"I have no idea what is going to happen to me."
Real Stories Not Tales (RSNT) is a dedicated team in and out of Myanmar that aims to bring awareness to the reality of young people’s lives since the Myanmar military staged a coup on February 1st, 2021. Stories are collected through interviews with each protagonist by the team, either in Burmese or in English. Each character is drawn by a professional illustrator bringing a visual context to the story. RSNT is a anonymous name that is used by the group to guarantee security to all parties involved in the collection of the Stories. These posts are part of collaboration between Tea Circle and Insight Myanmar to publish Real Stories Not Tale's Report #2. To read Report #1, visit Tea Circle or Insight Myanmar. Two additional stories from RSNT’s Report #2 will be published on Tea Circle at a later date.
Ko Htwe is a community teacher. He was interviewed on July 18th.
“But now, nothing is certain. I have no idea about what is going to happen to me.”
"I moved to the town I live in now for work. I was running English classes for children here, and spent most of my time teaching. My family still lives in my home township, and my plan was to move back there after two years of work and start a community education and development center. I had already bought a plot of land for that. But now, nothing is certain. I have no idea what is going to happen to me.
Actually, I had to stop my classes already before the coup, during the second wave of Covid-19. When the coup happened, I just couldn't believe it. I felt empty. After a while, explosions became quite frequent in my area, so I had to stop teaching again. I had no internet access for about three months, but luckily now I can at least continue my online studies. Right now, the number of positive cases is increasing every day, and I simply do not feel safe anymore since the coup took place, so I am basically staying at home and not going out much. I guess I have become a bit sensitive.
In this area, demonstrations against the coup took place in villages as well as towns. There were guerilla strikes on motorbikes. We often heard gunshots coming from different areas. There were also demonstrations by market sellers, organized by their leader. I myself joined a group of five led by a former classmate of mine. We went around the town and played demonstration music. All shops and markets were closed at that time.
I come from a Bamar family. What really helped my understanding of Myanmar politics was studying with people from different ethnicities. At that time, I felt like a political researcher, and I came to understand that what I thought I had known about minority ethnic people was quite different from what I learned from my minority ethnic friends in class. Now, I believe I can think in a more balanced way. I realized that ethnic people have been fighting for their rights and peace for over seven decades, while the military has been bullying them in their regions, never giving them equal opportunities. Since the military coup, we, the Bamar, have also been experiencing human rights abuses and the absence of rule of law first-hand.
To take care of my mental health, I spend time reading, helping with household chores, planting, meditating, and singing. Sometimes, I talk with my friends. Actually, I am very disappointed with the current situation, so I try to drown myself in my studies.
For the future of Myanmar, I expect the best. I am looking forward to the NUG taking power, and the military government disappearing. I would like to participate in building a federal democracy in our country."