Transcript: Episode #189: The French Connection (Bonus Shorts)
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Host 0:15
Before we get into today's show, I just want to add a quick reminder that any donations given to our nonprofit better Burma will be shared directly with those in Myanmar who need it most. Any and all donations will make such a difference right now. Go to insight myanmar.org/donation If you would like to contribute, or stay tuned to the end of the episode and hear more options with that, let's get into the show.
Host 1:49
really pleased for this episode of insight Myanmar podcast where we're joined by a special guest, Nan su Manam. She is the N ug representative in France. Nancy McGowan. Thank you so much for taking the time to join us and chat with us today.
Nan Su 2:06
Oh, hellos? Thank you so much as well for having me today is my first time doing podcast interview.
Host 2:14
Great, great. Well, it's an honor to have you as the energy representative in France to discuss a bit about the work you're doing. Tell us a bit about what you're doing through the UG as well as the situation in France and what you're facing and what you're trying to promote there. I think it will be good for our audience to learn about some of those activities. So let's let's start with learning about how this position came to France. As we know there, there has been tremendous work over the past two years of trying to bring legitimacy and recognition to the N ug that's come to varying levels of success. And in some places like as in France, there is an official and ug representative. So, can you tell us how that position came to be created? And how French authorities view that position of an official and ug representative
Nan Su 3:14
Yes, thank you. So, first I just buy it to began to buy introduce myself a paper so I am not small. So I am a balmy sir and I belong to current and for all ethnic. So I come from current state where the CVR is happening for many decades. And now because of the Gentile terrorists, there is ongoing, intense battle between the gender and our people different forces, also in gluto, with our and resistor false er owes everyday and everywhere across across the country. So first of all, first of all, I before we talk about like how, how I take the role of the representative in France. So I would like to talk about also my personal story before before the coop. So as I myself grew up under the previous agenda to the tissues, I have always wanted to experience a true democratic government. So in 2015, when our leader Aung San su chi, won two with a landslide victory. I was like we Burmese people were so happy and excited about that, like our dream is going to be come true. So after 2015 and other civilian government, we started feeling like the value of democracy and how is to be free. But of course, with many limitations at the civilian government didn't have 100% control over the country. So So in the 2020 election, we all hoped and wanted a true win for democracy in our country. So only with the hope that we all voted to the National League for Democracy. And even though during the COVID crisis, or the civilian trying their best to be able to vote, that's yet to enter do want a landslide victory again, as we expect it. And we all are excited and satisfied about the results as that started hoping the best way high expectation for our future generation and our country. But then again, the coup d'etat happened. So we all couldn't believe it. Though, we knew that the military general and their leader don't have a proper brain, but we didn't know how much insane and dangerous they are. So, so then is the energy and the after the cool you know, the energy is found what found in April 2001 2021. And we all were fully supported and belief in the AUG, as is include a letter to the team made to a member from the country 22 Sorry, 2020 election, who managed to escape from the agenda, Delray arrest. So since then, the AUG have been trying to gain international support, including recognition or is legitimacy and different representatives in important country has been avoided. Given that a friend as you said, Friday is a democratic country, who strongly content agenda, the NUJ also appointed a representative in France before then to to sign second stairs, they needed to find a new representative who could take over this responsibility. So as my educational background is the life SCI and environment, OSI, I don't have any experience or knowledge in politics, do I interested in it, as I know, our government needed someone who could take the job in France. So I finally decided to apply for it, even though I knew that it will be a very big challenge to me. So I have been appointed as a representative in March 2020 22. So to speak briefly my main role as like to engage with the front authority, so to inform the rest of it about what is happening and Myanmar, to also represent the Burmese citizen in France and to facilitate the content between the N ug and France TV society organization. So now it has been almost nine months, where to be honest with you isn't easy, and I facing different challenges every single day is they bring its own set of set news, like Final the new atrocity committed by the military, and Santai. Just want to forget about it and economic life like other people. But I know that even if I disagree, it won't be easy for our government to press me with another person, as it will take a bit is take this qualifies to be able to take the job. So since now, my name and my face are not already in public. So whatever the difficulty I facing, I determined to do it and to try my best for the sake of our people inside the country who gave you the light on the ground. So now we have also our team, our office three, including official number, and also friends, consultant and also volunteer students. So this is a big help to our solution. I know I'm not good at leading the team, but I try my best and continuously striving to learn new things. In this time. We don't know how long our revolution revolution with title but of course, the more