Transcript: Episode #86: Portrait of an Activist

Following is the full transcript for the interview with Little T, which appeared on January 22, 2022. This transcript was made possible by Artificial Intelligence (AI) and has not been checked by any human reader. Because of this, many of the words may not be accurate in this text. This is particularly true of speakers who have a stronger accent, as AI will make more mistakes interpreting and transcribing their words. For that reason, this transcript should not be cited in any article or document without checking the timestamp to confirm the exact words that the guest has really said.

 

Teddy  00:03

Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Ma Dalai Lama remobilize bebe rebozo loopy Avi Sakas. who live here, your your Wairoa ghrp Godello at Murray Jia Tomasi, sayonara shinui Joshua mozzie. Louis Janata to put up with loadsamoney Timo Gracie Delia Shiva Z. Diana Anangu goes up Cuba Z federal democracy Snape Chong Havas movie augur. laico Tiana mama aloia SCADA Nico Shang chi MA in J Unit Madico to teach you Java. Really? Me and Anita you know Lou Tata, Luca? Luca no Lamia da Dr. Wu Tang Demasi Jaya jingo committed I mozzie. Amanda on my mozzie you're my PT depend chelation Demasi really been in that way with your chili your spring one we get exhausted during the revolution. Please Santa's priests to convey an encouraging message. Do your spring, just as yellow leaves fall off trees and decay. May injustice come to an end? May the dictatorship fall? Dr. Spring just as young leaves sprout and bloom again. May we restore a genuine democracy? May it represent all our ethnic nationalities? May our federal democracy system be successfully brought to us? Dr. Spring? Let cuckoos relay the whisper from our beloved ethnic nationality brothers and sisters, to sing along in a song for peace and justice to spring just as a Swiss and freshens the atmosphere after rain made the entire universe be scented with love and compassion. May devotion and bravery be honored may justice prevail, may Myanmar be reborn and try again to spring for you and me together. We shall never forsake each other.

 

Host  02:45

I'm really excited to bring you the upcoming interview with a very special guest. You'll hear her discussing all the great and courageous work that she is currently engaged in. And if you feel inspired to help her with these efforts, please consider making a donation earmarked for her projects or feel free to give a general donation that will support the wider movement in Myanmar. Our ongoing support is so helpful and appreciated by the Burmese people during these dark days. Simply go to insight myanmar.org/donation to contribute today or stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear more options now let's hear from that guest herself. The way that

 

Teddy  03:45

they go to a meeting from the night or 31st January, usually I would keep my mobile into Do Not Disturb mode unconsciously. But on that particular night, I had a strange port come in and I was like I will not turn Do Not Disturb mode in case there is an emergency call to receive. Then the next morning I woke up with a call from a friend. And he started asking me Are you awake? I told him that I wasn't but I'm okay to talk. He then reply me in a very shaky voice had it happened. At first I didn't understand what he mean by it happened. So I asked him again. Then he replied It happened and he still was arrested. At that moment. I wasn't completely sure. I don't know what to reply. Well with a heavy sigh I recall So the coup happened, it actually happened. Because before first of February, there were a lot of speculations whether there will be coup or not. But we didn't really believe that it had, it would happened. And at that moment of speaking, the first thought that came into my mind was that my country will go into chaos with a lot of political and economical instability. And we will get arbitrarily arrested and get tortured by the dictatorship anytime. I felt really sad, hopeless and frightened. Since me and him do not know what will happen next. My friend was so concerned about my safety because I live alone. So he told me that he will come to pick me up in the next 20 minutes. It was around 530 In the morning, and all the phone line signals seems to not working. So I tried to reach out to my friends and family from Mandalay Shan State and Maguey. And all those regions, the signal seems already interrupted. I couldn't call him anymore. Then I tried to call a friend in Yangon tallyho. What happened she was she was asleep. So she wasn't aware that Auntie Sue was already arrested and uku actually happened. So I asked her to withdraw the money from the ATM as much as possible. Because with this, you know, situation, I wouldn't know whether we will be able to withdraw the money in the morning or in the next few days. Then after or why I hopped onto the taxi, we were driving into our friend's home and on the way, we stopped at the ATM machine and tried to withdraw the money as much as we can. So when I arrived, the apartment, my friend apartment, another friend was waiting. So three of us froze quietly sitting there. And it was so clear that we all were very frustrated, we couldn't had a conversation just silently sitting at a corner. And around 630 In the morning, we both decided to go to the local markets, we all were living in downtown. So we went to the market and the market was completely packed with people cheering and shouting to buy the commodities in the Dow was the same or panic buying. And we were also one of them. Because we were worried if we don't buy this morning, in the next few days, there will be no more food to buy. And we also think fault, we cannot leave the house due to the security reasons. So we bought things and we came back around around 2pm. In that afternoon, there was a pro military convoy or car policy by our apartment. And those people were chanting pro-military songs, cheering and dancing. At that moment, I think it was the first time in that day I was completely consumed by the sadness, I feel really angry and tears just burst into my eyes. I couldn't believe that there were people actually supporting the military coup and, and, you know, still cheering and chanting. And so the day one by and for the next five days, three of us just spent quietly in our own apartment. So concerned about the security issue. And but we we couldn't do anything we don't know what to do. So each of us keep praying on our own way. So that our democratically elected artistic government could regain the power and begin the Holleyman section soon.

 

Brad  08:58

Well, so I think we've seen since since the first of February, we saw food shortages. And we saw, you know, ATMs not distributing money, and we've seen limitations on money changing. So your reactions. I think were very prescient, you you saw the disaster that was that was happening. And you clearly other people also saw the disaster because they were in the markets and they were trying to stock up on food. Everybody, everybody understood that, that this is a catastrophe. So the the thing that shocks me, what you've said, is seeing a convoy of pro military supporters, you know, singing and yelling. What? What do you think is going through their minds? Why do you think they were celebrating this? What did they think was going to happen

 

Teddy  09:54

here? I think Do you believe that The previous election was has voter fraud. So, so the previously the electric government, it is they they just won the election with false voting. And I also think they have been framed or brainwashed so much by the military that only the military is the only institution that could drive the country forward. And I personally believe there are people who were chanting and cheering on the convoy of cars are somehow related to the military and the set up that scene they set up so that those people can come out to the street and cheering because other time it is a COVID COVID has been surging in the country, we cannot really go out, gather with a crowd, you know, do these kind of things. So, if we break the COVID-19, more, we there will be. We will be abided by the rules and regulation. But for those people, they could just roam around the entire city and doing so I think they are somehow related to the military. And they believe that the military has done the right thing, which is cool.

 

Brad  11:27

I mean, it's terrifying. And I think the irony, the horrible irony here is that we Mir was being charged in court for supposedly breaking COVID regulations during his campaign. And yet, as you say, for for these military supporters, apparently, you know, COVID regulations don't matter. It doesn't exist. So I want to go back to just one. One thing at the very beginning, you know, you said your friend told you that it happened and you were, you're shocked it actually happened. We saw before the coup. On the on the first of February, we saw some of these movements on the Wednesday in the Thursday of the previous week, we saw the military moving into Naypyidaw, we saw the military giving some very scary statements on the Tuesday and the Wednesday. How, how worried were you in the week before the coup?

