Civilizatio

In this interview we talked with our friend Andrew* from Myanmar about the issues in Myanmar. The dialogue has been transcribed from the original interview and lightly edited for clarity. However, it’s important for readers to remember that the conversation was casual and free-flowing, capturing the authentic nature of our discussion.

*We will refer to our friend as Andrew and hide his real name as it is his wish to stay anonymous for the protection of him and his family.

Civilizatio Team

1. Introduction
2. Life in Myanmar
3. Role of Ethnic Groups and PDF
4. The Future of Myanmar
5. Last Remarks from Andrew

Introduction

We are Hasan and Bora from Civilizatio, and today we are doing an interview with Andrew, our friend from Myanmar. Our topic will be civil war and recent developments in Myanmar. First of all, can you introduce yourself?

Andrew

Well, my name is Andrew and I’m 21 years old. And for now, I’m living in Hungary, studying at the University of Pecs. My major is biology. But before that from 2015 until 2023, I lived in Myanmar, also known as Burma, formerly. Before that, my parents brought me to live in Singapore when I was younger.

Hasan

OK. Well, did you born in Myanmar?

Andrew

Yes, I was born in Myanmar, in a city called Mandalay.

Life in Myanmar

Hasan

OK, before starting actually we wanted to ask you about the floats. There was a typhoon happening in Myanmar a few weeks back. Can you explain what happened?

Andrew

Oh, basically there was like a Super Typhoon near China in the China Sea and it was affecting like Vietnam, China as well as my country. And according to my parents, it’s been raining a lot in the past few days and a lot of cities. Except my city. In my city, it’s raining, but the floods, it’s not as catastrophic. While in other cities a lot of property, a lot of people are being swept away by the floods.

Bora

Our condolences to everybody who have been affected by the typhoon. But going back to our interview, can you talk about your experience in Myanmar? How was life in Myanmar when you lived there?

Andrew

Oh, during the earlier years. When I came back from Singapore to Myanmar, they had a reelection, right? And the government changed for a while and we had this leader, the Nobel Prize winner Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

And she was like the head of the government for a while. And, you know, things were good. You know, a lot of developments in Myanmar, a lot of projects. And, you know, people were still coming to Myanmar for tourism and stuff because we have, like, a UNESCO site in Bagan and that was great. After a while, I think around 2016-17, right, that was a major controversial case as well. In like, the southern part of Myanmar, in Rakhine, there was a Rohingya genocide.

And people mostly condemned Aung San Suu Kyi for it, even though the military did it. And obviously, as citizens, it kind of affected us, but not in our daily lives, of course. So yeah, back then, Myanmar was OK to live in. During the Covid season after 2020, Myanmar was surprisingly doing well, as the government was still pretty much in one piece, and they also had major precautions and stuff. But on February 1st, 2021 the coup happened and it was really sudden, right? I woke up. My parents had the news on and they were panicking. And they said the military arrested our President and Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

And like because we had two parties, the military party as well as NLD. It’s like the Democratic Party, right? They’ve arrested most of the members of the NLD party claiming that they make the election unfair, like they cheated in the election, so they put them in jail. And well, for civilians back then, and obviously for me, I didn’t know what it was, how bad it could become. But my parents, they had to go through this before. In 1988, there was a similar event. I think you can put that in the article as well. In 1988, a coup happened as well, and it was so bad that my mom who was in her first year of university had to take a gap year since her university closed for a while due to the military kidnapping people during the revolutions and beating them severely.

Bora

You are talking about the end of Burmese Way to Socialism right? The socialist government?

Andrew

You know, it was more like a dictatorship, to be honest. They’re quite unbelievable, as this was just the start right, we didn’t think it could be same as the 1988 uprising and it’s the 21st century, you know, we didn’t think that a country that was pretty much safe, and for a city that was pretty much safe, to be dangerous anyhow.

