[Myanmar Civil Society Interview Series] ④ “Overseas Migrant Workers, Youth, and Women: New Key Actors in Myanmar's Democratic Uprising”

YouTube Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hPmTmRHdeRc

The <Strengthening Myanmar Civil Society Capacity> project has planned a civil society interview series titled 'Myanmar Again,' which focuses on the stories of Korean and Myanmar civil society activists who have supported the civil disobedience movement in Myanmar over the past year. Khin May Htar, Director of the Suwon Migrant Center, looks back at the experience of the 8888 Myanmar Uprising and points out the importance of solidarity for the Myanmar people in their resistance against the military and their pursuit of democratization, not only within Myanmar but also internationally. She analyzes that the active participation of young women has been particularly crucial during this prolonged struggle and hopes that Myanmar will move beyond its conservative legacy as a Buddhist nation and grow in a direction that offers more opportunities for social participation to future generations.

Interviewer Introduction

■ Khin May Htar_Director of the Suwon Migrant Center and human rights activist. She is engaged in educational initiatives to promote global citizenship education and human rights. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English Literature from Mandale University and a Bachelor of Education from Taunggyi College of Education.

■ Produced and Edited by: Jeon Ju-hyun_EAI Researcher

    Inquiries: 02 2277 1683 (ext. 204) | jhjun@eai.or.kr

Video Script

Yes, hello. Thank you for having me. I am Khin May Htar, born in Myanmar and living my second life in Korea. I have a husband and two sons. I have been living in Suwon for most of my life and am active here as the director of a migrant center. The Suwon Migrant Center was founded in 2000. We have been active in advocating for the rights of migrants and promoting a society where migrants and residents coexist. We are a civic organization working towards this goal.

Through our center, we engage in various human rights advocacy, unification, and diversity awareness improvement activities, collaborating with diverse local organizations. Yes, as mentioned, I participated in the 8888 uprising in August 1988. That was the second major uprising in Myanmar. At that time, I was a civil servant and participated in the protests. However, the military eventually threatened us, telling us to return to our posts. Fearing for our safety, we returned to our jobs and resumed our work.

That was a failure, wasn't it? I believe it was a significant failure. However, in the current 2021 revolution, the people of Myanmar are fighting to the end, and even civil servants are not giving up and are continuing their struggle. I observe this. Also, in Korea, as I mentioned earlier, the Korean democratization movement has had a global impact. The people of Myanmar are learning from this, learning a lot from Korea, and are moving forward with that in mind.

As soon as I heard the news, I was shocked. For several days, I couldn't even eat properly, and I barely slept. It was like that for about a month. Then I thought, we have to be strong. We have the youth under us. We have to be strong together. That's the kind of determination we had. Also, at the center, I had responsibilities as a mother figure, so I had to keep going and work hard.

The flower of democracy in Myanmar began to bloom around 2010, and by 2016, we had achieved a democratic government. We started living in peace and happiness, and the world began to pay attention to us. Then, suddenly, this happened. It was a very shocking and heartbreaking event for us. I remember that day vividly. It was the start of the revolution.

A year or so later, I went to Suwon Station and saw many young Myanmar people gathered there. They approached us, saying, 'Let's work together with our center.' That's how we started forming groups here. The young people of Myanmar have such strong emotions. They want to go and fight for what is happening to their compatriots. They feel that injustice. But I told them that's not the way.

Going there is not an option for us right now. The people are suffering so much. We have so much to do here. First, we are raising awareness and providing support. If we provide support, it will be very helpful. Our friends can come here and voice their concerns. They cannot voice their concerns in Myanmar. So, we are raising our voices loudly here and conveying our message to the world, to Korea. That's how we are proceeding. Yes, we were holding a rally near Suwon Station, and Korean people came to support us.

We don't have the strength on our own. When I said I would do something, the activists at the center said, 'Let's do it together.' We are so grateful for their support. We are also informing the Myanmar community here about our activities, and they are also grateful and find it encouraging. We are very thankful to our friends. To express our gratitude, we decided to hold a fundraising event with stories.

So, with the youth and everyone who came here, we all participated. We held these fundraising events every week, with two to three people on weekdays and sometimes up to ten or more on weekends. Due to COVID-19, we couldn't do much. When gatherings were restricted, we held online campaigns, such as the 8888 anniversary event, and posted photos on social media. Since we couldn't meet in person, we continued our activities diligently every day.

We are showing our support and making our voices heard. Those who can participate are doing so, and even those who cannot are joining us in our fundraising efforts. We have collaborated with various networks, including the Myanmar Students Association in Korea, minority groups in Korea, and the ASEAN Migrant Workers' Union, to send aid to critical areas in Myanmar, including medical supplies and masks.

Also, schools in Myanmar have been closed for about two years now. Students cannot attend school, so we are providing online Korean language education for them in collaboration with Myanmar university students in Korea. Recently, the military increased internet fees, making it difficult for students to access education. Therefore, we are supporting them by covering their internet costs, among other forms of assistance.