 

Teddy  12:28

Honestly, I was a bit concerned. But I seriously didn't think that they have the God they have the leverage to do so. I thought and he sued and her government somehow make the agreement behind the sea so that the military coup wouldn't happen, but they will share the power or collaborate, you know, in some way somehow, but we ordinary people wouldn't know, I think there was a trade off between the government and the military before the 2021 parliament section being hidden. So I I thought there was a possibility, but I did not think it will actually happen.

 

Brad  13:18

I think he came as a shock to I think all of us, you know, we all thought like they can't be this crazy. But since then, we've learned that they are and and one of the first ways that we learned this was the reaction, the very aggressive reaction that they had to the protests. So protests began immediately. protests began in the very first week. And they very quickly started facing backlash from the police and later from the military. And I know that you were involved with those early protests in Yangon. So Can Can you tell us about your experiences there?

 

Teddy  13:58

Yeah. So before the clue, I was just an ordinary person who was working in the development fields or not for profit organizations. So personally, from personal and professional experience, I do not have any background related to politics or human rights. Because my passion is to work through sustainable livelihood development, and to empower the youth and marginalized woman. So these are my passions, and these are what I have been working. However, when the coup happened, my priority has shifted to come at myself in the revolution, to restore the democracy, stability and justice. I cannot really accept the fact that this military removes the democratically elected government however, they want without respecting our people vote and rule of law. And what it was I cannot find any justice for the military forces to average Really arrested the elected members of parliament, politician and activist. As soon as the unlawfully took the power on the first day, many people have already been arrested. So this is how I see motivated to involve in the protests, and then later join the protest network that I'm currently with. So during the first three days of the coup, there were a lot of debates or not to do an open protests, with the reasoning that responsibility to protect are to be cannot revoke, revoke, if people start going out to the street and protests. But for me, personally, I do not believe in that idea. And I was on the side that we need to do a peaceful protest and demand to get back our democratically elected government. But I didn't know how to start. And honestly, I was also very scared to do it alone, I have no idea where to begin. But, um, a good thing happened. On the third of February, the first protests started in Mandalay and in Yangon. And in the group, I saw a family afraid face. And I was like, Okay, this is a good thing, I found someone that I can contact. So at night, I sent him a message saying that I really admire what he was doing and what the group on that day was doing. And if there is anything that I can support you, I am very committed to do so. So I left the note. And at that time, I didn't get a reply from him yet. But after on the first week of February, people start going out to protest. So starting from the seventh of February, I see many people came out to the street for the mass protest. So since then, I joined to those protests, rallies, I go to the downtown, by myself sometimes or sometimes a friend accompany to do the protest movement. So at the same time, a person that I contacted from the protest group, reply me that he is glad that I contacted him. And they need a committed people, especially women to involve in the revolution. And he asked me that, if I could come and meet him and the group in designated place. I wasn't sure what I will be doing when I made the group and him and who were the group members? What is the situation be like in that apartment? I was there were a lot of concerned and confusion. I've already contacted him, but should I really move ahead. But anyway, finally, I decided that I will go to see him and see how it goes.

 

Brad  18:10

Okay, so before we talk about that you you actually touched on a very interesting point, you were talking about people's concerns about the responsibility to protect. And that was a very strong theme in the early days of the protest movement, this idea that, well, international law recognizes the Responsibility to Protect they understand that if an armed military attacks on armed civilians, there is a an ethical duty to intervene and protect those civilians. I'm wondering, Did did you and did the people around you at the time, imagine that there would be a swift United Nations response or US response or European response to the coup? Or what were you? What were you afraid would happen with with responsibility to protect?

 

Teddy  19:06

For me, I personally know think that United Nations or European or United States would intervene immediately to solve this problem. And I also personally do not believe that I could, we could rely on United Nations to eventually solve the problem. i i Since I do not have a politics background, I try to you know, search informations to explore how to be was promoted in the in all the countries. What are the procedure? How long does it take, what are the requirements and after reading? A few a few dozen pages, I think are My, what I called the four that are to be cannot really happen in country and United Nation doesn't have much power to solve the problem. So I was like, the coup happened. And this is our responsibility, if you will of Myanmar, to fight for it, and to restore the democracy and human rights, I think we need to do it by ourselves. If the foreing our country, the United Nations provides support, it is good, it is like a bonus. But we need to do it by ourselves on our own way, because we understand the situation better than anyone else. You know, that was just my opinion.

 

Brad  20:48

I think it was a very, it was a very difficult realization for a lot of people that the international community was not helping. And even if they want to help they move extremely slowly. So it was very sad to see that that realization happening. Another thing that you mentioned, though, is that you you were initially hesitant to join these protests, you reach out to this person who's protesting. But even after you get that invitation, you're a little bit hesitant. You said you you said you were scared to start a protest, and that you weren't sure of joining what, what exactly was going through your mind at this time, what What fears did you have

 

Teddy  21:32

my fear is maybe a little bit funny, although I contacted that person, I, I know him just very briefly, I met him, one of the trainings is happened in the past. And I due to some reasons, he has personality, I don't want to get close to him. So I keep him distance. But when the coup happened, I see he actually, you know, involved in the movement, and I just have this instinct that regardless of any raises that I experienced in the past in the class, he he seems to be very committed and in this movement, so I contacted him, but I barely know him, and then there will be other people in the group. So in during this day revolution time, you will know who to trust right. And at the same time, you know, that when you are doing this kind of anti protest movement, you know, anti coup activities, you are already at risk by the military to take you away anytime. And when you work for for that kind of activities, you really want to work with someone that you know, for a long time, you know, that you can trust them, you know, that you guys are like minded people that so that you can have an open discussions and things, but I do not have that kind of advantages. I do not know those groups. And, and at the same time, I feel that I do not have any background from the politics or human rights or I do not know how to do a political analysis. So am I capable of joining this flew? Will I become a burden? What could I do? I these are the main reasons that I become hesitant to join the group the first time

 

Brad  23:26

and I think I think those make sense. I think in a lot of ways the the revolution and the coup has really shown people's true colors. And some people have have managed to surprise us in very positive ways by showing the contributions that they can make. But I want to talk about the way in which the protests started turning. We saw even in February, we saw reports coming out from certain cities that they were not only employing water cannons against protesters but water cannons with chemicals added to them. We saw rubber bullets being being fired at at protesters in places like nausea and and Mandalay. Obviously Mijatovic Hein was murdered in the second week of the coup in Epital. Now in Yangon, I know that the police chief at the time was far more sympathetic to the CDM movement or what at the time would become the CDM movement. Did you have a fear that if you join these protests, you could suffer violent repercussions from the military or the police?

 

Teddy  24:40

Yes, I was concerned but I already know that whoever involved in this kind of movement at least, and I already calculated those week and I decided regardless of whatever happened, I I think I'm doing the I think so I would do it anyway.

 

Brad  25:03

Okay. And, and ultimately, you know, you're not only joined the protests, but you went on to join this this whole network as it was, and and you're engaged in a lot of different types of activities to support the democratic movement. So can you just tell us what it was that you that you got into what it was that you were actually doing in those first first months of the coup, and where it went from there?

