Squeezing the Citizenry

Monk: "You'd better bless me by donating a car to the Sangha."

General: "I hold all the power, so you'd better make sure to have enough money for me when I ask for it."

Rebel : "I'm a rebel, and if you value your safety, pay me for protection."

Drunk Politics : [drunk words]

Poor Citizen: "Well, I don’t have anything left... boy I hope you all might die fast!"

In this cartoon, the Burmese artist JMP delivers a powerful critique of the relentless pressures facing the typical Burmese civilian, illustrating how, almost four years into the country’s collapse, everyday citizens are squeezed from every side by those who should be offering support.

Each character embodies a distinct societal force, each one making demands that the exhausted citizen can no longer meet. The monk's request for a "blessing" through the donation of a car adds a layer of bitter irony, suggesting that even religious figures, who should provide solace, have turned to transactional exchanges under the guise of spiritual offerings. The once-sacred relationship between monks and laypeople has been eroded by the encroachment of materialism, adding yet another burden on a populace already drained of resources.

The general’s posture and statement reflect the oppressive grip of the military regime. He demands money simply because he holds power, implying that the regime sees the population as a source of revenue rather than people to protect. It’s a stark portrayal of a regime that extracts without giving back, where citizens fund the very system that suppresses them.

Then there’s the rebel, who, despite ostensibly resisting the regime, also demands money for "protection." In a state where authority has broken down, even those who claim to fight for the people end up enforcing their own forms of exploitation. The citizen, caught between the oppressor and supposed liberator, finds herself paying both sides, deepening her sense of betrayal and helplessness.

The drunken figure lying on the ground, possibly representing a corrupt political class, appears detached and incoherent. He is a drain on resources, offering no leadership, guidance, or solutions, yet consuming the nation’s wealth in his stupor. His presence is a cynical nod to the inefficacy of the political system, which has abandoned the people in their time of greatest need.

Finally, the poor citizen herself, with nothing left to give, voices a desperate wish for their collective demise. Her remark captures the depth of despair felt by ordinary Burmese citizens, caught in a cycle of exploitation and neglected by those in power. She kneels, exhausted and defeated, under the weight of the monk’s blessings, the general’s authority, the rebel’s protection, and the politician’s indifference.

JMP’s illustration is a sobering commentary on the multi-faceted oppression suffocating the Burmese civilian. Through this sharp depiction, he exposes the human toll of a nation left to fend for itself amid religious, political, and militaristic greed. It’s a portrayal of hopelessness, frustration, and exhaustion, a reflection of a society that has crumbled, leaving civilians with little more than a bleak wish for an end to the suffering.