still in my belly in the last revolution, but now you'll have to look after yourself.”
Members of the Burma Federation of Trade Unions march toward Sule Pagoda in downtown Yangon on February 14. Thousands of protesters across Myanmar demonstrate against the military coup.
Artist and writer, 41
"Art mobilizes people. We have a long tradition of that here in Myan-mar— a history of protest art. Poets in Mandalay, the imperial capital, were writing rhymes against tyranny centuries ago. They compared repression to bitter cold. We can draw on that tradition. Art has a strong effect on people"s psyches. It"s a way to combat fear. That"s what artists have to do now, even when tear gas is burning our eyes.”
Posters against the coup and military rule hang from Yangon"s Myaynigone Bridge.
Freelance Writer, 27
We have faced a lot of losses in this revolution but to me, what we have gained as a positive outcome is majority Burmese people’s view towards ethic minority. That’s a good move. We did not realize in the past what the Bur- manization isand our justifications towards them are so biased because of the stereotypical way of thinking nurtured by the Burmese chauvinism and because of the information delivered by the Burmese military.
Yangon"s pride festival and march, which were to take place on February 14, were canceled because of the unrest. Members of the LGBTQ community instead gather peacefully and march to city hall on February 19.
Human rights advocate, 27
I’ve protested with other LGBTQ women in front of embassies. In front of the U.S. Embassy,we chanted, “Save Myanmar. Support us."We wore similar skirts and wrote, “**** the Coup" on our outfits. We denounced Russia in front of their embassy. In front of the Chinese Embassy, I held a poster that said “My father is Chinese, but I am against the Chinese government supply- ing arms to the Burmese military."Neither China"s nor Russia"s ambassadors came out and met us.”
Protesters in Yangon use thanakha, Burmese traditional face paint, not only as the gesture of peace but also as sun blocks.
Manager, 30
"I have no words to express about the anger and sadness. that's all I have felt since the first day of the coup. First I am angry but later I am sad because I think of my daughter's future. As my childhood had been under the military dictatorship, I do know how it was like. I don't want it happen again for my daughter. I never felt having burden or regret being a mother. But for the first time, I felt guilty that my daughter because I feel really bad that she may have to face the same experience like me if we win this revolution. So we must win.”
Protestors help each other before the march of the protest in the early morning under the bridge of Myaynigon, Yangon on 12th Feb 2021, which is Union Day of Myanmar.
Rights labor activist, 35
"I’m pregnant right now. I feel exhausted after I walk on the streets. But I don"t want to stay at home. When I see posts about protests on Facebook, I feel guilty about staying at home. !It"s true that most protesters are demanding the immediate release of Aung San Suu Kyi. Is it enough that she"s released? We may share political goals, but the problem is much bigger. It"s our country"s old system of authoritarianism. We need to consider the rights of ethnic minority groups, the issue of majority Burmese chauvinism, and many other things. !Before the coup, my friends encouraged me to have a child because of my age—I"m getting older. At first, I was happy and proud that I was going to have a baby. Now I"m not sure. I don"t welcome a child any-more because of what"s happening in my country. The future is too uncertain.”
Artists braid colored string to show solidarity with protesters under Myaynigone Bridge.
Retired Business man, 63
"I have lived through many military crackdowns in Myanmar. I was an activist in all of those old revolutions. We had many strikes, many protests. We lost all of them. I had to go into hiding. I was imprisoned for four years. My whole family was imprisoned. I grew tired of all of this. I just wanted a quiet life. This time, I feel it"s a bigger revolution. It"s not about politics anymore, not about leaders or parties. It"s against fascism. We"re united now like never before. We can easily gather 500 people together fast. We"re protecting each other. Neighbor looking out for neighbor. My mind is there now—back in my neighborhood. After you photograph me, I need to return. They need me.”
Protesters have pasted a poster of Min Aung Hlaing, the army general who led the coup, on a street in downtown Yangon. The posters are to show their anger and deter police and soldiers, who dare not step on his image.
Research consultant -28
"I’m a minority from Rakhine state. I’ve faced discrimination all my life. I knew I was different from about the fourth grade on. The teacher would slap me and not other students. I felt really, really small. My whole life, I"ve felt cast aside by the mainstream Burmese community. That"s why this revolution has to be total. We can"t go back to the old status quo. We need a new federal system that gives real power to ethnic minorities. That"s what I"m protesting for. This is an opportunity. I feel like I"m breathing for the first time in a long time.”
Protesters in Yangon burn copies of Myanmar"s 2008 constitution, which gives the military significant political power, including a guaran-teed 25 percent of all seats in parliament.