 

Teddy  25:34

Let me start, give you a brief background of our group, which is an anti to protest network. It was founded on the first of February, and in order to no response to this military, military coup, but I joined the group on around the second second year of the second week of the coup. So this protest network, the organize and coordinate with other protest networks, and then provide humanitarian assistance and video support across the country. I will explained details of the three main activities that the crew has been doing in coming a few a few minutes. So when I first arrived, the coup it was when I first arrived to join the group, it was February. So the activities that we were doing several very much is completely different from what we have been doing right now. So during the first first month, which is in February, all of us has been focusing on scenario building, and brainstorming so that we could plot the propaganda through different social media outlets, every day. We will, some will reading news and making the analysis and then written the religion statement in both in English and in Yama language. For example, when we knew when we knew near the door kind of passed away, we like other protests network, we also written a very strong same statement regarding to that very unfortunate events and art the public, you know, not to accept this kind of oppression and to join wider protest movement and others group members. They will try to assess why who happened, what were the driving factors? And who are the stakeholders that I was working with the military behind the scene? And we got, yeah, can I say, and we we will come into the conclusion that there were some actors actually support actually supporting the military in a way that they think the cool is kind of the right way, as they believe, the NLD, Neither party has become bigger and bigger. And but when looking back in the past five years, they did not see very good progress with a government term. And, and they are worried that regardless of the progress the NLD has made in the election, the NLD won again. So there are many ethnic parties, that they are not satisfied with the results. And they think this is this is not something that should be fair should happen. And we also heard some political party saying that they still feel there are some photo fraud in the previous elections. Some were really concerned. What if the couldn't win the election in coming years, then no teachers become one party, you know, like a monopoly to take over the political scenes. So our group was discussing about thinking that there are some stakeholders are not aligned or not really helping in the protest movement. Usually they are they have, you know, like the other political analysts, they are a good writers, they are very active in this human rights, but they just suddenly become quiet. And then I think the we think that they would like to just purge out the NLD not because of the support the military, but they just do not want to see the NLD government in power and in a way they are supporting the military. So these are kind of small discussions going on in the group. And then we deciding what would be the scenario, incoming month and two months and how we, as a protest network can coordinate with different protests now go across the country, and, and then to do be sure the safe safety or power groups and the people that we are coordinating with. And, and, and, and then in the group, as I mentioned earlier, I'm the only one who doesn't have a background in politics and human rights. So I find it quite challenging to catch up with all the stakeholders. They were mentioning, all the political parties, the IRC and all the past events, that that could lead to the coup. So different people have different tasks, as our working with John, undercover journalists, and taking care of their propaganda, you said

 

Brad  31:33

that you joined in the second week of the coup. So I'm just I'm just wondering, did you? Did you know about this, this group beforehand, and you were just hesitant to join? Or did you join, you know, as soon as you found out about about this, this organization and what they were doing,

 

Teddy  31:54

I contacted him on third or fourth of February. So by the time he replied me that he's welcoming other members to join the group, so I joined, but I have no idea what the group was doing at the time, who were the crew members. On the first day I arrived, the group, I see a bunch of people, you know, discussing, writing something that I don't really understand on the whiteboard, they are bill, they're having a scenario buildings, I was just much instead than the person that I contacted, he introduced me to the other group members than I realize the group members they belong to. Some have some leaders from the political parties from our members of parliament, they just, you know, won the election, but the coup happened. So now they are, they are, they are no longer going to the PolyMet session. Some civil society activists, I just got to meet those people on the first days, I had no idea with them before I joined the group.

 

Brad  33:08

Okay, very interesting. So, so you, you will you were given an opportunity to find a way to help with the pro democratic movement, and you just took that opportunity, and you'll figure it out when you're there. And, and you'll make those contacts and you'll learn the subject that'll that's that's basically what it was like.

 

Teddy  33:28

Yeah, pretty much it.

 

Brad  33:30

Nice, nice. So. Okay. That's a very interesting thing. Now you're talking about this, this analysis that you were doing, and it sounds like a very complicated operation and a very in depth analysis. I'm, I'm fascinated about these anti NLD not necessarily pro coup, but not anti coup, stakeholders. So it sounds like you're saying that there were a lot of people who did not come out and say, yes, the coup is a good thing. And we should we should do this. But they also were not condemning the coup. Would you say that they went quiet, because they were trying to gain some advantage in this turbulent time? Or do you think they went quiet just because they were very afraid of what would happen if they spoke out?

 

Teddy  34:24

They won quiet because there is some benefits associated to it. I think. They do not like seeing the NLD party getting so much in power. And some presume it has become only one party dominating the political landscape, which, you know, it's also risky because there will be no check and balance or power. If the, the in the political landscape you do not find Many political parties representation, right. So I think that is the reason that they want quiet.

 

Brad  35:07

Okay, interesting. Now, I want to move back. You said you were producing propaganda, you know, notes of encouragement, public statements, condemnations of the coup, these sorts of press and media activities. And you specifically said that you produced content both in English and in Myanmar. I'm wondering, what was your, your target audience who were you really speaking to through these projects?

 

Teddy  35:41

It is general public. And people who already came out to the street to do their peaceful protests. So we encourage people who are still not joined, open protests for them, to realize the situation, to realize that this is our fight, we need to do it. And for the people who are already joined the protest movement, it is also an encouragement for them to keep doing what we are doing. And at that time, they are also propagandas from the military side.

 

Brad  36:20

But the part that really got my attention was you said that you published in English and most of the military propaganda seems to be in Burmese, they seem to be very much targeting the local community. Do you feel that you were targeting the international community as well? Trying to make them aware of the situation or trying to gain support from them? Or what was the motivation in producing English language content?

 

Teddy  36:48

Yeah, when you were asking me these questions, I realized that I what I've answered before open to the general public, and you're more population, it is it is not correct. We are doing both language. So they're both the international community and more community, nobody's happening. And some of our statements have sent to some of the internet International Communication organizations, and to the previous, Special Envoy to Myanmar as well, I don't know how to pronounce her name, like, some burgers, something something

 

Brad  37:29

I can't remember, either. I'm ashamed. Yeah. Excellent.

 

Teddy  37:34

So some of our crew members, were attending different meetings, you know, with the international stakeholders. So when they will be intimating, at the same time, they will be communicating me through signal or apps, and telling what just briefly telling me what are the discussions and how we, you know, as an anti crew protest network, want to give, what message we want to convey to them. So as soon as they finish that meeting, I need to be ready with the statements or with the message that this is the this is this is the idea. This is the message that we want to present. So this is kind of my my job as well.

 

Brad  38:21

So very, sort of high speed, high intensity sort of environment to be working.

 

Teddy  38:26

Yes, very frustrating. And he, my comrades would just explain it, three, four words, and he was like, Oh, let it I know, you can do it. And Jose, what I don't know how to do it. And in writing in English, I was struggling so much. And sometimes I was like, it's become too much. I couldn't do it. But then okay, if I don't do it, what could I do? Right. Okay. There is no, no options. I just mean to do

 

Brad  38:58

it. Yeah, I mean, sink or swim. There is no third option. But, you know, it's really impressive. And, you know, what your, the work that your group was doing? definitely had an impact. You know, I know that I've I've seen some of the results of of your work. I know a lot of people were reached by it. And, and you had you had quite a presence in in February had quite a presence in March, but I know that after that, things started to to change. Rather rather quickly. Can you can you tell us about what was going on at that time?

