All Along the Mekong

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“Myanmar is a source of inspiration everywhere! This is me speaking directly to friends in Myanmar, that they should understand that they are the source of inspiration, and the source of ideas and reflections, to a level that they don't recognize. Because there are a lot of reflections going on in the corners of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, that [are] not there on media.” 

Tee, a Vietnamese activist, has devoted his efforts to understanding and supporting movements for democracy and human rights across the region. This passion has even shaped the way he views his own identity: as he puts it, “I am from Vietnam ...  but I think my identity is much more connected to being a Southeast Asian.” His focus is peacebuilding, which in his words includes fostering inclusive governance, de-masculinizing and civilianizing politics, and creating bottom-up frameworks for federal democracy that reflect the diverse voices within Myanmar’s ethnic and political landscape. Only this will ensure that the military and security forces do not overpower democratic rule. 

Tee sees the growth of peacebuilding initiatives as a cornerstone for meaningful progress in Myanmar. He views it as an opportunity to address the deep, structural issues caused by decades of military rule and repression. At the same time, Tee acknowledges the skepticism many hold toward peacebuilding, given that the Burmese military has a long record of hijacking or co-opting peace processes, using them to consolidate its power or stall meaningful reforms. Previous ceasefire agreements and dialogue initiatives have often been tools for the military to manipulate opposition groups, fracture alliances, and maintain control without making significant concessions. So Tee understands that overcoming this skepticism will require transparent approaches rooted in local leadership, and which prioritize the needs and aspirations of the people over the agendas of powerful institutions. He stresses, again, peacebuilding in Myanmar is not just about agreements or settlements, it is about reshaping the social and political fabric to ensure a sustainable and equitable future free from military domination.

Tee’s involvement with Myanmar is deeply personal; it is intertwined with an emotional sense of solidarity with individuals he has met over the years. For this reason, he defines solidarity as “being there” for these comrades—standing with friends in their struggles during moments of political crisis and beyond. Tee elaborates on this theme, saying that for him, solidarity is not about grand gestures; rather, it is about participating in the everyday realities of his friends' lives. in addition, his involvement in Myanmar's struggle has led Tee to reflect on Vietnam’s own history, both its progress as well as its shortcomings.

Tee’s efforts can be seen as part of a larger continuum of cross-border support for freedom and justice rooted in shared, anti-colonial narratives. Digging into his own nation’s story, he notes how Vietnam’s battle for freedom from French and later American domination culminated in the Vietnam War, which eventually led to the establishment of brutal, Communist rule. Today, despite economic progress—including increased living standards and foreign investment—Vietnam remains politically repressive, with civil society activists facing routine harassment. Similarly, Myanmar’s struggle for independence from British colonial rule led to gaining their independence in 1948, but since 1962, the country has experienced decades of repressive, military dictatorship. For Tee, these parallel trajectories are a cautionary tale, yet also a source of inspiration: he believes that by drawing on these shared histories and fostering cross-border solidarity, Southeast Asian nations can collectively imagine and strive toward more inclusive and democratic futures, breaking free from cycles of authoritarianism.

Tee hones in on the entrenched role of the military as a theme that runs through Southeast Asian history, another unfortunate legacy of colonial rule and revolutionary struggle. This is why Tee so admires Myanmar's revolutionary forces, as they are categorically rejecting any future political role for the military, insisting instead on a way forward that doesn’t repeat the mistakes of the past. In this way, Myanmar’s resistance movement offers a powerful example for Vietnam to follow. Indeed, he notes that many activists across Southeast Asia are now looking to Myanmar for inspiration; regional actors recognize how Burmese activists are not just resisting military rule, they are also working towards frameworks for a Federal Democratic Myanmar that recognizes ethnic minorities and ensures fair power-sharing. 

Tee critically highlights the role of international observers in shaping global and regional narratives about Myanmar, which in turn strongly affect state policies and the allocation of aid. He points out that their focus is mostly just centered on overt acts of violence, such as military crackdowns—like a “football game,” they focus on wins and losses. But in this way, they overlook the quieter, transformative and more essential work of activists envisioning and building a Federal Democratic Myanmar. Tee calls this “political imagination,” explaining that it is what drives grassroots governance, inclusivity, and solidarity across factions, which he argues are the true indicators of progress. The lack of attention given to this dynamic by international observers not only undermines the global understanding of Myanmar’s struggle, but also enables authoritarian regimes in Southeast Asia to justify their own repressive measures, framing Myanmar’s instability as a cautionary tale about democratic aspirations. By failing to recognize and amplify the “quieter” achievements of Myanmar’s activists, international observers risk perpetuating harmful misconceptions and missing an opportunity to support a movement that inspires real democratic progress withint the region.

