Part 1: Episode #52: Punk Revolutionary

Following is the full transcript for the interview with Kyaw Kyaw, which appeared on May 14, 2021. 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.

Host 00:21

While this podcast platform typically explores the spiritual biographies of practitioners in Myanmar, along with delving into the different meditation traditions there, we have somewhat shifted our focus to respond to this current crisis. While we will definitely continue to interview guests who can share a Buddhist perspectives, and depart wisdom at this time of need, we will be expanding our work to talk with a wider range of speakers who can add to the breadth and depth of our coverage, so that listeners can better understand the nature of the current crisis. And if there are additional topics or guests that you would like to suggest, please do so by writing us at info at Insight myanmar.org. With that, let's get on to our show.

Kyaw Kyaw 02:09

Good day. Hey, by the way, a good day.

Host 02:45

I'm speaking to choto. He is the founder and the lead singer of the punk band, Rebel riot. Churchill. Thanks so much for taking the time to join us here.

Kyaw Kyaw 02:55

Thank you to just speak up.

Host 03:01

Yes, so I want to begin by asking you the question that I think you've probably answered already a million times by now. But because so many are justifiably curious about how punk music got to me and more. It's something that I think a lot of our listeners who are not familiar with, you will want to know. So can you share with us your background of how you first got attracted to punk music?

Kyaw Kyaw 03:25

Yes. Okay, the journey counseling is in Myanmar since 1996. So it is very I don't know anything about when I was teenager, around 18 years old 18 or 19 years old. In this time. I fall some punks on the street. You know we have the water first year. Gotcha. And Myanmar every year Paige huge for the festival. The sebrae water issue. Julie today's water firstever So, in this festival I found some pounds on the street. It's mainly shock. I never see this kind of like I asked to my friends one day What is this tie? How are they like? Are they like they they are we're so my friends is a punk. Punk is like what they are. Guess what? He was? I don't know. This is just I know pangas with more Hawk or spiky hair or something like that. Okay, to the fight a lot, honestly. Yeah, they fight bullies. They fight to other people they are drinking and they do nothing. I don't believe what she is playing it. For me. I can see this guy who lives I park maybe some meaning behind. I really interesting because this is you know, I can feed it is Something behind this meaningful nice day I changed my style. I don't know why you know, I made a glue paper glue to my hair totally black clothes and blood sugar actually my parents they don't allow Leticia at home because they believe some way or religion this religion don't allow plus closes so if you were born closer This is danger or you know you can know you have bad luck for so i don't care i entirely to my style. They don't like me and they worry about something happened to me maybe someday happen. I bring my culture I don't know anything about music. I just changed my style. This is something like a rebellion to show this society and show you know, like a river. And this time I listening linkin park sleep no other loving does all that for me this time our living is just fine for me. You know, I listen. She plays cable or something that I don't know anything about pugs. I just feel comfortable and free to myself I don't care how other people think to me and you know, this has made me another stay on and do down there sit and fall sex distributivity on the black market. So below market is interesting we are and our military military system. So China importing by an IRA for prisoners, so they have black market. So this dilemma cuz you can buy porn movie you can buy lots of you know ansons tivity you can buy you know, glue famous TV like a scorpion ban you know like a sleigh like the kind of rules so I found this DVD that I saw set this to DVD I noticed this too but I don't know about the music. I saw a lot of T shirts and also young people were interested so if we share Johnny what Tom said the story is very popular to share but I didn't know what to listen to but I'm constantly studying that I bought this only like they wonder so I bought this I play at home is thoroughly mainly changed you know the concert is not like entertainment they are just doing crazy on the stage a lot of people are from the ground is true and we're rubbish to the stage. They also don't care sometimes they find with the orian they do whatever they want on the stage orient also don't restart you know. So this is computer they don't care they don't give a fuck you know a lot of a lot of musician they care so much for you or he also cares so much that the behind prison man cyclists to tivity is made crazy this is you know very rarely I never see pasta like this in my life is totally We are the they do whatever they want. I found really human freedom in my heart or I fall in love. Not only Stein now expression, I also like Kung museum a teacher can I try to go again and again this blood marker area or some CD show? I found a specialty iPhone page sliders, you know some interesting field tape, tape and other DVDs is mainly totally changed after that item is ending only combat or sling or using you know old school prank like a Rambo backlash is fine. In this time. We don't have internet. So no we have in Ghana, but only rich people can use because a very one hour like a $2 so we can pay for disposal. I don't know how to use computer. So my friend told me if you really want to know more about internet internet is very, very wide. You can find whatever you want, but I don't know how do you get to down there? Around 2000 I did nearly another two conferences. I studied internet. I literally move on in my life. So you know, I'm far more more a store. Right? So

Host 09:34

after your experiences with the music and the style and everything else. What What does punk mean to you? How would you define punk for me?

Kyaw Kyaw 09:46

And its meaning is a loss. You know, everybody said so also for me and meaning a lot but my truly believe pan for me is really, really big. And you stand for human rights you stand for just a US shoe some Four Freedoms USA. So pangas be USA and rebellion against, you know, injustice. So, yeah,

Host 10:19

so you got into punk as a kind of rebellion and a call for freedom and fighting for injustice. And you got into this at a time when you did not have any of these things in your country, there was really no freedom or no rights in your country and

Kyaw Kyaw 10:38

you were embracing an art form. My country has no issue my right my country has no freedom, like countries any, you know, justice. So when I found punks, so can you give me inspiration to fight for that?