we are doing and fighting the agenda with Unity a man to our uncle, that the sooner we shall prevail. So and I believe 100% in our evolution, I cannot imagine for the future generation will have to live and new dishes. And I cannot assert and let happen. We all Burmese people do not accept it. So that's why event agenda use violence against the people by performing airstrikes or burning down villages. Our revolution is to become more and more stronger. So like we own, we all need to write our own history in the history movement and behaved as prop citizen. So if I go back to your question, I will say that friend is a baseball to ask, is this a democratic country? If we share the Republican value or Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, even though we need a particular half as Sasha am and financial aid, Frank is one of the more important to NAFTA country for humanitarian assistance to Myanmar. Currently most of the international humanitarian assistance we deliver by gender and we are struggling to make to reach to the needy people. So the N ug is trying to find a solution to deliver the assistance to the needy person in Myanmar with the generosity of our own people. So I cannot say Masha, but one thing is that we have a regular communication with a friend Ministry of Foreign Affairs. And we are doing what we can. France is also using his diplomatic influence to support Myanmar, currently at the United Nations Security Council, a resolution on the situation on the amount of water adopted for the first time in history since 1948, after the independent home Myanmar, and the UK is the only country and other European countries like France or a baseball to us, we can say is only a megahertz resolution, as is take a lot of time and Walker from any country to support the Myanmar spring evolution. And our ambassador which Omotoso had been kept as the Permanent Representative of Myanmar to the United Nations in New York. So this is also not only because of the voice of the people, Myanmar, has also included the support from the credential committee member countries, and the UN General Assembly. So we are thankful and the UG also reached a statement for that
Host 12:04
thank you for that that's a great description that covers a lot of topics and covers a lot of ground in terms of your own personal story in the in Yugi. And I'm glad that you were able to bring up something of your own background and share where you came from it you met you reference being your your family coming from the Caribbean and Powell communities. I wonder if we can back up a bit and before we get more into some of the energy policy and what France is doing and all of that if we can just take some time to learn more about you. If you can talk a bit about what it was like to grow up in Korean Pato communities, we might have listeners that are not familiar with with those ethnicities, talk a bit about that and then what brought you to France I assume that if you're the N ug representative in France, you must have had some prior experience in your life to France or French language or something like that. So, where your journey took you from Korean Paulo communities into eventually France
Nan Su 13:03
Yes, thank you, sir. So, yes, so, in Myanmar i i studied in Japan University, I study I finished my must with psychology. So, after that, I always I have been like sharing, teaching, volunteering, because I grew up in affiliation. So and then after I finished my master, I also tried to pass the the CV, CV ASAP to be counter demonstrator at a foreign university and then in 2012, I took the exam and then 15 Again, because there is quite a big challenge to pass the exam isn't mission so and then to I pass in 2015. So, I work at a demonstrator in Japan University for six months. So, after that, I I have experienced how how to work under the end and at the end at that time, with the limitations. So I think like I decided I need to continue to study as an international university. So after that, I tried to apply in the different university. So finally I I applied at a university in France. So like that I have been, I first arrived in France in 2013. This is my first time to visit and then to I did my study into dancer 50 in June University in France, Southern University now is named can the Saba University. So, I did my study from 2015 to 2018. So, normally the master degree is only two year, but with the language barrier, the difficulty or the language barrier. So, my friendships live as they need to improve. So, I, I had to repeat my first semester in master one. So, event master it should be in two year but I finished in three year Yes, so, after that, I finished my study and 2018 After that, I I I strive to begin to share the knowledge to the Myanmar Myanmar students because as I say, I grew up and other previous and agitators here but I so I would like to to the new generation to have experience to learn is easily FAA International University. So that's why I tried to I created after my study I created to Facebook per acre and their website to share knowledge and international scholarship program for young permit students. Like step by step I began to, to try to get a mini scholarship to the lender, young student and I was willing to take another step but the coup happened yes. So that's why all my plans were gone. So yes.
Host 16:50
Right so that's quite a journey you're describing going from rural grandpa Oh, villages to universities there and eventually to to France and then starting to run your own educational programs to help other Burmese that have don't have the opportunities that people around the world have that's that's really wonderful and inspiring to hear you reference how the pain and the difficulty of growing up under a military regime as you did so I wonder if you can describe a bit what life was like for you growing up in these Korean powerful communities and at a time when the military regime was really in power if you can describe a bit about your life as well as describing a bit about these communities and ethnicities for those listeners who aren't familiar.