Tee observes that regional solidarity in Southeast Asia, once rooted in shared struggles against colonialism and aspirations for independence, has eroded in recent decades. This decline is largely driven by neoliberal development—an economic model emphasizing market deregulation, privatization, and reduced government intervention—that prioritizes economic growth and corporate interests over social welfare. Similarly, nationalist policies have led governments like Vietnam to adopt positions that prioritize domestic stability and economic progress over engaging with regional struggles, such as Myanmar’s fight against military oppression. Tee emphasizes that reclaiming a sense of regional solidarity and mutual responsibility requires fostering collective memory and tapping back into this political imagination referenced earlier. To Tee, this is not merely a theoretical concept but a vital process with tangible consequences, particularly for migrants and refugees who often bear the brunt of these fractured relationships. For instance, the Mekong region, historically a hub for refugee migration during conflicts like the Vietnam War, has seen a significant shift in how Southeast Asian nations treat displaced people today, with policies increasingly shaped by national interests rather than shared regional belonging.

Migration throughout the Mekong region has been an enduring feature of the region’s history, whether the cause was fleeing violence or seeking better opportunity. Tee recounts how during the Vietnam War, large numbers of Vietnamese refugees—known as “boat people”—fled the country, with many ending up in camps across Southeast Asia, including Thailand. Myanmar has also seen significant migration because of its civil wars and military repression, both internally due to displacement and internationally, particularly from ethnic minority regions like Rakhine, Karen, and Shan States. More recently, Thailand has also become a major destination for Burmese migrants seeking refuge from conflict or better job opportunities. However, the Thai government’s inconsistent policies and poor treatment of Burmese migrants, particularly since the coup, have left many vulnerable to exploitation and deportation. Tee spoke of the lack of collective memory that has eroded regional solidarity, stating, “The last few decades, that kind of neoliberal development kicks in, and it creates distance in the memory of Southeast Asians,” he says. “That's the root of the apathy to migrants and refugees all around Southeast Asia. Nowadays, it's that void of memory that the past decades have carved out that cut Southeast Asia off from the roots and their belonging.”

Tee then calls out the present relationship between Vietnamese authorities and the Burmese regime, in particular highlighting the role of Viettel, a telecommunications company owned by the Vietnamese military. Viettel has a joint venture with the Myanmar's junta through its subsidiary Mytel, which provides essential services, such as surveillance and information-sharing capabilities. This relationship allows Mytel to operate with strategic advantages that many other telecoms lack, including the ability to navigate complex military and governmental networks. While companies like Telenor chose to exit Myanmar due to ethical concerns and customer privacy under military rule, Mytel's operations persisted, bolstered by assurances tied to Vietnam's diplomatic and military interests. This reflects Viettel's prioritization of political influence over market considerations, as the company sustained significant financial losses after the coup but remained active, likely due to its role as a political and military partner. Although Mytel has thus far avoided international scrutiny, it remains a key enabler of the junta's oppressive actions, exemplifying how regional power dynamics influence Myanmar's crisis. This partnership also illustrates the depth of Vietnam's entanglement in Myanmar's conflict, raising critical questions about the broader implications of such military-driven partnerships.

Tee concludes with a hopeful message for the people of Myanmar. He emphasizes again that their movement is a source of inspiration not only for himself but for people across Southeast Asia. He wants his friends in Myanmar to know that their struggle has had a significant impact on others in the region, even if that impact is not always visible. In his own words: “Solidarity right now is a big word and it has become a buzzword. But go down to the essence of solidarity, and it's really just about being there. The solidarity that I have with my friends is simply that they were the friends I met after the coup in Myanmar. They are politically involved in their own struggle. There's a lot of ups and downs, personally, when there are political events and developments in Myanmar that affect them. So I'm sympathizing with the situation of Myanmar, and that is the start of a lot of these conversations. And beyond that, along the way, we start to think about how to support them more—how the communities in Southeast Asia can be available to support friends in Myanmar.”

 

To listen to past episodes on similar themes, we recommend the following:

·      Johnson Yeung shares how his journey as a Hong Kong activist was sparked through his experience with the Umbrella Movement, which inspired further solidarity work across Southeast Asia. He highlights that collective, regional action, like the Milk Tea Alliance, is a vital way to counter authoritarianism and support democracy, reflecting shared lessons learned about persistence.

·      Brian Hioe tells how he initially got involved in activism through student movements like Occupy Wall Street and the Sunflower Movement in Taiwan, actions that shaped his understanding of regional struggles. He emphasizes that movements in Southeast Asia, particularly Myanmar's, are interconnected and provide critical perspectives on human rights and democracy.

·      Marc Batac describes how his exposure to injustice in growing up in a politically unstable region of the Philippines inspired his activism, linking his experiences to the larger fight for democracy in Myanmar. He emphasizes the importance of regional youth movements and digital activism, which have created networks of solidarity that bridge personal and collective struggles for systemic change.

·      Thinzar Shunlei Yi talks about her upbringing in a military family, which gave her a unique perspective on Myanmar’s deeply entrenched authoritarian structures that she would late challenge through her activism. She reflects on the transformative power of education and dialogue in overcoming indoctrination, demonstrating the critical role of personal growth in fostering democratic resistance.

·      Thiri recounts how learning English and working as a fixer for journalists allowed her to bridge cultural and political divides while documenting Myanmar's struggle. Her work emphasizes the importance of amplifying local voices and sharing untold stories to garner global support, embodying the broader theme of activism as a tool for awareness and connection.

Shwe Lan Ga LayComment