Host 10:55

Right, right. And that's what music does. That's what creativity and art forms do and across all societies across all time is they allow a certain kind of expression against limitations of that society. And I want to go into the art form of punk itself, because I have to confess that I haven't really listened to a lot of punk music. But the more I've learned about you, the more interested I've become in this musical form, seeing how you relate to it, and how you produce it. So for someone like me, and probably listeners that are on here, who hears punk music, and we just kind of hear it as loud noise, we don't appreciate it the way you do. Can you help me? And can you help us to better understand the artistry and the creativity behind the music so that we can appreciate it better?

Kyaw Kyaw 11:48

For me, I really inspiration in my life, so my first inspiration from UK, USA, Australia and Indonesia. For me, tongue is truly human being they don't care what people think they really stand for what they believe they don't care society, they don't want to be part of society. This is what I learned from Western punk. Right? So Western funds for the system for the government. So this is Kimmy Alonso energy inspiration. But you know, in 2000, I think around 2010 I, I really did with Indonesia, Indonesia is I feel a little bit different, you know, one by iPhone, but not in or Indonesia or one pan on this one pan also doing social thing, this is similar when my mind you know, oh, this is interesting because of person pants, they already a human right they already a democracy they already have you know, a lot of thing what we don't have, but Indonesia, we like similar you know, they are and they don't religious though not so free like a western country. So, the eye is flourishing again Indonesia. So, this Indonesia came a lot of energy to so I miss Indonesian punk scene and I missed the western concept together make my own you know, what I stand for I live in Yemen. So, I do something with my own mind You know, my brother's around the war of cancer on the world the responsible for our country, they are responsible and fight for their country situation but if I am yemma I live in Yemen so I should find my problem you know, no, no only copy from Western only copy from other country I have to create my own so when I look around my site, we have to a lot of fly for for Islam where you know, the big global monetary system Serbia is we are lots of civil wars. You know, we have the loss of poor people so many problems around us so this is we focus for our our thing. So we create our own pain meaningful because panga is not only nice music love also show it to restaurant responsible for around you. Fight that's fine. Yeah, we did the creation and activism and social work together.

Host 14:45

Right so you're getting into you being a fan of punk music to you being a creator and an artist of punk music and that leads to the formation of your band rebel riot, so can you give us the background of how This band was formed Why Why did you want to form it?

Kyaw Kyaw 15:04

Until you want I'm found around the doughnut hole I was around 1718 then 2006 I don't really know can music show a space other kind of old school pangram around 1980 and 2007 we have suffered revolution you know parts of our religion right? suffer revolution in silver revolution a little bit sing like right now we are part of due process in this time we go out on the street we show solidarity with the people who fight for democracy so a lot of people on the street and in town also we are taught this projects then after a few days later to Suja shooting a loss of people on the street then I found that I feel so scary you know I never see in my life people shooting and killing you know this is I have so much trauma after I saw this I want my the whole body shaking It's so scary I so worried so angry and you know, I don't know what to do. And after several revolution finished, the military took the power again and I started thinking What should I do for this country? What shall I do for something you know a lot of people die for you know, our country but also people tied for democracy. So I want to do something on the paddle does this thing I'm not a politician but I should be I should do something this is this is what what I'm thinking a lot after that. I don't know for sure do change join the army though. I don't know I don't believe fibre the roof on the roof because this is stupid but I believe what music is it is Japan curate and you can shout whatever you want. So we got I already inspiration time music before a revolution so you know that's fine. Okay, we shouldn't make a plan and I discuss you I discuss with my friends Shall we make a band our band is just for shouting while we see what we angry does is we created that the band is a river right river right is you know coming river is no event is to to pass on to move for revolution you know you to for revolution, this person is River. So Ryan man is I don't know in this time my angle is so fast. So for me protests and demostrated try to sit me Rajesh river Riot is what we see a lot of people on the street they are together they are river they are on the street in May right because of the one just did they want human rights the white freedoms does not give a right is for freedom for right for freedom for for democracy and for justice. So that's fine. We could ever have a right a god honestly we don't write some political songs in this time. We only make music we can shout while we angry for you know so no politic not only politics government no we are just because we already had trauma from Southern revolution. So we need to find out again our anger need to buy music that's fine. We just playing whatever we want and we just shouting. We just complain something we just show me what we angry for. So no, no political in this time, but then move in a chain and changing times. We found some injustice by equality we fight for we make some for some politics are

Host 19:32

right. So you're describing that when you form your band, a lot of it was just wanting to shout and express anger and be able to get this emotion out the response to the dictatorship to the saffron revolution. And yet I know in Burmese society for a variety of reasons. Anger is not always seen as a very appropriate emotion to express. And I think this is due for a couple of reasons. One might The role of Buddhism, it might also be the military oppression. And it could be some of the cultural underpinnings like, like, on our body. And so what I'm curious about is what has it been like for you to use your art form and your creativity is an outlet for anger, in a culture where expression of anger in any form is not considered so appropriate? Generally?

