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“Three days at the demonstrations, then a day off”.
Since the military coup on February 1st, Hein's everyday life has been very different from usual. He has given up his work to now face the weapons of General Min Aung Hlaing on the streets of Rangoon.
The young video producer says that on the day of the coup he "cried at first, but then felt an incredible anger".
Since then, he has met every morning with the young people in his neighborhood, the largest city in the country, for spontaneous protest rallies, during which they continuously adapt to their opponents.
The police are cracking down on the demonstrators.
According to the United Nations, at least 38 people were killed on Wednesday alone because officials shot the demonstrators with live ammunition.
The number of deaths could rise even further because many people were injured, some seriously.
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Hein is not deterred by that.
When the army shuts down the Internet, the brilliantly networked new generation will quickly print leaflets to mobilize the elderly, who fear a bloody crackdown on the protests.
Source: WORLD infographic
As soon as the internet is back, the young people share their latest memes via TikTok or Instagram, with which they make fun of the "dictator", and then pass on the meeting points for their next actions in a completely harmless atmosphere.
Although these apps are banned by the censorship, the young activists circumvent them with the help of VPN software, which allows you to browse the Internet anonymously thanks to encryption.
Always one step ahead of the military
In doing so, they are always one step ahead of the military, which is clinging to its power.
“The army wants to suppress everyone, as it did back in 1988. But now it's 2021!” Hein explains briskly when making a phone call via the encrypted messenger service Signal.
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At that time, the ruling junta opened fire on the pro-democracy demonstrators and even beheaded some of their opponents in Rangoon.
Today, millennials and members of Generation Z, i.e. the roughly 20-year-olds, dominate the protests - armed with the latest technology and unshakable self-confidence.
They are resuming the fight because they want their votes cast in the November 8th parliamentary elections to be respected.
Younger voters contributed significantly to the triumph of the National League for Democracy (LND) party founded by Aung San Suu Kyi.
"Since February 1st, I've lost interest in everything, even my favorite music," says Bird about the day of the military coup.
The 37-year-old put all his anger into a rap song that is now supposed to inspire the demonstrators of this “revolution”.
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In this predominantly Buddhist country of 54 million people, where ten to 24 year olds make up more than a quarter of the total population, the new generation is on the verge of a revolt, determined to defend the freedom that the Tatmadaw ( This is what the army of Myanmar is called) brutally wrested from them after a decade of opening up.
“This protest is led by Generation Z, who form the majority in the demonstrations.
I'm really proud of her, ”says Pho Thaw (first name changed).
The 27-year-old has also demonstrated daily since the coup.
The founder of a startup in Rangoon has put his professional activities on hold in order to take part in this battle of an entire generation.
For the past three weeks he and his friends have been alternating “depressed, angry, or drunk,” explains the young man, who studied in the United States and England.
Demonstration in Rangoon
Source: AFP
He conjures up the successes of Che Guevara, but also those of the comic superheroes from Hollywood films, in order to better describe what is at stake here.
“We are experiencing the 'endgame' of the Avengers here.
A generation after the revolution of 1988 it is now the last, decisive battle! ”Enthuses Pho Thaw.
“Soon man will land on Mars, and we still don't have a democracy!
We have to catch up. "
Just like in Hong Kong or Bangkok, this well-educated generation, which is intoxicated by the pop culture from abroad, got to know freedom via the Internet and now has the courage to rebel against the old, authoritarian guard.
The older generation follows this with worried, but often admiring looks.
“My parents didn't want me to take part in the demonstrations for fear of persecution,” explains Hein.
Older passers-by sometimes push him a few crumpled banknotes or groceries - in this way they discreetly and quietly show their solidarity.
The elderly can still remember the brutal crackdown on the protests of 1988 and the “Saffron Revolution” of 2007.
They are cautious given the escalation on the streets that has already left dozens of deaths.
According to UN figures, 38 people across the country were killed by the army on Wednesday alone.
“The difference is that Generation Z did not grow up in fear and are not afraid to claim their rights,” says Min Nut, a 39-year-old artist who is visibly impressed by the bravery of his younger compatriots.
"They trust each other and know how to get the information they need for this fight, thanks to their training and information technologies."
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As in neighboring Thailand, the country's youth and young adults, who have long been described as apolitical and consumerist, have turned into a rebellious generation that even risks a bloodbath and ignores all the warnings of the coup plotters.
"The demonstrators incite the population, but above all exalted teenagers and young people, who then follow this path of provocation, at the end of which they will perish," warned the rulers on February 21 in a message read on television.
Vain.
The next day, hundreds of thousands joined the call for a general strike, despite the deaths of three young protesters.
“Everyone is afraid of getting hurt.
But this revolution is only a consequence of the oppression.
We want to be treated like human beings, we want justice, ”explains Bird.
And Min Nut analyzes: “Usually this generation is not particularly interested in politics.
But she hates injustice.
She cannot and does not want to accept that the army simply disregards their votes. "
Most of the protesters are calling for non-violent action, in the style of Aung San Suu Kyi, the heroine of the democratic movement in Myanmar, who was arrested by the army on February 1st.
According to the law, Suu Kyi is not allowed to become president because her husband is British, but she was considered the de facto head of government and was practically confirmed by the election.
But the violent reaction of the armed forces, which have given up their initial restraint in the past few days and have already fired live ammunition several times, is fueling fear of a dangerous escalation on the streets.
As in Hong Kong, this could lead to a radicalization of part of the protest movement, which can be lured into violence by the harsher methods of the military.
The police and military also used live ammunition
Source: AFP
“Many of the youth are ready to fight and the army is provoking them to cause incidents.
Accordingly, the situation could become much tougher than before in the coming days, ”Hein believes.
Pho Thaw also fears a bloody outcome, but refuses to consider an armed fight himself.
"We have to stay peaceful, that's why we need international pressure more than ever to get the army to retreat," explains the young man, who appeals primarily to the United States and Europe and the lukewarm attitude of the Asian countries and India criticized.
Hein remains skeptical: "Ultimately, we can only count on ourselves."
This article first appeared in “Le Figaro”. Translated from the French by Bettina Schneider.
This text comes from the newspaper cooperation Leading European Newspaper Alliance (LENA)
Source: WORLD infographic