So at the start there were a lot of revolutions and riots in the main part of the city, right. And I’ve been there like a couple of times. One or two times. At the beginning, we didn’t think nothing would happen back then, and thankfully nothing much happened. Because after a while, like maybe one month into the coup, a few people started getting shot in the head and elsewhere. Firstly, from the capital city, then later on in our city there is even a memorial site. It was pretty rough like people had shields and smoke grenades and stuff because the government was shooting people and we had to wear like the motorcycle helmets. Because you can’t tell when they are gonna shoot at your head.

And, after that, like during April 2021, there was a countrywide Internet shortcut and we were panicking so much since we could not tell what was going on outside. So we had no Internet and we had to find ways of contacting our families and friends, and we had a lot of ways. But for like nearly a week, the usual wifis were down. Personally, I slept a lot, walked around the house and read a bit of books since we could not go outside as well. But after that we got the Internet back. But you know, uh, the government just keep ******* up. And the next major thing that happened probably was that the the government releasing like the criminals they had. Onto the street. That **** was wild, I swear. Yeah, because, after that we had to like nightly patrol in every street, where like the grown man had to watch because after the coup started there was a curfew.

Back then it was from like 10:00 PM to like 4:00 AM. Right now, it’s reduced to from like 12:00 AM to 4:00 AM but still it’s really dangerous to go out at night since there are kidnappings. But back then, yeah, the criminals got released into the streets, and I swear, one time, we heard in our street that a criminal was in our street, right on, on top of our building. So we couldn’t believe it. I had my, like, makeshift weapon. Well. It was a stick basically. Yeah, but after that, you know, there were a lot of shouting, screaming. Right. I would say that this was out of a movie, but it wasn’t a movie. There was a guy with a machete on the roof. Running away from the people from our street.

Hasan

At the comforts of our home, hearing this stuff is unreal. Why did the junta let the prisoners out? Is it like because of they wanted to rely on their support?

Andrew

Yeah, it’s also to support them. But also you know they basically said if you help us, we’re gonna release you guys. But also because they were scared of the civilians, working together and stuff, so they just released the criminals to, like, create chaos and to threaten the public. There were reports of the criminals shave their heads and dress up in robes as fake monks to create chaos and tarnish the reputation of Buddhism and actual monks.

Hasan

Well, because generally the coups and the military governments do the opposite, they usually make order everywhere, like police are everywhere, military is everywhere, and this is weird to hear because we did also a lot of digging about the topic as well. The things that you’re saying is most of the time were not covered. The news medias doesn’t cover it. So, it’s very revealing to hear it from you.

Andrew

A lot of the news media were arrested and especially the international news media, they were like deported from our country at the start of the coup. Yeah, because you know, the government does not want anything to be released and stuff. And you know, our leaders were arrested, but UN and the United States, they produced statements about them and the stuff going on, but in the end, they did nothing.

I swear, a lot of the nights, we we thought something maybe was going to happen. But thankfully nothing happened majorly in my city. I mean, there were cracking down on civilians and major celebrities, but nothing in my neighborhood, thankfully. But after that personally, I just remained in indoors cause going outside was not that safe anymore. But fast forward to 2023 or like late 2022, at the countryside, right, there were a lot of wars like civil wars happening. I wouldn’t say it’s a “civil war” because, before the beginning, I said we had like 8 different ethnicities, right? And before the coup, they were just fighting with each other.

And also because of the coup right, everyone began to cooperate with each other. Yeah, we created, not me personally, but some people created a government called NUG. And it helped. They were fighting these small battles against the military in part of the countryside and sometimes they win sometimes they lose of course. And sometimes a lot of villagers get, bombarded by like plane missiles and stuff, in a lot of small villages and towns casualties are too high.

Role of Ethnic Groups and PDF

Bora

Do you think that PDF cooperating with ethnic minorities can create issues? Do you see a future where PDF’s cooperation with ethnic minorities goes on?

Andrew

I think it is a good policy. The PDF unites the minorities and therefore anyone can join it and fight for their areas respectively.

Bora

If PDF cooperates with ethnic minorities to win against the junta doesn’t that mean in case of a PDF victory, there will be more fighting because of ethnic tensions?