Kyaw Kyaw 20:29

Yeah, you are right, our country is a loss of shyness, you know, background is by Buddhism or military, you know, that people are so shy, because angry is negative. If you are angry, not good for your karma, you know, angry is fire and peace is water, so lots of people that don't allow to angry. So, for me, after I formed the punk, my mind is most or most of time, opposite of this society. And you know, when they say, right, I am look through another view, I'm always complaining what some people say something, you know, and I know that I'm not easy to agree. After I found punk, I know, I'm no easy to follow, and always criticize and I always looking in different perspective views. I never easy to agree. before I found punk, I also like shy guy I'm already following. Okay, I don't care about is a right or wrong, I just easy to follow. But after my mind is totally changed. I always criticize. when my other teachers say, you know, I'm not easy to accept for what other people say, this is very good for me, can change my life, you know, so I have a different perspective and view after I found the punk. They say, shouting is no good. I say shouting is good if you don't leave your anger, this anger, like inside, burning yourself. If you shout already release your energies and you feel good, then, you know, we our sound is criticized to society, you will follow the money you're following the power, you're following something, then you don't see yourself. So this kind of song we wrote, like puppet society. Also, you guys don't trust each other because money, authority, you are always trying to starve yourself. You're trying to lie to your brother, you're trying to lie to your sister, you're trying to lie to your parents, you know, so we criticize a lot when we see the society when we feel and we angry and shout again but we don't agree at all we can like so that's fine. But actually my daily life is I am no angry person. I am very peace guy. Peace and quiet. Because when I was teenager, I use the Rebel Riot band if I you can punk music I shouted a lot. Maybe that's why I am more peace and peace.

Host 23:45

That's very true. I saw the documentary with you. And at the my Buddha's Park. Yeah, and I was so touched by some of the scenes in there where you're having you and your friends or your colleagues, you're having real differences of opinion like over pretty serious matters. And you're discussing them together. And every difference of opinion that comes any conflict, you're on one hand you're expressing your opinion, very directly and clearly you're not shy as you say. And you're you're very direct in what it is you want to say. But the softness and the sweetness and the the ease and how you're saying things that was really quite beautiful. And then it cuts to you singing one of your songs and of course the the anger and the rage is there and you come on as an artist. And so that was that's really beautiful. And it you know, I also hear as like, punk music is giving you this kind of agency. It's giving you this kind of right to be able to criticize and I think you're right in Myanmar society that partly because of fear of the military oppression partly because of the way Burmese Buddhist values have been interpreted culturally. There's this sense of not really criticizing or calling out what is wrong or what, or, or wanting to identify fault and others or things like that. And I think that when I think that that there that that could have some good tendencies in terms of trying because I think definitely you can be too far one way where you're always looking at all the problems that are there and you're focused on it. But when you are not able to speak out against what what is wrong and criticize it, then you just let that wrong continue to perpetuate. And I think we're kind of jumping ahead in the conversation. We'll get there more in a moment. But it because we're on this topic now. It It seems that in this present moment, there, I'm seeing and tell me what you think in Burmese society, I'm seeing kind of like a lid that's being taken off and people are being truthful and honest about their opinions in ways that I've never seen before. just merely saying, like, I am suffering, I am not okay, I am angry, I'm upset. You know, in many ways, this is actually the first noble truth of the Buddha This is the the first noble truth is there is suffering and to just to say out loud, they're suffering, and I feel it. Well, that's identification with that pain. But I think if you're not so familiar with Burmese society, you don't identify how unique it is, for people to be at this moment expressing that emotion and rage are in tears, or however, it's being expressed as openly and as raw as it is. It's something I've never seen before. So I wonder what as someone like you, who has been pushing back against this tendency of shyness and having your own agency and really taking a lot of personal risk to be able to express how you feel and what you think, at a time when it was really not safe or comfortable to do so what's your feeling about what's going on right now with the cultural shift in Burmese society?

Kyaw Kyaw 27:01

Right, I know.f Tommy society is you know, always shine or the tradition of Buddhism. They were trying to riverlea all what they believe. So sometime this month, but I found one I read one book about how these people smile You know, when they smile when the angry this man happy this man, one day chelas this this minor is our last smile meaningful. Not only happiness, my Sunday, this is one very I know, even it's my insanely angry sometimes isn't my very is China. So, our family society is most of time they are peaceful, they are very shine they are very, you know, what do you say on the other side is they are not owners for the affiliate, you know, they always trying to hide what they are really feeling because they never showed you. They are rear truly fingers by now. And also people I found their phrases, mostly scary, but they don't show the scary but I can feel it, you know, the scary or the worry. But they tried to make happy you know, Tommy's one day and very good day, the lesson motivation, so one side or one day happy, you know, they always try to hang out with people making food together to nation to other people. You know, this is very beautiful thing. Even you know, right now, when I talk right now, after three minute I walk outside the sun Suja and Tony's around the corner around the street. They are around time. So that's fine. My body is not so long. I speak a little bit to you know, this police and soldier they may secuity night. So the whole day they are not going and they are walking around town. They check in other protests in this time. This morning. I saw lots of people in my neighbor. They tried to put something together. They tried to do the you know, they invited me here. He can come and he cannot eat. The food is watery and scary when they're trying to destroy the feeling of donation. You know this, this is beautiful. And there's a good way right now. The question is what happened in the last scarier warrior. Skinny, why

Host 29:56

are you seeing these emotions that people have at this time of feeling uncomfortable or angry or scared or anything else are. In the past, there's been because of like an ABA, de, there's been a shyness to really express how you feel to try to hide it, as you said, with many different smiles. So these days, do you feel that people are still following the same pattern of not really showing their feelings? Or is there a greater honesty with how people are expressing themselves?