 

Teddy  39:36

Yes. After, after February and March, we got a lot of crackdown, to the open protests. And to you know, this is something that we need to consider whether we work with continued, you know, organising mass protest movement, our some of our some of our members, like will be actually in the protests, or how would we stay drive the protest going, but not risking, you know, not losing our members is that this has become our main concern. And then I was actually had to run in one of the protest movement. And then God I wasn't getting arrested on that day, it was that it was a kind of a big event glcn was organizing this protest movement near downtown. And it also happened to be the more national day. So I was, I already guessed that the military would really crack down on that protest, because all the ethnic nationalities came together to march towards silay. And they will be wearing all their traditional costume and, and showing that ethnics are in solidity to against the military coup, I knew that it would happen, but I also would like to go, luckily, I was about 10 or 15 minutes late to arrive the event, they will start you know, 15 minutes earlier, but I, I was late, as usual with many things. And by the time I arrived, the group was already spread out, because the military already arrested one person. So the remaining people are trying to gather again, in a different place and trying to trying to do as it plan. So after some time, the group March, you know, and started marching, before we could really, you know, move forward, like 10 stops the military study to crack down and and then after that we heard the, the open the gunfire. So everyone's we're running to the different directions and I was also running and I arrived, I was hiding in someone house and in that house, there are also many pieces hiding. And, and you I realized that oh my god, it is getting more and more serious, they would actually shoot you and would actually, you know, arrest you I know it would happen. But I didn't witnesses before but now I'm witnessing and during the protests, one of the you know, good things that I recognize how people come into the unity and show the support all the houses who are hiding, who are hiding the protester in their how they will prepare food for you, and they will just let you stay in their house as much as they think you will be saved to go out again. So this is just a you know, a bit of a background that how the crackdown could get escalated. And so, from our group after two to three months after the coup, and until now, what we have been doing is three three activities. The first activities is we still support the Civic protester and resistant group across the country in terms of the logistics support such as safety gears, defense equipment, medical aid support for safe houses, so that they can go and high and tele communicate transportation and communication charges. So, this is what we have been doing. And the other activity is we are collaborating with one media agency. And we are supporting the undercover journalists for them to collect the news and information in a more you know safer way. And to be effective we provide them allowance for their transportation for their food for the communication charges and when it is needed. We also provide a safe houses for the undercover journalists so that they can continue their work but also hide at the same time and and if it's required, like camera Mobifone laptop and other media related equipment that they would need. We also support them but that's going to depend on how much funding we have in hand. And we also support not only to the undercover journalists, we also support to the remaining family members of the fallen heroes in your protester, and people who have been living under seriously affected area seriously effective area. I mean, there are some townships in Yangon, which has a lot of which explain a lot of crackdown by the military, for example, in say, Miko Kalasa, or grados area, we also provide humanitarian assistance to to those people. And by working with other stakeholders, you know, other networks, we provide support to the people it becomes, it becomes fun, the other activity that we support is to the cdmos. So for that one, there are two, two kinds of support from a support and financial support. So this is how we shift our activities from the first two months. And until now, since the beginning, we have the framework there, how this group would like to move forward. But we can do a lot of activity, we can do a lot of things for the protest movement, then later, you know, that activities somehow need to be adapted to the situation.

 

Brad  46:31

So let me let me jump in here, because there was a lot of information, there's very interesting insights. So just before we move on, I want to make sure that anyone who's listening has the opportunity to understand the different terms and the different concepts. You You mentioned the IDPs, you mentioned the CDM. And you're talking about logistical support for resistance groups. So can you quickly just go through what these letters mean, and what they really refer to and how they differ from one another, just for the benefit of anyone who might not know these terms.

 

Teddy  47:13

People who join civil disobedience movements, sometimes we call them as a CDMS majority of them are the government officials working in a government department. So they stopped going to work. So that the government would wouldn't function anymore. So, this is their way of acting, hence, the military coup and the military to to be in the power of war any longer. Some people also, although they are working in the private bank, private companies, they also stopped working they also stopped going to work. So that dumb not working somehow would stop government related job not delay the work. For example, people who are working in the shipping company logistics company, when they don't go to work, all the people, people works, good stock. So, things cannot proceed in a way that there are government related jobs, they cannot function that is why people are joining civil disobedience movement to build out this Military Region. To go back to the IDP kinds is the order are their internally displaced people, even before all the cool due to our long history of civil war pitching the he owes ethnic arms organizations and the military, many people from Korean for example, from Gutschein. From Qin, they are, can no longer live in their own places. So they are living in the IDB columns. So wonder to happen you know, they are life has become even harder than what they have already been produced. While we are also supporting to those it becomes so wonder to happen. Some people just have to relocate to the ITP comes for example, one of my colleague now he he and his wife who's about to deliver the baby needs to say in the ITB comes because his hometown, experienced a lot of military crackdown, the a lot of armed clashes between PDF and the military forces are happening. So they are it becomes therefore then it becomes need more support and that is why we are also supporting to some of the IDP comes out as much as we can better to depend on the funding that we receive the donation from our donations mainly come from Myanmar nationals who are living in the country, or who are abroad. And then some of the International international foundations, how could I say that they also contribute somehow and some of the generous foreigners, they also contributed to, to the funding as well. So we are located our funding to three different activities that we have been doing. So just to recap, one will be to the Civic protester. And then the second activity is related to undercover journalists and fallen heroes, family members into a protester. And that that is to the DCM.

 

Brad  50:59

Yeah, and I think it's an excellent thing to be doing. Because what a lot of people don't think about what a lot of people don't realize is that in a country where the democratic government has been displaced, and where the military does not care about human life, the these people who have been displaced who are living in camps or living in the mountains, or living in the jungles they have, they have no support, like, if it's not for organizations like yours, and for NGO organizations, and for just everyday people donating their money, in whatever way they can, these people would have absolutely no, no help and no support, and no protection, which, which I think is something that we we tend to forget, sometimes we tend to think that, oh, there's someone who's responsible for taking care of these people, but there isn't, they're on their own. And they need people to help them. And I think it is the same with the CDM. We think of the CDM is just well, you know, you're boycotting you're, you're striking, you're not going to work. But the difference is that the hunter have rewritten the laws, so they can accuse the the CDMS of actual treason. And they threatened them with with capital punishment, for refusing to go to work and lengthy prison sentences so that the stakes are incredibly, incredibly high. And I think that many people, especially those outside of the country, do tend to forget the realities that that the victims of the military are facing at this moment.

 

Teddy  52:38

CDMS we, it is our right now to go to work or to resign when they think this job no longer fit them. But with this military coup, when you refuse to go to work, when you want to resign in this moment, it is against the law, you know, you don't have any right anymore. And people who joined the CDM is not just about not working there have they really need to be strong enough how to survive, they need to think about different options to have the income, because when they start going to the work, you know, they are expelled, like with the official letter from the department, or what some don't receive the letter from their relevant accounting department, but they will do not get a salary anymore. So it is really, really tough for them to think about what could they do for the my opinion for the government officer, you working in this government department, this administrative work office procedure is is something that they know, you know, all their life, and now they have the try to abandon this job and start to think what else we could do. So the weaker support our family is really challenging. I could give you like one personal example my cousin. He is a medical doctor. And once he joined the civil disobedience movement, he he has been noticed by the military forces. That is because his supervisor in the military that other medical workers join the civil disobedience movement because he persuaded to do so the military who came and arrest him, he was lucky enough not to get arrested. And since then he has been in the hiding and he has no income and since he need to stay in a different villages. He also experienced a lot of a lot of how can I say skin related problems? Because there is no You could shelter, no personal hygiene, you know, the waters are not clean. So just just just, this is just very small examples that many civil disobedience movement people are facing. Absolutely the problems that we can't even imagine.