Nan Su 17:38
Okay, yes. As long as I remember vividly grew up and other dictatorship is yeah is because we didn't we didn't get a chance to learn as a school like compare with other neighbor when country for example we have learned with the education system like very strict like we had to learn all the lesson by harder so that's why I do now I still experienced this difficulty and didn't know even I had experienced at the international education that here but stay I that this is when we will be with me on life that's my became like our reply to me I mean, the people are saying generation when me saying a show me right now. Because at the edge of course if I talk about community that like that the education is the more important in in our community. So yes is very very different difficult for us because our education system is just like a teaching center is in our students and our education. So we had to learn every lesson by her by by heart I mean so that's why for me you know, I so we can to memorize memorizing and memorizing the head, our own history and the number everything because I have learned so much so much lesson in my life by heart and then after that after I take the exam I forgot I forgot everything I had learned. This is because used to like NT because the system is not enter in the primary major in high school is this empty the university education and during my master degree, I had to learn every lesson by the end day I finished my master theory. So only when I did my thesis for systema, I need to love I have to do our lesson. So the theme idea is very very Is it not a good for for us and for our generation at that time. And also we had to air freight. We had to air freight we had to obey we don't have freedom I like we, the education system quite, quite completely different from here here is this, like when I did my mr. here in France, like if I have questions, if I had to speak something, if I had to discuss it with a professor, I can just raise my hand. And I can just ask the question, if I don't, if I don't agree something, I can just see it as much as I want. And also I can I have a chance to discuss it friendly with the with the respected teacher or prophets of that in Myanmar at that time, no, during our time, maybe. So, we don't have right we don't have a right to as per our our feeling. And also that that's one thing for education. So if I if I speak about the what we have faced or what I have experienced so I I also grew up with in a Korean violator, you know, small Korean, Korean village, so I stay with my grandma. So my grandma, always the talk about the harm, the brutality of the junta, the soldier and everything. So I grew up with that theory, how the soldier enter the village and banned off the whole religious and take everything for the soul. And then to arrested the villager or do all kinds of those doo doo doo thing like happening now, again, in the in the Enya we call the century century Myanmar. Before you know, this is not new to us. And I grew up here we all do story, the story in which it happened, who was your husband, really. So I also heard about that and grew up with that. And also experience I experienced myself and the and other data. So all I wanted is, as I mentioned before, I I always had to want her to experience a true democratic government.
Host 22:11
Right. So this was the journey, the path that ultimately led you to France, you've been in France about a decade, just before we get a bit deeper into N ug, just stay for a moment on your journey and on France itself. So as you came from these current villages, and then from Myanmar itself into France, in Western Europe, I'm wondering what that experience has been like for you what it's been like adapting to French culture. And just speaking about something of the cultures of these two country, the peoples of these two countries, I wonder if you can talk a bit about things you find that are similarities between Myanmar and France, things that that maybe wouldn't be so obvious or apparent to someone who knew about these countries that you found as a common tie that's similar between the two countries and also experiences you had of culture shock and have big cultural differences that you had to adjust to coming from Myanmar to France?
Nan Su 23:07
Yes, of course, it's Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe. So yeah, is this when I first arrived in France is everything is totally different, the way the culture, the food and everything? So, yes, so as far as I, I don't think I could, I could strive to live here. And I That's why That's why I also I never think I will be I will stay here for a long time. So, I always after finishing my study, I always want to go back to my village to my home and continue what I would like to do to teach to the people who need to, so yeah, for the culture if i So, if i How can I describe her because yes, we talk about the weather. So in Myanmar, we only had three season and here we have four season, but we don't have rainy season here, but it can it can rain any any any any tie any season. So, this is the first thing I notice. Because before I know this is only for season here in Europa. So I think since they know rainy season, I wonder we know Ray I know like that. So, but but in Rio know that there is can be rain any any kind any moment. Then so does it quite different with with the Myanmar with also for the culture. Depend is also different to with a language also. Like we don't use A same body language, like, how can I say in Jamar we smile a lot of event people we know or we don't know, you know, when we meet each other on the street, we can just meet easily to anybody just to show we'd like the simple greeting. But here, they don't smile like that. If we before I did that I love her. I smile easily, so easily. But the reaction I kept this train and her finally like that I adapt trying to adapt letter by letter. And then and also for me is what I find one thing if I talk about the food, and is it totally different or coarser, like you're in Myanmar, we eat the fish bait fish, fish, fish base, we call a b and here, friends, they don't either and but they have like, say, cheese for them. They have many, many coyote chiefs, which I can say. I can say that now. Finally I can try to eat a big education trying to eat like some kind of cheese. Yes.