Kyaw Kyaw 30:28

Yeah, right now, you know, I live under a military system for so many years. So, in this time, people are happy, even the military time, they are not scared so much, because they used to live under a military system for so long. So they don't care they try to make a becomes a 20 minute community. So right now, people I see also because most scary, because so, you know, after 2010, our country is going through democracy, right? Since 2010, to 2020, so a lot of bombing people have been hope for our country, especially the hope of the children's and the generation. So nobody thinks in 2021 military would took the power, people always think they are big, huge, huge help for the achievement to generation. Now, they feel like, so sad and so scary, I can see their face because I know I, you know, we live in and our monetary system, so I never saw the affiliate scary because they used to live, they don't think about the children because they never did the work. But to get the democracy and we go into the democracy whistle, they have big huge channels. They feel like just trying or stalling or trim is just so you know, the most scary face also prepare some more solidarity, etc.

Host 32:17

Right, right. I want to go back to talking about punk and about your role as an artist and discuss a bit about artists overall in Burmese society. Not so long ago before this experiment in democracy. Burmese artists didn't really have the right to be creative. However, they wanted to whether it was writing or painting, making music or movies, whatever. There were these official censors, which prevented artists from being able to produce what they wanted to some could face jail time or worse, and your band was formed and you started playing when this lack of freedom was still in place you mentioned elsewhere, you could actually be arrested on the street just for dressing as punk when you're outside. So you continued making music and as greater freedoms came into the country, you had more freedom, more expression at that moment. So how did it feel for you as an artist to be able to grow in a society where you were having increasing freedoms in your work year by year from the time that you started the band until just recently, I guess?

Kyaw Kyaw 33:32

You know. 2007 so we're trying to look at Pan Pan. We, in another instance, so not popular? A lot of people don't, we are only given to us with the Schengen visa some kind of kiss. Now, I told people even my parents don't know what I do. Even my parents don't know. But I think in the only showing to me my music shouting you know, the shouting for my music, because our music is nonsense. This only noise and showing the early trend you still want to play our song when I play guitar at home. So even we this generation and now keep in touch but we keep in touch with young people. So in this time, military government is the only check in for Politicker address because you know energy sensitivity and their follow up the array checking and trying to follow up with lots of secret police but they think pants, shoulders or chunky, you know, they don't care even they don't want to listen our song because the only interesting some artists Very big improvement to the loss of people. So we are not like, we are not everyone to the people. So they don't care about us at the checking a request secret police to the video at filmmaker, artists, some artists that painter, musician who's singing, shouting, to painting or politic, so so they don't see you know what I mean? painting is an underground music and not popular to mainstream and not influenced to the army society so they don't give time to so we this is one one thing is very good for another home same and our own thing is even right now the earth a lot of artists but an arrow musician stay, you know stay invisible right now. So does it and our own is an overall artist. Opportunity.

Host 36:17

Right? Yeah. And so you were able to make music kind of under the radar a bit underground. But then as society opened up and there were greater reforms and greater freedoms and the last decade in the 2000 10s did that greater freedom and society allow you to grow as artists as well?

Kyaw Kyaw 36:37

Yeah, after too long the term a lot of artists are coming up. Also more around seeing some political politic artists, a lot of artists grew up because of country open. And also Anjou coming and sharing knowledge from our side to the young artists, you know, the artists grow back after 2010 to 2020.

Host 37:11

Hmm, right, that's great. And your work eventually reached the appreciation of punks everywhere. For example, Henry Rollins told AlJazeera quote, I think rebel Riot is using the vehicle of music to put a message across is punk music in its purest form and optimum application and quote, so what did it feel like to hear that appreciation of you and your work from one of the legends,

Kyaw Kyaw 37:35

I was so happy because I have to have lafleur, I was so happy when I saw this as your magazine. Because I left like a lot. I have no so many times to on my body. I have loved to church and state. So he said he's so happy.

Host 38:04

That's great. So I want to switch topics a bit and talk about Buddhism. So this has been a subject that typically this has been the center of our podcast and our interviews, especially before the coup. So we do have a listener base that's very interested in Buddhist practice. And specifically I want to explore and learn more about your own Buddhist practice and your interaction with the Dhamma. So can you tell me what do you see as the main teachings of the Buddha what was the important parts of his message?

Kyaw Kyaw 38:38

Try lifetime like a punk he say, in Pali language, say a die at this minute. Believe in yourself. So, if you want to, to pass you, you are the main person who can do it, focus yourself. So for the usmle nasef as we you know, a shoe or the like a things USA to us. query USA, and share to the other people will love and kindness trying to live in this show live with really a live human. So this is my main page. I learned from Buddha.