 

Brad  55:25

I mean, I remember that we saw a period where we had a lot of people who had fled from the cities, either because they're afraid of being arrested or because they wanted to join the resistance groups, and they started contracting malaria, or they started contracting a range of other diseases, you know, famously, this happened with with binder horn. And we don't think about it again, because especially outside in the West, a strike is a strike, you understand that people have a right not to go to work and they will lose their revenue. But, you know, that's that's a deal that they make, but in in the Myanmar context, when these people strike, they may have to pack up and leave the city, they may have to leave live, you know, in the wild with with no medical care with, without proper facilities, with no way to protect their families. It's a really cool decision that the military is forcing on these people, you know, support the military run government, or escaped with your family, not knowing if you can feed them not knowing if you can take care of it's I think, I think it's a very, very despicable thing that they that they've done to to the government employees. I want to go back to the story you were telling about that. The the Mon National Day March to Sula pagoda. I'm curious, can you remember? How close did you get to the pagoda that day?

 

Teddy  57:03

We were not close at all, we are only we were only 10 feet away from the starting point. You know, after that, they cracked down. And then people got really scared people were screaming and the organizers of this protest movement, they they use the loudspeaker trying to calm down the mass people that it is okay, we already prepare for that, right? So we just hold you hold the hands together, and we continue marching. And then after about one minutes, okay, calm down. And then we make a line, row, row by row again, we just have the hands off whoever just next to us. And we are starting to march. Again. I think after three steps, there was a gunfire. At that time, the organizers cannot come down the audience anymore. People start running. So kicking each other someone was just fallen on the street. Just got up and run to the very different directions.

 

Brad  58:17

Well, so was that was that live gunfire or was it blank rounds? Do you know?

 

Teddy  58:23

Real ammunition is a real word.

 

Brad  58:26

So that that early protest, they were already using real ammunition against peaceful protesters.

 

Teddy  58:32

Yes, is a real ammunition. And after that they came to search those protester who were hiding in the house, they came into the small, small, small street from the main road to the small, small street. And at that time, when they were shooting, the again, open the gunfire is just in front of me. Yes. I was like, Wow,

 

Brad  58:59

this so this would have been that moment when it when it became real, when that realization that these people are willing to murder really sort of became a reality. So so this is the thing and I noticed that you're saying that you were giving logistical support to these resistance groups that started forming in response to the violent crackdowns that the military and the police started doing. Of course, by this time, we know that the police units were infiltrated by military officers. So the difference between military and police started to break down. Did Did any of of your comrades get arrested in this period

 

Teddy  59:53

forced me speaking with a participant I've been working I Don't really know, who were the front liners, you know, who were leading the protests, because we divided the responsibility of each person. So the only the leader of that component organized protests with no, I didn't really know whether one of our comrades controversy.

 

Brad  1:00:30

But I don't just mean that that particular day, I mean, in this period when they they really started amping up these, these aggressive crackdowns and when we started seeing these nighttime raids happening, as well.

 

Teddy  1:00:45

Yeah, if you think you see these entire Cooper DeSmith, many of our wake up arrested, some are some call arrested, because they got they organize their protest movement, some arrested, because they set up a few operations in the nucleus. And, and in the past few months, one of our clothes number KOTTARAS. And the next day, the military, we presume that the military called the information on the team to search us in the parliament that we usually know work and routines, they broke the apartment and search for us. But luckily, we didn't use requirements for a long time. So we remain, all of us remain safe. But a few weeks ago, since then, we couldn't find the owner of the apartment, the burn down his parents house, and it turned into ashes. So be so my comments, suddenly, all of them are in hiding. And he was in a different place. So they actually did that, you know, when you see the case, in Chin State. And on that day, I was just have a flashback hold my camera house.

 

Brad  1:02:22

So let's clarify this because this is almost unimaginable. So first of all, you're telling me that your comrades were arrested, but they weren't arrested for violence they weren't arrested for, you know, what we would consider to be criminal activities. They were arrested for organizing a peaceful protest. There is no other charge. They're not arrested for carrying weapons. They're not arrested for trying to kill someone they just arrested for protesting for their democratically elected government that that's what you're saying.

 

Teddy  1:03:02

They would arrest you, if you're involved in the protest movement, you just as a person protesting, they will also arrest you if you organize this peaceful protest movement, because they think you are persuading other people to do this unlawful protests. By them it is unlawful to protest in on the street. And if you are also having a grievance with arms and other imagination, you will also get arrested because you are doing something that against them. So and if you are a civil disobedience movement, people, you will also get arrested. And if you are also a journalist, you're trying to write the real information from the ground up doing to the general public, you will also get arrested.

 

Brad  1:03:54

So to the situation that we're in at this point, and and this wasn't even all you know, all that long ago, you know, this this cool only happened about 10 months ago, the situation you're saying is that just being on the street, supporting the democratic movement is now a crime, or telling other people to support the democratic movement is a crime. Or I would presume that the money that you donated to help support the IDPs and help support the CPMs you would also have been a criminal without hurting anyone without violating anyone, you would become a criminal

 

Teddy  1:04:40

and criminal and it is a treason

 

Brad  1:04:42

and treason treason of all crimes, even higher crime. And then you're saying that they tried to find the owner of of the apartment where you had operated and because they couldn't find the owner decided to go to the parents of the person and burn down their house. Even though the parents were not involved

 

Teddy  1:05:07

his parents are all pro NLD supporters. So with the informants, I think the military got the information that this occupants in this house or NLD.

 

Brad  1:05:21

But the majority of the country is pro NLD, the election proves this fact. Yeah, this is this is unthinkable, really from, from an outsider perspective, the idea of someone who works for whether the military or whether a civilian government burning down your house to punish you for something that your your son has done or not done, they didn't even prove that they didn't arrest him, there was no trial, you know, this level of cruelty and destruction is just unthinkable, really difficult to imagine,

 

Teddy  1:06:00

to, to continue, you know, this kind of experience, one, the military can come to search, your son or your daughter. And if they don't find that person, do what just took away any of the family member they want. If there is a mother or a father who say, think they would like to take two of them, they would just do it, they would just just take that, you know, like they can avert

 

Brad  1:06:34

it. It's one of those strange situations where, you know, we could very easily look up international law, and find all of the ways in which this is this is unacceptable. But at the same time, we shouldn't even have to have this discussion, it's so obvious that if you want to arrest one person, you can't just arrest a different person. Instead, it breaks logic to even think about this.

