What is Happening in Myanmar?
On February 1, Myanmar’s military forces enacted a state of emergency and began a coup d'état. This circumstance occurred because they claimed that the November 2020 general election results are null and void, stating it is an "election fraud" (Cuddy, 2021). However, according to the board of elections, there is no supporting evidence to back up these allegations. The military also declares its intention to hold a new election once the year-long state of emergency is lifted. This coup took place a day before Myanmar's Government was scheduled to swear the oath of members elected in last year's election, preventing this from happening. Following the detainment of President Win Myint and the State’s Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, along with several executive members of the current National League for Democracy (NLD).
Myanmar, or also known as Burma, has been afflicted by political turmoil since gaining independence in 1948. During the current state of the country, a human rights organization in Myanmar is urging the United Nations to place an embargo on the Southeast Asian country to prevent its military from using weapons towards civilians. The Burma Human Rights Network (BHRN, 2021) issued a statement saying, "The international community must strongly sanction military officials and military-owned organizations and enforce a global arms embargo." However, the international institutions considered the coup as a part of Myanmar's internal conflict and constitutional crisis which has resulted in the ending of civil government and imposition of the military regime. Nevertheless, the coup has sparked many demonstrations and civil protest attempts in various parts of Myanmar. Efforts of resistance have also been initiated, particularly by the young generations of Burma to express their outrage addressed to the authoritarian military regime.
The Youth Strikes Back
The Myanmar military's atrocities began with the shooting of a young woman during a public protest rally. After being shot in the head, Mya Thwe Thwe Khaing became the first protester to die in Myanmar's anti-coup demonstrations (Head, 2021). She is the first martyr in Myanmar's civil disobedience movement, which has been spreading throughout the nation until now. According to rights organizations, her wound was consistent with one caused by direct ammunition. As the picture of the protester being cradled after she was shot went viral, her death has caused even more outrage against the authorities. Her image has been depicted in paint and hung on massive posters from overpasses in Yangon, becoming one of the signature motifs of an already visually rich and creative protest movement.
Following the incident, young artists across Burma are using their talents to spread the word of the resistance Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) while facing internet outages, strong military presence, and nighttime raids and arrests. “Art serves as a record of the current condition as well as a weapon against the government.” said the Yangon-based artist to Artnet News, Khin Zaw Latt. For instance, members of the Myanmar Cartoonists Association marched through the streets of Yangon, carrying cutouts of animated characters and making political cartoons condemning the military's actions.