Host 39:32

That's beautiful. And that learning that you had did that come from a teacher or a tradition or your community or family or did it come from your own reading and study? How did you derive that

Kyaw Kyaw 39:43

line? My my. My background is traditional Buddhism. So my parents teach me like power. My parent is me pull his name like not like he I don't know how to say they like, pretty much to me. No, they made me scared with the hell, they made me. Like with the Haven or, you know, also, I don't know, you know, the hell or Haven, the one I was young, I was scared. Like, every night, I should pray to coda, otherwise, I will go to hell. So, I really don't like Buddhism, or laws or rules, or laws of following. I'm not comfortable with what is always scary, scary for something, you know, like, if you're thinking that thing come is coming. And also, the team makes a scary already, you know, so, for me, Buddhism is maybe scary, like, my champika lives. So I'm not serious to put in, but I am tracing. But after I found punks, I only criticize something, you know, to produce and, and me and my parents are getting angry because my parents don't like, because like Buddha presented Buddhism, the only one to live without thinking, shut up listening, and belief, you know, so I don't want this, you know, I find I'm being idiots in religion. So I tried to read the last book. And also, for example, the flows of people, I found to not saying Tibetan, you know, lots of Buddhists in so many ways. But I learned most sendgold is simple to think is similar like a punk. They don't care so much about rules. They are like, Nokia, like really, really polished and really iPhone singers to kind of Buddhas and rebels. Like that all this It's so nice, like similar, like, they don't give a fuck. But also, I don't believe in religious organization, and in religious organization, behind walking karma, you know, I really don't believe I don't want to be part of the religious people part of religion. I found punks. I found Buddhism. But I don't think I'm Buddhist. I believe, you know, the human being I can believe whatever I want. So, so I learned Buddhism, some goods, I took it, I took it, I tried to mess with the pump, he got dry. Now even I, I like apples in thinking but I don't want to be purchasing to go chorusing as you are really strongly believe when you know, I don't want to be part of a religion. But then I tried to make meaning by myself. Like, Buddhism is not religion. For me. It's kind of philosophy for your life. So you know, it's a we are living, we are life. This is a Buddhism of saying, you know, we are living with your lives. We are living will your life so I don't wanna follow religion. I just like the idea. That's

Host 43:28

right, right. And you're I from learning about you previously. You're definitely very dedicated to the Dhamma. To the teachings of the Buddha. You've talked about how much you respect the Buddha and his teachings, but as you say, here, not keen on religious groups. And you've explained the idea elsewhere, I want to quote something you said. You said, quote, I just hate the way the organization tries to control everyone through religion, but some religious ideas are like a map for life. Buddhism and punk are similar punks hate the system, the government countries. Why? Because punks think these are oppressive. So, punk wants a Buddha world and quote, so, towards these ends, one of your more famous songs is called fuck religious rules. So, how do you suggest that one try to be a good Buddhist and have respect for the Buddha without at the same time creating some kind of Buddhist system or organization,

Kyaw Kyaw 44:23

you know, a journey for me i i learning about other religions a little bit too, Christian is, you know, so cheese, Bob Botha, they are also human life. They also also human life and they trying to live in this life with good with good energy, they try to create beautiful thing. So they like humor, but they are very good humor, but overly dumb. They're trying to make organization Trying to control the tape. So then people have to believe that they had to, they had to follow, you know, a lot of rules. Like I don't know how to say, the organization, they had to follow one plus, you can do anything once you think so you want to follow. I don't believe in this. That's why, you know, in Zen Buddhism, I like one coat. Very nice. In your way, Buddha is close to you our question to your way again, I like this code. So this is the Remilia mini Buddha is, is a good thing. I like it. You know, it's, I took it, maybe one day is not as useful. I don't care about him, I will remove this highly, I will treat another you know what I mean? So that's fine. Because everybody had different medicine. Somebody found they, everybody had different medicine from the app behind somebody, Tom. Truly, in Jesus, somebody can truly go to somebody punctually in no time, whatever, you know, everybody had different medicine. So suddenly, we're cutting out some it's good.

Host 46:31

Okay, so with that, let's listen to the track entitled The fuck religious rules.

47:44

Tabatha is Chris

47:47

Evans on Sunday.

Host 48:18

Right in another song, you actually went after monks who supported ma by far this is the anti muslim group of monks and you called them out for being fascist monks. And in Burmese society, it's somewhat unseemly it's not very common or appropriate for a lay person to go after him publicly criticize a monk. So did you have any hesitation in deciding to do that? Yeah, he

Kyaw Kyaw 48:44

if you say something bad thing about monks you are horrible, you are evil guy. know they don't want to see you or they want to keep so in Mabatha group when they are hate speech to Islam 2013 we criticize them on the newspaper called AP. So we say they are no monk, they are fascist monks. This is what I believe. This international news is huge in 2013. This is before the song. So after this news, it is huge, some newspaper arriving by Burmese translation. So a lot of people send a message to Rebel Riot, they want too kill us because we are so rude to monk, you know, even this monk or horrorible, where you cannot criticize, you know, so I'm scared because if I go out Maybe they will killing me or they will fight with me, but it gave me more energy. But I don't care, after this, you know, in 2014, we make this song. So in this time also, we get criticism from religious people. But some people, some young people agree what we say, some open minded young people agree what we say about that. But some religious people don't like it. But I told you before our plan is not popular and not so important to the whole society. Maybe that's why a lot of people don't know. That's why we are a little bit less dangerous.

Host 50:51

Right, right. So regarding your own relationship with Buddhism, do you have a meditation practice?

Kyaw Kyaw 50:57

Yeah, I have.

Host 50:59

Yeah. And what what tradition? Is it?

Kyaw Kyaw 51:00

I did we put the knot Sunday?

