"Don't Be Violent"

“In regards to the international community saying, ‘Stay non-violent,’ it's very easy to say that when you're sitting in a position of safety. It’s easy to say ‘Don't be violent’ when you're not the one being hit in the face. It’s easy to say ‘Don't be violent’ when you're not seeing your daughter being shot in the head.”

There has been no issue that is more divisive in the development of the crisis in Myanmar than the question as to whether the resistance movement should or should not begin considering a violent response.

As a note, these interviews and discussions are not meant to convince people as to the merits of one side of another, but rather to provide space for understanding and appreciating the stakes of the current conflict, and the different views as to the best approach to take, by those in the midst of the struggle. For those who are living in a place of safety, it is impossible to know how we would respond if thrown into a similar situation, and so the most important thing we can do is ensure that more time is spent holding space for listening and understanding, rather than speaking down to over those local voices trying to tell us their reality.

Although Meredith Bunn is not Burmese, she has lived in the country for some time, and is actively supporting the democracy effort now. Straddling the two worlds of local engagement and Western response, she has a message to share to those critical of how the activists are currently waging the resistance. While Meredith offers her own critiques during this interview as to challenges within the movement, she has no hesitancy in calling out those who offer directives without having to face the consequences themselves.

This is something for the observer to consider and reflect on genuinely. And not only are Burmese civilians, including even those not involved in the movement, being "hit in the face" and "shot in the head" on a regular basis these days, but this terror and subjugation goes back three generation in Burmese history. So with this in mind, it is important for allies to properly educated themselves on the situation.