This article summarizes knowledge shared in an event hosted by the Global Grassroots Support Network (GGSN) on April 25th, 2024. The event educated attendees on the situation, and on ways activists from outside of Myanmar can act in solidarity.
Quotes from discussion and identities of organizations have been anonymized.
If you are an organization, funder, journalist or writer who would like to support these activists, please contact us at blueprintsfc@gmail.com.
The current situation in Myanmar
Mandatory conscription and extreme violence
Since the attempted coup took place, the Junta has killed thousands of civilians including women and children.
For the past few months, the Junta has been putting up operations to bomb hospitals and schools in areas that are controlled by Myanmar resistance groups. In April 2023, the Junta took up an operation of aerial bombing in a village that took 165 lives.
The Military Junta enforced the Myanmar Conscription Law, forcing peoples of Myanmar age 18-35 to serve the Military Junta. The Junta is currently on its second wave of recruitment.
Since the active enforcement of the law, young people and their families have started fleeing and are now displaced in Mae Sot or in the areas of Myanmar that are controlled by resistance groups (liberated areas). Some are committing suicide to prevent from hurting other people and becoming human shields.
The Junta remains active in arresting political activists in the country.
Displacement and Migration
“Many Burmese people have been forced to flee in Mae Sot, the border of Thailand and Myanmar… One of the primary efforts of [our organization] is supporting displaced Burmese people and giving them necessary information.”
Economic Situation
“Prices of basic commodities have skyrocketed since the coup, making food and other household needs inaccessible to many… Many are in an internet blackout, and supplies to villages have been cut.”
How activists are showing solidarity
In Myanmar
The Blood Money Campaign aims to pressure companies that keep doing business with the military junta – especially countries that remain to trade jet fuel for the Junta.
[Our organization] has also been campaigning against the conscription law enforced by the Junta. Currently, we are collecting statements and mobilizing direct actions to stop the forced recruitment of young people.
In Thailand
Resistance groups have been lobbying, protesting and planning direct actions for a concrete action plan of the Thai government regarding the Military Junta. Thailand’s policy on the Myanmar issue is importance because of Mae Sot that sits on the border of Myanmar.
In the Philippines
The Philippines have formed a broad solidarity network for Myanmar. The network has been active in organizing protest actions and other creative protest actions to bring light on the situation of Myanmar.
The network has also lobbied the Philippine Government to fully recognize the National Unity Government (the democratically elected government of Myanmar headed by Aung San Suu Kyi) as the official government of Myanmar.
The UN and ASEAN continue to recognize the Military Junta as the official government of Myanmar.
Ways to support outside of Asia
- Provide these organizers contacts to journalists and writers to raise awareness.
- Provide monetary aid to sustain the resistance movement; most NGOs and funders pulled out of the region.
- Sign their statement in solidarity: Tinyurl.com/sol4burma
- Consider having your organization release a solidarity statement against the military conscription law, against the actions of the junta and for democracy.
- If you are part of a student organization, amplify what is happening to young people in Myanmar.