Host 51:03

And is there a certain lineage or tradition or teacher that you follow in? No,

Kyaw Kyaw 51:08

I don't know, really, one teacher, maybe my teachers from the book. So I read some book and I tried to project something I also made meditation. Because the meditation is focused in prison, once you're doing what you do something, you know, focused every second every minute you try to practice you know, even you go into trial, even you can even be walking on the street. You may play everything. If you forget this. Meditation, you know, meditation is no, no, like a trying to doing no tificate education is also like a we are living in.

Host 51:57

So not not like within like mogo or mahasi or lady or

Kyaw Kyaw 52:01

no, no, I have no experience of this. Because I don't know, you know, I saw lots of people go to meditation center for 10 days. I don't trust them, you know, because our mind is like, oh, wow, our mind is like, in the water. If you grab this, under the water, when you press pod is under one you muted this water coming by spiritually strong, you know. So our mind is like this. If you don't, if you don't have like, what I say before, to go to the mahasi boneco doesn't matter whatever you go to dress to your mind, you know, then your mind is like a Tandy is okay. After Tandy Mo, they are? Exactly, for example, what I said before, you know, the angry person angry requests from my neighbor, they like they don't like quiet activities, and they stay angry, angry, and we work really hard to make everybody you know, I mean, is most of people I sorted. So I don't believe so much in meditations and you know, because so you can try this also your own every day. What do you focus on? To? different for different for other people? So right, so

Host 53:36

how did you get your method? Did you just go back and read like the Pali scriptures, the sutas. And, and the original teachings of the Buddha? or How did you devise your own way of how to practice?

Kyaw Kyaw 53:48

I don't know, you know, when I was in school, we have meditation for five minutes, or 10 minutes, one I was created. So I'm enjoying this one time in meditation. I feel like please, I just kind of like coffee in when I was cool. politician is going up. After this, I don't do meditation anymore. But on 24 I tried to do a little bit more meditation every day. Sometimes I do so much, sometimes I don't do nothing. You know, I know. Already meditation, but my meditation is, I try to watch my mind. I know. Focus, something I try to watch my mind is jumping every second how many jam or I'm trying to watch my mind like a movie.

Host 54:46

Hmm, that's great. That's nice. So I want to move on and we were talking a bit about MMA and the anti muslim monks. And today these days, especially after the coup, We're seeing this wide range of Burmese Buddhists that are coming to a reckoning of some sort about the terror that their military has been inflicting on ethnic people such as the Rohingya. Some have been actually issuing public apologies that they never really understood the extent of the harm, they were blinded by the propaganda. And you were one of the few Burmese Buddhists to publicly acknowledge this, even when it was happening, and to speak out against it your own personal risk. In this documentary, my Buddha is punk. There's this beautiful exchange between you and a friend who's worried that the Muslims will threaten the Buddhist sutra. And you gently remind him that it's the responsibility of individual Buddhists to maintain the Dhamma. So my question first is, what was it like being such a lone voice back then, taking an ethical position that was so unpopular back when you were saying that?

Kyaw Kyaw 55:57

Because So, you know, one, I make meditation or one eye to the swing? I don't feel like children are so different, you know, we are all same doesn't matter why go into Islam, Buddhism, you know, for me, one thing is some people have pain. Also, this doesn't matter, you know, no one want to be a pain, no one want to suffer. And, you know, so when I saw Rohingya people, I feel compelled, like my family, honorable to position my family, how about I compare, like, myself, so not only Rohingya, I saw some suffering people from me, I know, I already compare myself to say compassion or kindness or I don't know, you know, lots of people are in my country, they close their heart. So once they found a different religion, different color, the Elizabeth look for example, not only Rohingya, they also look down to a little bit deeper a little bit to prepare, and prepare, you know, so they don't bother because they are and military education for so long. They are very, Tommy, Tommy's nice. I mean, like, I don't know, like a prompt to the police, you know, police people, so they don't know. But I already told him my like, law is really criticized to me along with re education forms. So I look in myself, and I make meditation I look in, listen to music, and also lock open from my insight, I will also look for religion, I look for nationalism, I look for, you know, mine, mine is a little open from this. From that, so I have lifted it from position position from other people. This minute, I don't see I'm especially you know, we are different, I have to jump position from this view, because I have more opportunity than other people because of iPhone punk. I learned a lot so I can use it, I translate and also playing music, there's a lot of good education. Also, I can speak a little bit more English than other people so I can communicate with global funds. And you know, I have more chance than other people maybe this is one could have opportunities to for me than other people. Also, that's why I try to share my idea to other people. Not like courtesy, you know, I never see you around. I never say maybe my opinion is how do you think maybe they angry me first time because the market is not used to discussion most used to debate. Easy to angry, if not the same idea with so you know, to figure top you are to open up and to other people but my pen society is different. We try to think a lot. Even we agree. After discussion, we think a lot. That's why you can see this short interview, the short discussion in our community. Oh, my goodness. Hmm.

Host 59:42

Right. And so then what has it been like now to see so many Burmese Buddhists reversing course. And now coming on board to affirm what you had long been saying? So in other words, you were you were speaking this opinion when it was very unpopular for many years. And now you're hearing many other people start to say this opinion that they had always criticized you for so what what is what has it been like to hear people start to support that opinion all of a sudden in

Kyaw Kyaw 1:00:14

the purpose of projects, your range and other than the group? Because, you know, the same position. Jackie Rohingya right before the military they only was the military news so they think ruins people's period but it is trying to house you know, military is right now military are doing even on the city they don't care about media they don't care about CCTV killing people depending house opvs salt is a company was Ranger Lola you know, then the feed said and sorry, but is it only a few people apologize to apologize on Publish? No, no. So people stay close. I see.