Host 26:22
That's great. That's great to hear. I'm glad that you have finally come around to enjoying the delicacies of French cheese. And yes, I was in France when I was in college. And I think in America, we also smile a lot just for no reason, especially at strangers. And I certainly remember my time in Paris of smiling at every restaurant and supermarket and just on the street and going through a similar experience of realizing that. Okay, I think these people maybe think I'm something of a crazy lunatic just smiling everyone I know. So, so glad to hear that you've been more accustomed to French culture and people and everything else. So getting now to the recent years. It's great to have that background of your biography and what brought you to France and your experiences in France. Getting now to the N ug representation there. Let's return to the question I asked you to open this interview and then we ended up going back in another direction to to to lead into this which was great, but let's go back to that initial question which is which goes into the heart of N ug recognition as we know the the the Western world or the world in general outside of Myanmar ACN anywhere has not really recognize the N ug formally as the rightful government of Myanmar and this is something that the NUJ has been working very much towards to wanting to be seen as the legitimate rulers of it. Yet at the same time, even though the NUJ doesn't have doesn't control US embassies isn't seen officially and diplomatically as the rightful leaders of Myanmar that hasn't happened yet. We do have these n ug representatives in different places like across Europe and Australia and and US and other places. So I think that might be confusing for some people that on one hand the N ug is not recognized as the proper and rightful and legitimate rulers of Myanmar and yet on the other hand, some countries have allowed the opening of official and Yugi offices. So can you explain about that recognition, although the N ug itself is not recognized in France, I assume that you are recognized to some degree in some way as an energy representative and I don't really understand how that works. So can you explain that for us?
Nan Su 28:36
Yes, it is. For us, who is where we, we have been asking this question because as in France, as far as I know, they have the constitution that they practice, like traditional law that's only recognize the stake not the government. So now this is this is good thing to Nima so like they only recognize a stake they can only recognize the state and they don't recognize the government. So the key the front, the front side of the key saying that so better. On the other hand, the friends like I said earlier, they are democratic country. So who is well who the Democrat differed or so they don't accept or they they condemn strongly the act or the military. So they don't accept also they don't accept the military and they they were not sure they are supposed to the democratic governments Vidya electric government or like now and UG. So they try to support it at her. How can I say with other directions? Like the for us in friends like we we can open the office and we have communication we can speak or we can share information we can spray that anytime why is that happening? So, we have the regular communication. So also in France Pallium parliamentary they they already have two they already submitted a there was already two resolution with the senaida in the National Assembly. So that the the second resolution to a maybe a second or first anyway that there is one or that include to recognize the AUG as a as illegitimate government. So for devolution resolution also is after they voted, they the theory said that the France can only can only recognize the state, not the government, but the way they deal with their with sport, they will support at all costs to the democratic government and the people Myanmar.
Host 31:13
Okay, excellent. That's, that's good to know, in your capacity as being the having the official role of being the energy representative of France, you've talked about this a bit before, but if you can address it directly, what do you do? What is in your position? What is your responsibilities? What activities and actions do you do? You've mentioned being quite busy, quite overwhelmed, I can definitely imagine that. Can you take us a bit behind the scenes and tell us as the official energy representative in France? What are the current things that you're handling the crisis sees that you're facing the responsibilities and tasks in front of you, can you explain a bit about that?