Andrew

Hopefully, no. I think there will be less fighting because when the government, NUG, was created, the minor ethnicities joined in condition to have respect after they win this war, supposedly.

Hasan

Then what we gather is, that the ethnicities are not asking for secession from Myanmar. They are ok with living autonomously in Myanmar, but they just don’t want the junta government.

Andrew

Yeah.

Hasan

So, is this what the civil war is about? Democracy versus junta. The junta regime is treating everyone badly, and the people of Myanmar, uniting for a better future together.

Andrew

Yes.

Bora

So, did you think junta had any justification for the coup? Or was it just for the power?

Andrew

It was just for the power.

Hasan

By the way, if it’s not a problem for you to add, are you a Bamar?

Andrew

Yeah, I’m Burmese.

Hasan

So, do you know any other people from other ethnicities because I want to ask you does the junta treats everyone badly, regardless of their ethnicity? Because I think as Bora knows better, junta almost claims that they are there for Bamar rights. So, does junta really treat Bamar people better or are they treating everyone equally badly, regardless of their ethnicity?

Andrew

Yeah, they don’t give a **** about their ethnicity.

Bora

But, isn’t it more safe in more populated areas like Yangon? Or is the situation same in everywhere?

Andrew

Yeah. I wouldn’t say it’s the same as everywhere because the major cities are relatively safe compared to like countryside. There are fighter planes bombing people to death in villages.

Hasan

So, do you know anyone who is fighting in one of these groups that fights against the junta government? Or have you ever thought of joining the war yourself?

Andrew

Personally, my parents have said people my age or younger are fighting in the war, but personally I don’t think I will. I am certainly someone who loves my country very much so but to lay down my life and future is a big thing definitely.

Bora

Talking about the youth, what are they doing right now? In the news they say that you cannot leave the country anymore. You have to participate in the army. Is this true? Also, youth in big cities, are they living relatively normal lives?

Andrew

Yes, the military have tightened about who leaves the country. With the martial law in effect, the youths don’t really get on the street anymore late at night because sometimes they get kidnapped, and they’re then forced to join the army.

Hasan

Do you know anything about the Chinese help to the junta regime?

Andrew

Yeah, China and Russia. They’re both funding the military with a lot of weapons and stuff.

Bora

But there is a lot of news about how the Chinese is starting to support NUG more and more. Especially with the latest issue of illegal Chinese immigrants in Myanmar, and junta not helping China about it.

Andrew

That’s what some of the news says. But sometimes it’s kind of inaccurate as well. But it’s certain that, at the start they were supporting the junta in case of major war against America happens.

Hasan

You said UN and US only makes their statements and not being so much of help. United Nations states that they are very active in Myanmar. Did you saw any UN workers or officials there helping the people affected by war?

Andrew

To be honest, no, I didn’t. However, I have heard that a few US embassy officials have helped civilians get out of dangerous areas before.

Hasan

And then like in addition to that, how do you think the world is responding to the situation in Myanmar? Because we see that there’s no coverage. We don’t see it like obviously in our TV all the time, maybe at night, times when nobody is watching their TV. Like there is very little coverages, but war in Ukraine, war in like Palestine are mentioned daily. What do you think about the news coverage?

Andrew

Well, at the start there was quite a bit of media coverage, but over time people forget that it’s an ongoing crisis. You know, people might have assumed that it stopped because the military drove the international media out of the country.

Bora

Before the coup was there any kind of unity between ethnic minorities. Did you have friends from other minorities while you were in Myanmar?

Andrew

Yeah. I mean, even myself, I’m not fully Burmese. Yeah, cause we are living in the same country. Of course. People are gonna move places and **** each other. So, it’s difficult not to.

The Future of Myanmar

Bora

What do you think about the future of Myanmar? Like, do you think in the near future this war will end and there will be peace and democracy in Myanmar?

Andrew

That is a really hard question to answer because. Hopefully it ends. And with a win on our side. But you know, I can’t really say anything certain. Because, for me personally, I just wanna focus on getting a degree, getting a job, getting my parents out of the country.