 

Teddy  1:07:07

They just want to keep the family member as a hostage. For me, my main concern is, what if they arrest my mom or my dad or my sister, you know, it is not only you will get arrested or torture, it could be your family member. If they don't lie to you, they will do anything to harm. Sometimes it's really scary that

 

Brad  1:07:31

we're looking at the same tactics that we would see in North Korea, for example, if you escape or if you criticize the government, it's your family that will be put into into a camp or into a prison.

 

Teddy  1:07:45

This this very much similar, this

 

Brad  1:07:47

is ridiculous, like this is it. It's just horrifying. To know that this is happening in the 21st century. And it's happening to people that we know, have not done anything immoral, and have not done anything violent and have not hurt anybody. They're just angry that the military stole their freedom and stole their democracy. I'm just I'm just surprised. But um, but you know, let's, let's continue on your your journey. So your activities took a clearly could be determined after this this moment when you when you saw that the violence is very, very, very real. And the police in the military do not care and you started focusing in a slightly different direction. Now, you said after that the place was raided. You said that many of your comrades were detained? Are you still operating? Do you still have an organization? Are you still keeping up activities?

 

Teddy  1:08:50

Just to clarify one thing, we are not an organization, we are just t to protest network and everyone in the network work as a volunteer basic, so we don't get any pay. We do our own like Job, you know, put into passive income. And then we commit in this in this journey like for the human rights and for the democracy. Yes, we are still operating. But things have become very different since four or five months ago, many of our people got arrested and some are not in the urban area anymore because they need to go to the hiding. Some are joining the years in different parts of the country. So not many people know that we're we need to adjust how we do our activities. Okay.

 

Brad  1:09:52

And again, just for the benefit of anyone who might not be familiar. The EA O's in this context refers to the ethnic ensemble realizations exist around the around the country

 

Teddy  1:10:06

eels or organizations and in the country there many eels and sun sign the NCAA ceasefire agreement with the previous government and some don't. During the Revolutionary period, it is very obvious that some of the heroes are supporting the general public the are determined to fight the military regime and work towards a more like more fair and equal society and they all have been, you know, demanding federal democracy country. So, there are many people who are joining the Eagles getting training from the those eels and and you may also hear the term PDF become the Fluke against those and and the Kerala government was saying that the PDF people defense fools are under the command of the NUJ government. But some of the PDS response to that statement that they are not under the command of the NUJ government, but they against the military coup. So they are in this fight to root out the Military Region but they are on their own way. And then I during this one and two months I hear the new term LDF local defense force. So they refer themselves as an LDL quant they are fighting against the military coup, but they are not under the energy government and they also do not receive the support from the energy government. And they are also from grovia. fighters in the oven CT. So some some of the glory of fighters. They they see themselves as they are under the command of the NUJ some are not. So there are different entities in the country, fighting against the military,

 

Brad  1:12:24

just to recap that we have people like you who are not involved in in actual sort of conflict you deal with analysis and financial support and supporting the CDM and things like this. And there's a very large network of people engaged in these types of activities and propaganda activities and reporting. And you've mentioned underground journalists that you were assisting as well to to find the truth and publish the truth. But then we have this very complicated interaction between the groups that are engaging in the fight. And we have the ethnic armed organizations who may be allied to the democratic government or they may not be depending on on the situation. We have the LDF defense forces, local defense forces that are not allied to the democratic government, but are working generally towards the same goal. We have the PDF people's defense forces that are allied to the democratic government. And now apparently, we also have these underground guerrillas, the UG, so it's, it's a very complicated, very intricate system that I think a lot of people like to oversimplify and we can't pretend that the PDF is the same as the LDF is the same as the EEO because they're not because they're all very different or very different machines. So, this the work that that you do in your resistance network, focusing on on trying to get different information from different stakeholders and trying to assist people who need assistance. This is a very big brief, this is a very big task. So does this come with any daily challenges has this really changed the way that you have to go through your life and the way that you have to take care of your day to day necessities?

 

Teddy  1:14:26

So the most important things for our group member is the safety of all the crew members. Unless we live, we cannot do the operations and support the revolution. Right. So safety is our main concern. And some of the members are already in the ethnic areas so that they know they are safe, and they can coordinate with different groups and contacts that activity you know from He was areas that have a coordination network with people from different cities from different states and region. So this is one thing, how we look after ourselves and continue the activities, other members who cannot leave the city for where they are currently living to the ease or area, you just need to be very careful with how they do things, try to do things very concretely, you know, try to act like we're just an ordinary person not interested in politics, not interested in the movement, just just normal people, you know, think about themselves work, go to work. And sometimes we need to relocate to different safe houses, if we get an information that that searching has become very intensify, or we get the information that it has asked if we leave the current place. So I've experienced living three different places since the beginning of the call, until now, and it was frustrated, because it is not your usual place, when you are in a different place. No matter how good the condition of the houses, you don't feel like it is your home, you know, you are there for maybe a few weeks or a few days, you need to settle. I have a very big sleeping problems. Even in my own place. I've got four asleep easily. So in staying in a place that is not my usual place, it's making me holler, for one thing about my comrades, you know, who have been living in the eels area, very basic accommodation, and they don't have not, not variety, or food, or how can they see very less options. The healthcare system is very minimal. So thinking my comrades, I think I shouldn't be complaining, I am living way better than how they they have been living.

 

Brad  1:17:19

But, but even so them. So you're saying that you basically have to live every day knowing that you might be told, you have to pack up now and you have to leave for for safety, we

 

Teddy  1:17:32

need to be alert, we need to be alert all the time.

 

Brad  1:17:36

And so I assume that means you, you don't have many things with you, you would have to be able to pack up and move very quickly.

 

Teddy  1:17:45

This is the ideal. But for me, I have a lot of stuff in my place. But I know if something happened, there are only two bags that I would carry and run. So

 

Brad  1:17:56

you have a plan already. And you know exactly what you will do if

 

Teddy  1:18:00

I already pack ice pack since the beginning of the course. Because I yeah, just to give you an example, like I think that was a month ago, the military truck arrived our apartment. And at the time I was thinking that they knew about us and came to search me and my comrades. That was my first thought. So I turn tried to turn off the light or the icons and already shaking don't know what to do don't know what to hide. But luckily, and unluckily for other person, they didn't came for as the one to the next door and yelling at the person name and calling him to came out. And that was 1:30am in the morning. Everything was completely quiet. The only screaming that we hear is from the military forces the trying to deal with so I was I was hiding in my own apartment and peeking in the window and looking what was going on outside. We saw all those military forces enter the factories and apartment searching him. Like about four trucks for trucks on that night, and often an hour, they open the campfire in the air and they call the person they didn't him and then put it for him in the car. You know the hose. Very, very shocking. I was trying to say that you you need you need to understand that any slips of information could lead you to get arrested for you mentally and physically be ready to pack and this is how people who are involved in the revolutionary movement not only me whoever involved in the movement has to has to bear with

 

Brad  1:19:58

me that's You know, that's, it's just strange to think about what it would be like to, to be in that position where you see them coming, and you think they're coming for me, and then they take someone else. And you know, you would be relieved that you're not being taken away to jail, but at the same time somebody else is, and and you can see that happening. It's difficult to imagine what something like that would be like, what effect that would have.

 

Teddy  1:20:38

Yeah, it was very sad. And we feel very guilty, guilty that why only, you know, a handful of us survive, and why those people and our friends are spending time in jail, and torture.