Nan Su 31:51
Yes, because he has said is is a big challenge, because as I mentioned, I don't have any experience in politics before. So, this is all new to me. Because even I know I get the difficulty with the time of the day. So, everything is new to me and then suddenly I need to take the jobs and then and then we had found trying to found an office. So, so, so, it was a very difficult to have that as a representative like I explained earlier that the role as an presentative including like to communicate with the community. So that's a part of my job trying to communicate regularly having a regular meeting, we tried to organize that for example in the fire community or to me also in our offices. So we are doing also to get to get financial aid so to say so we Aug did we had to rely on to the people donations so we enter now we don't get any any any support for identity in our community financially. So, we see the energy is like they selling your depo sorry and ug bomb and then UD share like the end of the data ship program. So thing like that as our office in France we had we we can we can take as agents because of this is quite a duty to in the Euro country to say all those things. So Perforce that's progress have already before when I happened by delta as a representative here but before that nobody and no one can take the responsibility as an agent to say or do things ug home and God share but after when I found when we found our office the first thing I do want to take the agents because the best part of the the AUG representative office do me so we did that but for that we need somebody to take the responsibility to with for example with a bank account for everything because we don't have like where where official account for like organization account. So we don't have thing like that. So we only can you with our personal account and everything like that. So that's one thing. And then to another another thing also so of course we for for example to try i or this or this time or those tags, trying to find try to recruit we when we need to add a big T or a T I mean they're not a big kind of a team. We need a team Which up both like, can be trusted? And like who can be committed you illusion? So, first I tried to collect people around us. But finally, you know that the longer revolution pay that people are like they can't give too much time. So is it difficult to find somebody who can, who can give their time because most people in France, they they have their own job they have. So they like that, that's also one thing. So that's also difficult to and, and concerned with other like, we need to need to communicate with the other organization and other NGO, for example, are concerned with the humanitarian assistance like that. But, of course, there are so many things that I can't explain it all here.
Host 36:07
Yeah, I'm sure it's quite a big portfolio that you have to manage. I want to come back to one thing that you mentioned, you talk about the role that you play with fundraising and how you don't have any, you're not getting any support from any institution, certainly not any international organization. And so that falls on you. And this has been a refrain that we've talked about in past interviews with previous guests, looking into the spirit of sacrifice that has has really has come to characterize not just the MUJI but the democracy movement for decades before it. And there's the spirit of sacrifice, of course, by the people in Myanmar, who are literally putting their lives on the line for democracy, human rights. But then ug is basically a vast volunteer bureaucracy, unlike anything that according to experts we've spoken to has ever really existed in the history of what we know of governments in the world. They the people working in in n ug even the highest ministerial positions, are mostly volunteers with not getting livelihood with no plan in the future of how to get a livelihood to make this all sustainable in that way. In addition to that, much of the fundraising that comes to support the N ug and the CDM, and the N UCC, and the CRP, H PDFs as well, all these acronyms, it's really being carried on the burden of the backs of the Diaspora abroad, the diaspora Burmese and ethnic communities. By and large, the these Burmese diaspora communities in France and other countries are not really living too much above middle class, these these are usually the usually the immigrant communities that are have settled elsewhere are really just trying to get by themselves. And yet, through fundraising, through bonds through many other creative ways through auctions and other types of fundraisers. They're basically raising money within their own communities to then support Myanmar. And so all of this is pointing to this democracy movement really being carried the burden, which has become something of a backbreaking burden really being carried by Burmese everywhere by Burmese volunteers in the end ug by the diaspora who's funding it, and by those in the country who are risking their lives. And this begs the question, why has there not been more international support? Why have there not been more allies, more international allies that have come through to try to help in meaningful ways whether it's advocacy or fundraising or, or media or whatever else, of course, there are many exceptions. I would like to think that insight Myanmar podcast is one such exception that is trying to help carry some of this burden, even in a very, very small way. But from your position in France, and you talk about working with the diaspora Burmese communities in France, to fundraise and then send that money back to a number of the Democratic initiatives and groups in Myanmar. I can only imagine after two years, how much of a strain and pressure this is to keep asking those same Burmese communities to give more and more and more It's just this endless request for for trying to give and support. This goes hand in hand with why we don't see more advocacy, why we don't see more media, why we don't see more people kind of carrying this forward as a world issue that the Democratic parts of the world need to care about and need to support. So in your estimation, why has it been so hard to break through? Why has it been so hard to try to bring other allies and supporters into carrying this backbreaking burden, rather than having to keep going back and back again, to these diaspora communities and asking them to just this bottomless giving to keep giving and supporting and trying to find a way to to uplift it? What can be done to go Beyond these diaspora communities and start to get allies and supporters and friends and advocates who are not from these diaspora communities so that more people can be involved and engage in support.