Currently, we are providing Korean language education online to students in Myanmar. However, students are also learning in English and other languages. I started this initiative with the intention that young Koreans here should learn as much as they can while they are in Korea. At our center, we offer various programs, including debates and lectures, as part of global citizenship education. The young people enjoy these activities and learn a lot. They also expressed interest in learning about Korea's democratization movement, so we provided lectures on that topic. We also organized a program connecting them with the mothers of the Gwangju Uprising to foster mutual understanding. As I majored in literature, I have a passion for it. Through the Asia Hub at Suwon University, I was able to translate children's books and even create our own. This was made possible by the Asia Hub. However, the current situation in Myanmar is...

We have received various donations. We are constantly seeking ways to utilize these funds effectively. The director is also interested in TrauM and has been providing support. We have been sending them donations, and in return, we have been sending them updates and reports. Recently, books were donated for Myanmar, and we are distributing them. Yes, regarding women, there are negative perceptions...

and there are some who hold slightly different views. Based on our cultural background, women have often been excluded and have tended to be passive. However, during the current Myanmar revolution, I have been surprised to see women taking on much more active roles. I am grateful for this change. The younger generation also accepts this. They no longer think that women should stay at home. I was truly surprised. I am grateful that society has improved in this regard, and women are now able to express themselves more freely.

Myanmar is still a Buddhist country, and the conservative mindset persists, which is somewhat disappointing. However, many people are beginning to see Buddhism from a different perspective. Buddhism should ideally be about spiritual extremism, but it has been misinterpreted. This is influenced by the military regime. Currently, women are able to do whatever they want. I believe this is a positive development. Our younger generation is actively participating. They are no longer hesitant to speak out. I was surprised. I am grateful that society has improved in this regard, and women are now able to express themselves more freely.

Even though it's weak, my mother insists that it's still our country's Buddhism, so that's a bit regrettable. Still, many people have started to show a slightly more secular side. Secularism is supposed to be an early stage of religious extremism, but it's being viewed from a different perspective. This is because it is influenced by the military regime. In fact, because of that, women are now doing everything they want to do, and I believe that in the future, our women will continue to fight on the front lines in the demilitarized zone.

There is no turning back. I believe things will improve significantly in the future. It has been two years, and although we want to do so much more, we cannot do so within Myanmar at this moment. Initially, the people of Myanmar were calling for help with bare hands. But that did not resolve the situation, and many lives were lost. Consequently, to protect themselves, they were forced to take up arms. Moreover, the opposing forces are much stronger. Now, even attacks are occurring within Korea. Myanmar has truly become a battlefield. The people of Myanmar are facing immense suffering, and even those in villages are being displaced. Many are fleeing their homes, but there is nowhere to go. Even in areas that were previously quiet, people live in constant fear, unsure of when they will be attacked. Everyone in Myanmar is suffering. We have no choice but to help them. We cannot fight there ourselves. Our youth are doing a great job here. We are collecting donations and sending them to Myanmar. We are organizing campaigns to raise funds.

We are sending funds to Myanmar. Just the day before yesterday, we sent 500,000 won. People are fleeing their homes, losing everything, and their lives are in danger. We are providing support in various ways. This is the only way we can help right now. Secondly, the international community is supporting the establishment of a National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar. We believe it is essential to nurture the NUG and for the international community to recognize it. Only then can we fight against the military regime and overthrow it.

To that end, we are working to strengthen the NUG. The people of Myanmar are suffering under the military junta. I am also suffering, but I believe that spring will eventually come. We must not forget the people of Myanmar who are in danger and suffering. Because if we forget them, they will be forgotten. Therefore, every Sunday, regardless of the weather, we go out to voice our support and show our solidarity.

I want to convey this message. I also want to say a few words to the people of Myanmar: 'Be strong, everyone. Spring will surely come to Myanmar. Until then, we are together. We must fight together. We must overcome these challenges to rebuild a peaceful and beautiful Myanmar and create a democratic society together.' I also want to say to the people of Korea: 'Thank you for your great interest, support, and material assistance since the Myanmar crisis began. And thank you to my comrades who join me every Sunday.'

I also want to say to the international community: 'The Myanmar crisis is not just a problem for one country or one member of the global community. When such problems arise, they have global social and economic implications. We must all consider this a shared problem and work together to resolve it.' When the people of Myanmar were powerless and pleading for help, their pleas were ignored, and their internal affairs were dismissed. The people of Myanmar have been deeply disappointed for decades.

Therefore, they are now taking it upon themselves to defend themselves. Please understand that they are fighting with all their might, do not misunderstand, and join us in this fight. If we fight together, Myanmar can quickly regain its democracy and flourish again. Please find ways to support us and stand with Myanmar.

We are sending funds to Myanmar. Just the day before yesterday, we sent 500,000 won. People are fleeing their homes, losing everything, and their lives are in danger. We are providing support in various ways. This is the only way we can help right now. Secondly, the international community is supporting the establishment of a National Unity Government (NUG) in Myanmar. We believe it is essential to nurture the NUG and for the international community to recognize it. Only then can we fight against the military regime and overthrow it.