Systematic Brainwashing in the Tatmadaw

The following story is made possible from the team behind Breaking Brainwashed. Htet Myat, a former soldier who defected after the coup, discusses his education.

“Because of that brainwashing, we cannot see the truth that the trouble and difficulties of soldiers can all be traced back to the evil Tatmadaw.”

Among the brainwashing campaigns of Tatmadaw, the evil propaganda they spread about ethnic peoples are definitely the worst. I can remember experiencing this very brainwashing to hate the ethnic peoples in my country, back when I was in army, before joining CDM movement. I had experienced that brainwashing to misunderstand the ethnic revolutionary peoples like Kachin, Kayin, Rakhine, Shan and to feel as though they were our enemy. They defined those ethnic groups as terrorists! We were brainwashed with this belief even in training schools. KIA and KNU are always in the role of terrorist, according to every lesson we had learned.

For example, we had learned in our lessons something like ”Kachin terrorist, KNU. The leader is… and the number of soldiers are….”

Because of that brainwashing, we had a wrong attitude and so much misunderstanding. We thought the civilians in local villages as a kind of front line for the terrorists, or perhaps supporters for terrorists. There are many soldiers who are thinking like this. Because of that brainwashing, we cannot see the truth that the trouble and difficulties of soldiers can all be traced back to the evil Tatmadaw. But most can’t see that truth and they think that all are caused by EAOs and other revolutionaries. Now I understand though.

And then, they become more cruel and the military becomes like terrorists themselves, as they give trouble to the civilians for no reason even. The Myanmar soldiers engage in persecution, killing, and burning the houses and even the people, along with raping the women! Actually they are the ones who are doing that terrorist and cruel acts. Now I understand.

They also kill all the animals instead of taking only the little amount needed to eat. Then they destroy and burn the collected rice and crops so that the civilians cannot eat! There was a story that the Division 11 and Division 7 even killed children by crushing them in mortar. It is unbelievable. Even though they insist that their soldiers never rape, there is this case of two female teachers from Kachin State who presented evidence of their own rape. The Tatmadaw’s brainwashing about ethics groups have been very effective.

The soldiers in Tatmadaw who are willing to join CDM always say that they don’t want to go to EAOs, even today. When we ask for the reason, they say that they are afraid of being killed by EAOs and other revolutionaries when they joined CDM. Actually, I also worried about that too before leaving from the army and going to the EAOs, which I really did in the end. But I lived in peace with them, even on the front line when I was a captain.

I want to say that I really felt the benefits of taking this risk. I realized that I did the right thing as soon as I reached the EAOs’ place. They repeatedly told me, ‘Don’t worry. You are safe now. Don’t mind anything. You even reached here and so don’t worry.’ They prepared the best with they had to feed us. When we had no place to live, they called us to their house and treated us like special guests. Amazing.

And so, these experiences become evidence to say that that brainwashing of Tatmadaw is wrong! I feel so much regret for thinking wrongly and viewing my ethic brothers and sisters as terrorists when I experienced myself how they treat us in reality. It is amazing, really, to contemplate that the people I thought of as my enemies before are now helping and protecting us, when the army I worked for whole life is trying to harm me and my family even.

When the CDM movement got stronger and employees from different departments joined CDM, in order to try to stop that CDM movement from reducing the military’s strength, the Tatmadaw made another attempt at brainwashing the people that the revolutionaries organizations and EAOs are killing the CDM soldiers! The Tatmadaw made fake videos and photos about this to brainwash their soldiers that one CDM soldier did die in battle with these traitor ethnics. And they tried to convince their soldiers that they will face like that when they join CDM. Actually, it is the Military who are putting our society to death. The soldiers who are still in Tatmadaw should mind the truth and need to make the right decisions!