Nan Su 40:14
Yes. So, you know, here in France, where we are doing, we, we have regularly the fundraising event at those events, are we trying to targeted friends, people also. So that's what we can do from better for government level. day now, for friends or friends, they like taking, like, target ascension and against the individual and tighter with their European level. And so that's also the status of what they can do for the momentum. So because the ascension of the group, the tremor band, assess freezer and also for the patient to make fun of Viva and and above golden, so better, that's why we are we are angry when we engage with engaging with friends already, we always ask, have further humanitarian assistance. So the front end you decide we are trying to gather international support, for example, are now already in the US today's nation a different?
D sorry. So, which include the Pammi Palma edge, so, we don't know exactly how, how measured many better, that's also a big, how can I say a big step for our people, because the ante now, we didn't get any support financially from an international community at least this is a big step. And I hope we're into Thomson 23. More, we hope to get more to get financial support from international community, international government and ug also trying for that. Because that, in my in my personal opinion, too, because like western country, with the Y happening in Ukraine, they are just see what's happening there. Because there is this invasion, and that they don't seem they don't think of Myanmar as happening in Myanmar is not like a big threat to them, that Ukraine is in Europe. So this is the difference. If I may say the difference between the Myanmar why is it happening in your mind? Why is it happening you gray but that's why we keep we every time we speak or communicate with the people that we always say that what's happening in your mind is not about Myanmar people concern is also about global issue. So like the the Indonesia, incited to Ukraine, we all know that that will happen in your mouth so that the Russia, the Russia, President Putin, he is a big support the one of the biggest supporter to me online, that's the name which I discovered to say it out loud. But they are joining the journey Hanahan to like a mentor. So that's why I would like to say that the international community should consider that because of the pirates happening in your mind is also a direct to to the regional countries and also to the wall.
Host 44:14
Right, thanks for that. Now looking at France specifically are are there interests or issues related to Myanmar or connecting Myanmar to France that you find are particularly relevant to a French audience or to you your work in France?
Nan Su 44:30
I could say that because they say Oh, I don't speak as a representative as if I speak in my personal opinion to so Frances, they are now we has no differ that they are so into Indo Pacific so they are interested in the region. So we can say Myanmar, you also include in the Indo Pacific so, so I hope we're in there. Indo Pacific strategy they they were trying to engage or expand they are aligned with with the country but now with the crisis the situation in Myanmar. So it would it would be difficult it would be difficult it's not good for anyone because at the Myanmar is ratio in a natural resource with the jam everything right at your faces the China over exploiter jewelry the pool of after the coup. So although thing and then turn into India, India ocean with all due the territory. So Myanmar is in the in the center as well. So I think that's France. We can compare with the Ukraine, of course, but I think the French say the is the near my piece, there will be more benefit from every country around around us.
Host 46:03
Right? You referenced as well, that part of your job as being in UG representative in France is to support those Burmese citizens and communities that are living in France. Now. Can you share a bit about what about those Burmese communities? What types of Burmese have come to settle in France? What do they do? What numbers are they? And what what are the kinds of issues that they face that you're having to help with now?
Nan Su 46:33
Yes, so as I say, because of maybe I forgot to say that before, after the coup d'etat, I also joined the people many method to protest a protest against the coop. So I joined the other Burmese in France. And so then I joined the family community in France CBF, we call so the so this is an NGO, which were founded over 10 years ago, and then now reform with a new office member. So at that time, after the good into town center, Tijuana, I was at a cemetery there. So we we we organize the manifestation regularly. And also myself collect a donation as much as I can for the needy people on the ground who are fighting against the Buddha agenda. So after event after we can representative I key to communicate with them. Because yes, as you as you already know, that we the Burmese people here is just we are just walking here to their Java. And so in France, I can say is around 500. Burmese into the bat in Paris, and maybe like Honduras. But you know, the first day when we organized the very first manifestation maybe is, is like, over 200 I, as long as I remember, but maybe maybe more, because this is just my gap. So this is the first ever manifestation that I see many many Burmese before even I live in France for two years, but I don't know, I didn't know measure many Burmese people, even the permit community in France, the organization I said earlier, you had that I didn't know that the exit. So, what I want to say is after revolution became one year to year and now, the people the PAMI people, they are also struggling with the alive with the for the student maybe where they asked to to study. So, so also the people who can participate in revolution to be can fuel fuels. So, now, in this day or in this time, after one year, after the Kuba when we organize the for the community when they organize the manifestation that I I did notice that the people who participated we can just very very few knock light before. So that is one thing and better. Better anti now we send us the because they many many difficulty for that as well. I can understand that. We all even we stay in France we we stay have some difficulty. If because I said agenda ISC, you know, arrest everybody who invoked her and ug, or on but invoked somehow in collusion. Even if we share one Facebook book publicly, we they will arrest you that they can arrest. So with every every airy resent, so that's why people that are closer we are human beings, we we are afraid so. So most people they I, I think most people they try to they lieu, of course, we all most are we stay have our family there. And so we, of course are event you wanna do as much as we can her send her we had their own reason. So that that's why you know the saying in our office, that's why not many people can, can participate in my office to help us.