 

Brad  1:20:57

So this do we do you know, from any of you have any of your friends been, or your colleagues or comrades been arrested and subsequently released?

 

Teddy  1:21:11

Fans or friends, she involved in the protest movement in the earlier days. So she spent nearly two months in prison, and then finally released, and some of the some of the friends or friends who were taken to the prison, and then released and then got arrested again. So we don't know, why did they let those people go on the first time, and then caught arrested again. So for me, whenever I know someone who, you know, can came out from the presenters are urging them to leave the current place and go into hiding, because they will keep you on the radar. Or they could just come and get you anytime they find something suspicious, and they will achieve it is useful.

 

Brad  1:22:03

And so these people who who would released whether temporarily or permanently, Did they say anything about the treatment that they received in prison?

 

Teddy  1:22:15

I've never spoken any of them personally, I just got secondary information from my comrades that how much torture they had.

 

Brad  1:22:26

But so that that is an actual report that is coming from the people who have come

 

Teddy  1:22:30

home versus Yes, yeah. So my comrades who spoke to the victim directly so this

 

Brad  1:22:36

is not just a rumor flying around this is this is real, but these people are being tortured in

 

Teddy  1:22:40

prison is super via you, when you see their face in cruises their body in, you know, all the process here with no. This is the truth.

 

Brad  1:22:56

So and this might be an awkward question. I don't know what your circumstances are, but has has your activity affected your relationship with your family or your ability to just spend time with them? Completely,

 

Teddy  1:23:18

I, I kind of been living alone with for quite a while, but the de COVID analytical, I could really actually meet my family. But when I was effect, infected with COVID-19, during the cold period, when my mom told me, she would like to come and look after me. I said no, because I'm so worried that if they find out something, and if they would come and look for me, they will find them out. So I told her not to I try surviving by myself. And after witnessing so many traumatic experience, I think my anxiety leverages got intense. And I'm feeling scared all the time. You know, sometimes I feel guilty because compared to my comrades, my other friends, I think, and yeah, it is true. I haven't done as much as they have done. But I'm feeling guilty all the time. And I'm feeling afraid all the time. And I feel like I'm such a coward. But I just starting to have mental breakdowns. So last month in October, one of my friends help helped me to connect to one of those psychologists so that with the support, I could come down a bit, falling asleep a bit and still, be it healthy, to continue to work. At a personal level. It affects you in a tremendous way. If I don't know how to how to even describe, I don't see no future. I don't know what will happen tomorrow, we will want one I am somehow heavy an argument with my parents, I will just hang up the call saying, Okay, I will stop this conversation because tomorrow, I don't know, I will survive or not. You know, those are very harsh words, I shouldn't be saying, but this has become my mentality that, Okay, tomorrow, I don't know, I will be survived or not. Okay. I would like this conversation be just ended. Yeah.

 

Brad  1:25:36

The things that, that you're saying, they just, you know, for me as an outsider to imagine something like this, is, is very difficult, because, you know, I've never had to deal with things like this, the majority of people never have to deal with things like this. And if you look back to January of this year, I'm sure you never would have imagined being in the situation that you are in. Now. So I think your your commitment to, to the movement is incredible. Because I know that there are a lot of people who have left, who have have tried to cross over the border, to get out of the country. And I think from what you've said, it is very, very, very clear why a person would want to leave, why a person would want to get away from that situation. So it's, it's very commendable that, that you stay, and that you continue to do the work that you do, and you continue to help the people who don't have the option of fleeing. But I don't know, I don't have words to describe what it is that I'm here.

 

Teddy  1:26:55

I also understand to those who, you know, fled the country. Because, you know, they are people who involve a lot in the movement, and the names already being targeted. So they have no choice, no options, but to leave the country to keep them alive, so that he could support in the revolutionary movement. But they're also people who just left the country, because they don't see any perspective, or any future by living in the country. I understand that. For some times, when I see people, especially my peers, and friends, who just go to a normal life, you know, without involving in the movement, carry on with the carrier, personal development, education, I have a bit of negative feelings kind of resentment, grudges, upset those feelings. But then I asked myself the question, Who asked you to join this movement? Who would blame you if you don't join the movement? Right? The answer is so clear, I joined the movement, because I think it is the right thing to do. And I joined the movement, because I want to contribute something in this democratic movement to install the human life. To build a more prosperous country, I aim to see the country transform into a federal democratic country. So this is my decision, my choice. So I told me to feel better about anything, who involved who are involved, who has done watch, I just need to pop talk myself that not to have those negative feeling and do as much as I can. Or I also go into hiding, or flee the country whenever I need to, or whenever our members need to. This isn't.

 

Brad  1:28:56

Um, this is incredible, really what I'm hearing and and what we have to remember is that these experiences that you're talking about, are something that probably hundreds of 1000s, if not millions, of Myanmar, people have had to go through over the last 10 months. I think it really highlights the scale of the crisis. And, and the fact that the scars of this coup are going to last in the country for for quite a long time, no matter what the end of this situation will be. There will be ramifications. But I know because you've spoken about this in the past. That one of the reasons that you're still there, one of the reasons that you continue doing this is because you you have a very strong belief that this, this resistance, the pro democratic movements The the, if we can call it the societal, Myanmar society movement that that is happening right now needs to be done in a certain way it needs to be done with with certain values and principles at the forefront. So can you tell us a little bit about the the philosophy that you have going into the the activities that you engage in and the pro democratic movement

 

