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1. This mini History Thread is a brief explainer on peoples resistance to oppression in Burma (Myanmar.) It’s especially for my Portland people (“latte alliance”) who might want some background on the Feb. 1, 2021 Myanmar coup and the protests against it.
2. Diverse lands that would become Burma (Myanmar in 1989) included trade kingdoms like Arakan & Pegu, independent mountain peoples. 18th C. British conquered but resistance including armed uprisings & labor strikes continued throughout Colonial period. https://www.irrawaddy.com/specials/on-this-day/day-british-sentenced-peasant-rebel-leader-saya-san-death.html
3. WW2 was extremely destructive in Burma & different ethnic groups took different sides. After Japanese fascist occupation ended, Britain finally granted independence. New govt was opposed by a major Communist insurgency & by ethnic groups fighting for autonomy or independence.
4. 1962 Gen. Ne Win took power from Burma's elected govt. Military ruled brutally w/o elected govt to 2016. Students demonstrated in 1962, 100+ were killed. Student + workers protests in 1974-76 violently suppressed, student Salai Tin Maung Oo executed. https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/salai-tin-maung-oo-defiant-to-the-end/
5. Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) always active in frontier areas against Burma/Myanmar military regime. They formed/broke alliances w. each other & armed/financed their struggles in a variety of ways. Their ideologies varied (Communist rebellion also continued up to 1990s.)
6. 1988 with military economic control causing extreme distress students took to streets. Prodemocracy movement general strikes spread throughout Burma. Dictator Ne Win stepped down but wd be replaced by juntas continuing military rule. 3,000+ civilians massacred in crackdowns.
7. In 2007 economic crisis inspired Buddhist monks to lead peaceful marches opposing Myanmar's SPDC junta. Demonstrations were enormous, word leaked to outside world via early cellphone videos, but in another ruthless military crackdown, many civilians, incl. monks were killed.
8. Enduring military rule for decades, Myanmar resistance continued in poetry, literature reading groups, info smuggling. Juntas tried to control all of media/arts but mutual aid punk rockers & hip hop artists defied censors to express their rage. 2013:
9. Elected govt (w. military component) took office 2016. Still much to protest. Antiwar protests & some stood up for Rohingyas, student rights marchers, Kayah self-determination, labor union strikes, enviro issues. Braving violence, arrests. 600+ political prisoners Myanmar 2020
10. In Myanmar tradition of creative civil disobedience, protests against Feb. 1, 2021 coup incl. evening noisemaking, medical professionals led work stoppage. Some inspired by Milk Tea Alliance but face far greater retaliation from infamously brutal, genocidal Myanmar military.
11/11. Way forward requires #TroopWithdrawal Myanmar military out of occupied ethnic areas, out of government, out of economy. For updates on Myanmar read/support @FrontierMM. My previous History Threads incl on Burma resistance at http://www.projectmaje.org https://www.frontiermyanmar.net/en/teachers-students-join-anti-coup-campaign-as-hospital-staff-stop-work/