Host 51:01
Right. And you had referenced early on in this interview that when you decided to take this position of being an EEG representative, you were aware of the risks, you were aware that you would have a public face and name and a fish reality. And that was a concern for you. So what factors went into making that decision of deciding to step forward and take that risk to do what you could for your country's democratic movement? And what personal risks do you feel you've faced by having to be out in the open in your activism and advocacy?
Nan Su 51:35
So, yes, because, as I said earlier, so before there was a representative in France before me, but so after the AUG, just to San circumstance, they need to need to apply to a new one. So we I know that all all due process are at that time I in in CBF, the balmy community as a secretary, so, we we are discussing about that with the AUG. Especially with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, or M UG. So I know that they have been trying to find a candidate for long, like maybe I can say, one year or so small. So like, this is a big, a big rule. So that for me, I don't have any background. But I just like maybe I, I can say I Felisa but, of course, for for our country is for our country. And then France is a big country. So for our governmental we, we are we, we support and ug so, our government needs somebody so I just decided that, finally, somebody had to do it. So. So just like that, because I just decided to with strong determination that somebody had to do it, or, because that's the essence of it, whether I don't have any experience in politics, I just I just decided is if I can take the rule and let my name and my face publicly this is already one thing is even I don't do nothing Yeah, this is already one thing. And then I just decided that because is it better than nothing? Pet or cause when I take the joy is come with the responsibilities. So of course, I faced so many difficulty. And for the other like my family, everything I stay can talk in detail. So this is if I stay I stay have difficulty with that. So I can talk much state.
Host 54:06
Right. And another question is that you reference coming from an ethnic minority community Korean in Palo Alto. And there's been a lot of discussion of the urbanization policies that have taken place in the country politically in terms of the education system in terms of the opportunities that are available. And that has been something that has continued to be examined and question during this democratic period and especially with the work of the N ug and looking at, at at To what degree some kind of solidarity is being built between the majority of Omar and the number of ethnic minorities how much their voice is being listened to and incorporated and how much they're trying to break from, and diverge from different movements of the past which have been mostly Bomar led into something that has been taking the conservative in taking into consideration more and more. These ethnic minority voice says And as someone who is both coming from a background of being an ethnic minority as well as being an official member of the N ug, what are your thoughts about how bromination manifested growing up for you in Myanmar and what you see of that happening today with the N ug, do you see the N ug really trying to break new ground in welcoming and incorporating ethnic voices in ways they haven't done before? Or do you have concerns that they could be doing more?