Hasan

By the way, your parents are still living in Mandalay in Myanmar, right?

Andrew

No, they are in Rangoon.

Hasan

From Hungary, reaching out to your family must be hard, also with them sometimes not having internet or electric, it must be even harder. How’s it been going for them?

Andrew

In, Rangoon it’s OK, but you know with the inflation and constant power/internet cuts it’s becoming hard according to some news I heard. I’m not saying that it’s completely accurate to hear from me, but I heard that the military is preventing people from buying rice. They had a fixed price on it and recently they have increased the price to like a really high amount.

Bora

Is there still foreign foods or foreign things in Myanmar? Or have the imports stopped?

Andrew

Usually in the past there were, but right now a lot of imports and stuff has stopped and it’s not only food but like materials for construction sites and other things too.

Bora

I’m writing a paper about Chinese call center scams in Myanmar right now. And, can you talk about them like, are these regular occurrences in Myanmar? Like, is this a big thing because China makes it look like it’s a really big thing. These call centers even affected the relationship with junta.

Andrew

I mean, for one thing, I know it’s a really shady thing. And I almost got into it one time. My friend had a friend who was working at one of those illegal call centers and he told my friend and me to come check it out, because you know we were broke college students but with the inflation stuff we were looking for ways to, like, earn some money. And my friend told us to come and check it out and stuff. I think my friend went there, but the working hours were totally opposite of normal hours. Obviously, it’s not like 9 to 5. It’s more like 10 PM to 6 AM. But all you have to do is know how to speak Chinese and you are good to go.

Hasan

Other than the call center scams I heard about the increase in illegal drug trading. Did you see anything like that in streets?

Bora

I think, Myanmar is now the second biggest opium trader in Asia. Also, Myanmar is the largest methamphetamine producing area in the World.

Andrew

Uh personally, I haven’t because firstly my city is still pretty organized, even though there are a lot of bombings and kidnappings, and like several deaths have happening in areas, but I haven’t see any. I’m pretty sure there are drug dealers, definitely. But there has also been a lot of increase in pickpocketing and robberies brought by the recent developments.

Bora

Does junta do anything about those petty crimes?

Andrew

No, they don’t care about the civilians.

Hasan

You said that in cities it’s mostly safe. Is fighting coming close to the towns or is it a just rural thing because it’s an unorganized guerilla warfare. Or is there an organized warfare going on between the armies.

Andrew

I think eventually the big war will come into the city, but I mean, I saw on the news that there were like several small fights in the cities. We heard that like, in the morning at like at 7:00 AM or something, a car was driving by and shooting towards the junta officials. Things like that.

Bora

What would you think about a help from another country in Southeast Asia like Thailand or Vietnam or maybe even the UN?

Andrew

Most of the time, surrounding countries are with the junta, you know to promote business and stuff. It makes a profit for their countries. But I wouldn’t say no to an UN interference.

Bora

But, like in Haiti, interventions usually doesn’t work.

Andrew

I think when a lot a lot of people are dying, you know people should come and help.

Bora

Okay lastly want to ask about the popular culture in Myanmar, does it still have an active scene? How is the life of upper echelons in Myanmar right now? Is TV shows still being produced? Are they still producing music or TV shows and movies?

Andrew

It’s a lot fewer than before but TV shows and movies are still being produced. Some actors who openly sided with NLD has fled overseas as the junta tried to hunt them down. Usually, the remaining people in the industry are the ones who support the junta. The media the Burmese consume is shown by the junta as what they want, just like in North Korea

Last Remarks from Andrew

The situation of Myanmar has been going for a long time tragically however the world’s media has turned a blind eye to it after a while. The war has gotten worse for Myanmar in these last few years, with thousands of people dying especially in the countryside. Even in the main city of Yangon, safety has been an issue especially for young teenagers like us. With kidnappings and bombings in several places, most of the youth have fled overseas including myself. The ones who remain are either hiding or fighting for the revolution. However, with the people united, we Burmese people are striving to win this war against the junta regime once and for all.