Host 1:01:09

Right so this is this is a situation that's still changing. And I want to talk now about your work providing food to homeless and poor communities through the organization Food Not Bombs. Can you tell me more about what started that involvement?

Kyaw Kyaw 1:01:26

observable is waste $2.30 I already told you before I bury inspiration in Indonesia. So to go to down there we go to Indonesia or draw chocolate and on different city. So we we saw they are doing a full novels. We really interesting. Hey, what are you doing cooking food sharing given to other artists go for novels. I saw this logo or internet like a hand picking the current or is it interesting. Can you see it a little bit a little bit to me. That is to our Panama's bigger share. We made this project in the AMA, we call to the AMA decisions. Good Friday. we confer to yongle. We try to make fun of Holmes chapter. So there's a very funny IoT. First time are we drinking every Monday night just drinking and hanging out to the side system to the government and sharing music. Just try every Monday. puking on the streets sometimes sleeping on the street. So what we cover our attitude. Okay, every Monday night, we don't drink so much. Between normally between 6pm for the handover between three to the WrestleMania saving for the foot. cooking for homeless is a yes, but it has many wasted thinking you know, we know we save energy and we cooking. We get to the homeless Shinola in Palestine find that first homeless people they don't believe us. They think we are cancer. We will not find out they run away you know. We say no, no, no. Please trust us. We really get through and they look at us. Yes, we assure that this Monday night on the Soccer Academy we are hungry we are waiting for you. And you know the fun is cheerful thing happen again. So 2015 we need to have to the HIV Alonso case as a zombie. Pick up the apparel design. We did the last case we went to supporting food clients or some prison for the kid but we don't have the money. We play soccer on the street with cost in music. We place on the street. We give the flyer in the paper Hey, we had a plan. We want to go to the center if you want to. Trust us if you wanna join us. If you want to support us, please support this kid lots of money and this time we've got over 101 media is interview st He published published after this we are very popular apart from giving food to the homeless or they try to help the same center or you know a lot of people change their mind for what it is in 2015 then even now also PST this for two funeral homes, they are not a stays which even right now we are they have been to the oldest speaker or poor people, lossless CDN prepare, you know, we try to help whatever we can also it becomes twisted we also have international attention to global media coming. They publish a lot for everybody now.

Host 1:06:01

So the food that you give you you cook yourself and it's vegetarian Is that correct?

Kyaw Kyaw 1:06:07

Yeah, sometime we put ourself in Syria sometime we could we bought ready food from the poor fella. So this money are going to pull up on Monday, according to Congress.

Host 1:06:20

Alright, so that works out both good both ways. Yeah, yeah. Okay. That's, that's wonderful. So you have had quite an extensive background and all these different areas we've looked at of punk and activism and food, not bombs and Buddhism and everything else your stand on the Rohingya. So this kind of gives us a background for who you are going into February 1. And I'd like to spend the rest of the time talking about what you have done and what your thoughts are, since the coup. So let's move closer to this current moment. Even before the coup, you said the following quote, our generation is very different. The government doesn't understand what young people want, and what the new generation needs. They don't understand at all. And quote, I think this is an important quote, because we're talking about this generation z. So how do you find your generation and the generation younger than you different? And in what ways? Are they different? And what does your generation need? If as you're saying the military doesn't understand what it is they think you need

Kyaw Kyaw 1:07:27

unlike generation a generation Y. So, generation one is right now around 30 years old, they live and our militaries, football, they also live shooting what we see the No wonder of it to freedom and democracy, time, family, undefeated democracy, even. So, we, we really, you know, our generation of basically a lot in the duck, duck nap time. So Generation Z, one, they grew up together with technology. So the time is 21 century, a loss of the technology around that. And before, before we will have any technology we close countries, you know, we don't know, even we don't have deliberation every house when I was here one day a year. Everybody for everybody can see the wall isn't. You know, so the information is to support. So also they feel they don't know anything about military time. They grew together with the you know, democracy time and they they feel like free you know, they are really free. They have no experience about what we have before. So, this is a different one monetarily could have been the more proof than other generation age or other generation, what bigger generation one and generation are we not from a military coup happen? We are scary. And we know and we see what they did before. By Generation Z. They have no experience. They know they read in the pub or something. They have no experience. Generation. One they saw a loss of time from 98 Generation Y one they saw most of the time and suffer revolution. Generation see they don't see anything. Military horrible. They read like a story for one year. The real Ada or one theory to date is not the history. Okay, this already covered our time. One now, one day, fetus, and the more they know what is three genties than us. Also more active and more creative and more creation, more technology more resilient than us is a different generation a generation one.

Host 1:10:31

Right. Let's move on to looking at this current moment and what you and your band has been doing. How have you been engaged during these current protests? What have you been doing?