Teddy  1:30:34

as far as the first thing that I would like to say is, for those who are seeing surviving, donate survival, because as long as we have chances to fulfill our goal, and is really paid to perceive it as our priority, because we don't have security, our our fundamental human rights, so who into hiring into somewhere else, you need to please stay alive. The fight is not only to the Military Region, after that, we will need a lot of human resources, skilled people know people like you to build a country. So just just stay alive. And then steady talk woman, you will feel discouraged, you're sure will have presented for you have fear, you have sadness, but practice integrity, love and empathy. I think this could guide you guide you or us to go further to go for the long run. And when we are in this movement, you know, we try to and the dictatorship region. Everyone has the Australia and they are we have to we and we fully understand that we have the same one trying to root out the dictatorship try ours up not to become one of them. I'm very concerned with some of our behavior, our friends behavior arrive to the level of the military coup, and one, the end, there will be saving more problems. There are even now there are so many scars in the society, you know, people got divided a lot during the revolution, even the family members they don't speak anymore, because of different politics believe. So try to reflect on what you have been doing the always conscious, so that we don't stray from our ethical values and our end goal. And I also like to say, this fight this revolution is not an event for people to gain anything to become famous or to portray superiority and heroism. The revolution is our bigger chances was, you know, for our, to our ethnic peoples to come together to unite to find the common ground in the country, you know, all the people in the country regardless of our belief, races sexual orientation, religion in order to end the Decatur region because we are fighting to find a way forward to build a more equal fair and peaceful country. So when you make the decision before making the decision, you don't need to regret it. But don't think about a person mickey out of this politics. It is the life of many people, you know millions of people. And I do not think I can imagine if someone would like to take this political crisis as a benefit for them. That will be so upsetting for me. And there will be times when you're doing something for the community or in the revolutionary movement. People wouldn't look nice your afford, you know, to have contribution. Other time please don't feel just I told myself that I don't need to feel discouraged. Because I do it. Because I know what is right. And I do it because it is for the good cause I do it because I stay true to my moral values. Therefore, I'm telling myself no To hold grudges to those who do not show any support in the revolution and who remain silent. But I also told myself to remember and appreciate who stand up and fight for freedom and human rights, because negativity and resentment, it would really drain our energy. And I also experienced that it actually drain my energy and focus to achieve our angle. Yeah, and, and then I would like to bring up the topic of social punishment, you would also notice the trend become really popular in the past three or four months, and people are saying the social punishment, but they are doing a personal attack under the name of social social punishment. And I think this is not only wrong, but it doesn't serve any purpose in building a safer and stronger society. With all those negative feelings, all those resentment, even after the CO even after we went to democracy, how could we come together, you know, unitedly, and build a country in the humbly so just be clear, before you do a social punishment, what is the purpose of doing that? Whether, you know, you're doing it right or not? Right. And, and during the coup, I think many of us who are involving, in the movement, realize that we are actually stronger than we think. And we could do many things or a number of things that we have never done before we have become super multitasking. And we we are able to do so. So I think this crisis is the task towards our humanity, integrity and belief. And I know it takes a tremendous amount of airports and fades and time to overcome, you know, all the negative, traumatic experience that we, we had experience. But I think if we stay with positivity, and as I am Buddhists, I want to say tomorrow, if we put positivity into MMA in our heart, we have more chances of winning, we have more chances to be resilient, and we have more chances, you know, to remain as who we are, and never lose of a value. So, positivity and trauma is something that keeps me alive alive today. And on the final note, I will say that, if you need psychosocial support, don't be ashamed or don't be hesitant to ask for the professionals, because different people have unique life paths and experience and some people have you know, prior traumatic experience or their window of tolerance is really low compared to other and when you are facing the situation like in Myanmar political crisis economic crisis with a pandemic, you will get so shaky. So, if you need help, ask for it. And asking help is not a sign of weaknesses. In the past, I really hesitant to ask for help. For me, I do not take it as a sign of weaknesses, I take a sign of burden I will be putting burden towards other if I ask for help, when later I realized that it is not not a sign of burden or weaknesses. You just honestly saying what you have been through and if there is something some someone could support you, you will be able to overcome those challenges. And when you are healthy and mentally resilient, you could do so many things in life, right? So in this in this particular movement, it is about our call to fight for the democracy to to restore the human eye to restore the justice. So you need to be physically and mentally healthy. If you need support. Ask around and don't feel comfy hesitant. Yeah, these are, these are my thoughts.

 

Brad  1:39:14

So I I have to say, I'm very, very taken aback. I'm very, without sounding condescending. I'm very impressed that someone who has seen the things that you've seen, and has experienced what you've experienced, not just in terms of of the physical impact of the coup but but in terms of the psychological impact of the coup, that you can still stay as focused on positivity and focused on the idea of the end goal, really the Federal Democratic Union, you know, rebuilding the country, not just to get rid of the military. dictatorship, but to to genuinely build a country where everyone can, can be themselves where every nationality and every culture can, can coexist and can and can participate in, in the governing of the country. You know, I think for a lot of people, it would be very tempting. If they've seen such terrible things happening. It would be tempting to harden the heart and start thinking, No, our goal is just removing the military. And whatever we do to do that is justified. I'm very, I take hard hearing what you're saying, because it shows that you're not, and, and the pro democracy movement is not going to become the military. It's it, the desire and the philosophy to rise above that sort of behavior and those sorts of thinking, and staying moral and ethical, and driven by compassion, and driven by these, these values that we that we hold in such high esteem is, is is such a powerful pulse within the movement, I, I find that very impressive.

 

Teddy  1:41:30

Thank you. For me, I am so grateful to my comrades, who inspire me every day. I never, until now hear a complaint from them that how much struggle they have, you know, living in, in those area in a very poor condition. They have experienced so much trouble hustle compared to me, that every time we speak, they would just be saying that we will win this fight. And we will be seeing each other again. And then we will rebuild the country together. So you're still healthy, and be safe. And sometimes when I feel like I am complaining, I feel so ashamed because I never heard a complaint from my comrades. And I've never before the cool. I didn't know that. But I'm grateful that I met them. And I met the true people, you know, in my life. And I also see the true colors of other people's who I think this is the taking us positive notes. In this revolutionary period, we know what is right or wrong and who is good or who's not, you know, in a way, in every bad situation, you I think we could figure something out which is positive.

 

Brad  1:43:05

I mean, this, this is absolutely incredible, to me, like this level of resilience, and and just the attitude and the dedication, that that I hear not just from you, and you're saying also your comrades and other people who have participated in in the pro democracy movement. It's, it is unbelievable. I think for someone who's who's outside the situation has never had to deal with this, to imagine the ability of the youth of the country, being this dedicated and this strong and this resilient to everything that the military throws at them psychologically, economically, and ultimately, violently. So I take heart that, that if if, if the democracy movement is driven by people who share your values and your philosophies and have your dedication, then I believe victory is is assured. It's just a question of when not a question of if, and hopefully the answer is very soon. So I want to thank you very much for coming on. That was a very edifying interview, I want to thank you for sharing your opinions, and your thoughts and your insights with us. And thank you for spreading the word and spreading genuine use from Myanmar from the ground so that everyone in the world can understand the true scale of the situation and the dedication of people like you and your comrades.

 

Teddy  1:44:41

I also want to thank you, and people from your crew, you know, giving me a chance to share the real stories through this platform. And, and from from here, I hope everyone in the country Free, remain safe healthy and I never lose ourselves our value and fight it to the end. Thank you What am I gonna do we are done and the reason is busy

 

Host  1:45:25

lot as inspiring as it was to hear today's guests, I know from experience that when you're listening from so far away, there can also be a certain kind of helplessness in hearing about the struggle that people like them are now engaged in. Thankfully, we have organized a reliable way for interested listeners to provide valuable assistance to those local communities. All donations will be sent to support the protesters currently resisting the military coup. By taking an active role in helping support the movement, you can ensure that people like today's speaker have even a few more resources to draw and can manage even another week more in their efforts. If you would like to join in our mission to support those in Myanmar who are resisting the military coup, we welcome your contribution in any form, currency or transfer method. Every cent goes immediately and directly to funding those local communities who need it most. donations go to support such causes as a civil disobedience movement CVM families of deceased victims, and the purchasing of protective equipment and medical supplies. Or if you prefer, you can earmark your donation to go directly to the guest you just heard on today's show. In order to facilitate this donation work, we have registered a new nonprofit called Better Burma for this express purpose. Any donation you give on our insight Myanmar website is now directed to this fund. Alternatively, you can visit our new better Burma website, which is better Burma one word.org and donate directly there. In either case, your donation goes to the same cause in both websites except credit cards. You can also give via PayPal by going to PayPal dot means slash better Burma. Additionally, we can take donations through Patreon Venmo GoFundMe and Cash App. Simply search better Burma on each platform and you'll find our account. You can also visit either website for specific links to those respective accounts, or email us at info at better burma.org. In all cases, that's better Burma. One word spelled B E TT E R B u r Ma. If you would like to give it another way, please contact us. Thank you so much for your kind consideration.

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