Kyaw Kyaw 1:10:43

Um, you know, us. First one, after we hear copes is happening. We had no idea at all. But I'm thinking, in my mind will be nice. Pick up novels between the most recent I already imagined this painting was vision for novels. They're trying to give food protests, protests. And also we want to be part of protests but scary to be you know, I don't want to quit 175 second fighter fly force. We are only criticized on Facebook. Some people criticize should go to the protests on the street. Some people say no, some people say he assemblies in those you know we prefer a fifth one guy from Mandalay, tout Artesia is a doctor and antifreeze from Mandalay. He organized first illustration in Mandalay with a few people I think 15 grand in this morning, thoroughly he and another friend's restaurant resident nonetheless fuck made sure we were both saying the same day we also go out and even not even around 4pm around time people who show showing three fingers salute and shouting we don't want military copes with our military because we shouting and also be very happy the clapping they support us from also the issue about ourselves or our team was so scary for some media or some weekend for to preview after 10 or 15 minutes I talked to my friend as good as good as this can be so one police guy can go and run away we took that as a driver afraid to take us because one police officer see driver tinted demonstrator they worry for us so we run we want to see driver Okay, he said what do you want to tell them? Straight so we go down we start on the way I feel scary. And I delete my facebook account for a shoe wine you know, then I listening what happened but we good luck. Next year, I fell waiting mostly for business day. 3000 workers are coming from different township to a town then shooting or switching coming. Companies talking about assume if data can create all the workers and devices to lease we're trying to find us for sure. Yeah, because they have not busy. Yeah, because of loss of media. on my face my photo you can find on Google, like a I will send you late. So my face No. No happening. Big demonstration stuff. So easy to find us.

Host 1:14:45

So you were from the 15 minutes that you went out and that you were filmed. Do you think that that was enough to put you on a list at that time?

Kyaw Kyaw 1:14:54

Yeah, so in this time, we are not targets because those are 3000 workers. coming every day, more and more crazy. So we are no stop demonstration. We are also making news now in the demonstration call one day as he was people,

Host 1:15:15

right so that was solidarity, the the solidarity of those workers that came out to speak for their own freedom was what saved you. And this is something that we're seeing in these protests overall is that I think before 2021 and previous times they would target people who were active they would kill and imprison and chase away those and everyone else would be silent and would would just stay in their homes and hope that they wouldn't be targeted. But that's not what we're seeing in 2021 we're seeing there the military starts to go after these people so all these people over here start to make a noise and start to come out and then they get distracted and there's there's too many people and too much noise for any one person to be especially targeted and dangerous. Why don't you tell our listeners who haven't watched it what this one day you can people can see it on YouTube if they look but for now, why don't you tell us what the song is about?

Kyaw Kyaw 1:16:09

Yeah, this song is about you know, in five minutes ago, we wrote this song also designed to teach because even we and democracy time we stiff enough because military control from bi so we are amazing. writing the song Wendy we totally redone one day we have a new society using mapping without oppressing without with the ogress and without discrimination so we will discuss how imaging one day when we image an image in one day we believe you know one day we beautiful day prepare to make music video, Julian

Host 1:17:13

that's what I was gonna ask. I mean, I've been amazed you have been shooting producing editing releasing music videos at a time like this when there's a military coup happening and you're doing it with a pretty short turnaround so I was just wondering how in the world have you been able to consistently being writing new music shooting new videos producing those videos and releasing them How have you managed to do that with so much chaos going on?

Kyaw Kyaw 1:17:38

And this song is we are no writing song. No, we are ancient assignment. We are writing in this time. We already wrote this song five months. But all libraries are physically happening right now. So we want to approach this we already really uh not really we already figured this out for record. Just need to delete

Host 1:18:07

so you already shot the footage

Kyaw Kyaw 1:18:09

for this just just a song.

Host 1:18:13

You wrote the music so you shot the footage during the protests. Yes. But that I mean that that itself is incredible that in a time when all of this is going on when you're concerned about your own personal safety that okay the the music The the words were already written but you actually filmed the video of you guys singing it and I've been on the streets and then you produced and released it I mean that is just incredible to be able to do that kind of work at a time like this.

Kyaw Kyaw 1:18:42

Yeah, this day we are thinking about we want to be part of the process we will not show this everybody has to change and create a system everybody has to change to make one day beautiful so interesting also so scary because so everywhere police everywhere so it's so difficult to make this video that's why we choose alimony Hey guys, okay, who want to have to make this music video a lot of people say they want to hurt flame make other people okay, I just made meeting alimony Where should I want to show you because you're on board is that tree mode or you know, behind so we should wait a alimony but no one who out of sight. A police soldier because of a four year kind of anyone is sleeping you know. So for here, but we should stay in the car. We have three car three big truck don't go up. Stay in I'm looking for one songwriters coming please call up everyone we we use only 20 million children ran away and also people are coming around Cecilia can we have to the my road is same time Melissa rica our road scary okay okay just city now. We don't get no we're just kind of like a in the US we say no we are not doing a product team just making use of video for our elbow but we are collecting most of them sleeping to listen so even they don't look at us three or travel they don't look at that. I saw also soja sleeping we are making music video like this it was only 20 minutes. We should hurry hurry hurry. We call different plays that we put differently. Also we try and the team will straight one day only we knew one day for one day. We wake up early morning at 4am to refinish paper

Host 1:21:24

yeah that that's amazing to shoot a video under those conditions and then release it. Well let's listen to the full soundtrack of one day now.

1:22:22

Hello

1:22:52