Nan Su 55:32
Oh, yes. So, you know, we we are we come Harkness we see into now. So, is this quite obvious compared with the past because of when I grew up? Yeah, most are the and other far more centralization. So, I have experienced that as I myself miss at the Naval. So, we face that difficulty concerned with that, like we are for me as a How can I say as I belong to to at the Navy so that's it more event event Amanda? At the level or the Korean bow? Find our yarns and friends. For example, if I go with Korean friends, they can say I am Miss I like how can I say we use one one special was in Yama. So, like this experience this feeling I already get even to amend our ethnic people, but if I go with oboe we say or friend we say that you you are also belong to Korean or anything like that. So, when we arrived to the university, then most most apama So, the thing is that we have also like before does it well the issue and other data share too because they are like niche they are very like tray or used to like manipulated to nationalists. So, like it did check out when we go for example, we travel we had to cross the gate like one city to another city like from an to Rangoon, we had to cross different different way to and then it did check our passport like if I am buddies or if I cristiana or if I other like that only if I booty sand bomb bomb isa it will take very very fast but since I am Korean too, but all so they will ask a lot of questions. So I can imagine if I were Christiane or other minority her so we'd be more difficult for that I can relate to that. Now, we see after the good after the good at this time totally different because we we are live and now we are in 21st century even though the education sustained your ma is stay compare with other country or international level stay low but we we have entered into towns in 2015 to 220 and other civilian government. So we have the internet, we have all the things we can tell everything. So they are they are mine we can they can learn thing, they can decide on their own. So like the Generation Z right now, they don't care who when they meet a friend, they don't care where their friend came from, for their nationality or their religion, they don't care that we all are human. So they know that and then so after the goose since the dose generation, they can't they couldn't accept that because a database revolution is happening after the coop knock life before in Myanmar before the coup d'etat that the or happened after the revolution, but this time very different and this revolution is led by the especially the Generation Z. So those young generation they are they they they know they know what other countries they know the human rights they know or the equalities, equality so so now and ug so we that's why we call inclusive. So, even in the UG member the is or not only Korean is also an opportunity, every area at the name minority, they try to put inside the the can I say man inside the annuity so and also we we have seen that the engaging they are engaging like with the am resistant. Our sister organization now Often upload like, can you now Ke Ke N ki ng F, every every intention cdf, to learn different forces so, or, or, or or the, this is the first time that the first time or government who can try hand in hand with the order camera system group. So at any amorous system group, so that's it, we have seen the very first time because we know that the NCAA, they will amend the agenda and II always doesn't walk and do not. So that's why the AUG, the census they are all inclusive, they are trying to try also they are also trying more and more inclusive and now we are in the so we are determined to go to the federal democracy. So that's why we, we they gave me a commitment to the to the people to listen to the voice of the people. That's why yes.
Host 1:01:07
Great, thank you for that, that's, that's really great to hear your thoughts on that. I think that's a very good note to end on. And before we close, I just want to give you the floor you have whoever is tuning in and listening to your voice thus far. If there's any closing or concluding remarks or messages you would like to leave for our listeners.
Nan Su 1:01:29
Yes, I would like to remember the situation with what happened in Ukraine, because I just like to remind the international community that what they happen in our country in Myanmar is also international issue because of what happened in Ukraine, because Russia invaded Ukraine and more the international community that provides force and get the necessary have her to have Ukraine people to defend their country from from the Russia army. So, we in promise people, we will like to I would like to say in your mouth also we must not forget that Russia is involved somehow in in supporting the gender race. So, by providing all kinds of military were born like fighter jets a helicopter and fewer ship and more, so that the junta is using to K and terrorize the people Myanmar. So, we have seen that the we have seen that. So, so, therefore, we must not forget that the environments are Russia and also China in the crisis our country in our country. So, our revolution is glue where causes So, this crisis is also a threat to all neighboring country and to the to the international community. So, we can see that Tyrone's anti de da supporting each other. So, I believe that this time is crucial, and that we must eradicate and store all kinds of digital shift in this world, to us to fully live and true democracy, with freedom and justice, also an equality and also I would like to send a huge message to our permit people and especially to permit is poorer. So, as the revolution became longer and longer, we all can sometimes we can depress or like we I say earlier, earlier, we want to escape from the reality and to forget what is happening in our country, bad we might not forget and we have to remember that our people are different force VDF belong, who is belong you to all class all ages, including TAS young people, why is it good? So they are taking on and fighting for the country. So now we have to encourage them by continuing to support the revolution in every way we can. I know I also know we live in for a country and they are difficulty as well to evoke evolution, especially publicly bad we can spoke to in many different way that the people inside them according to for example, like we can share information among each other. And we can join the campaign also like click to donate by washing just by watching the revolution channel on YouTube. So and to do who can support financially, can buy or can also buy and use Boom or EOD share, because of all the collected fan goes right to the ground. So as long as we don't do hope on our pollution, we are already winning and we share to believing in it because our revolution has shaped prevail. Thank you
Host 1:05:31
Thanks for joining us for today's episode. Being a small mostly volunteer team, our production time for a single episode before the coup was sometimes as long as four months from start to finish. While we worked at decreasing the lead time, the fastest we were ever able to manage was just around three weeks. Yet during this current crisis, where even a single day's events can produce such shocking news and urgent needs, we simply don't have the luxury of time. So we have worked around the clock to substantially shorten the length of our production cycle. The turnaround for some episodes is now just 36 hours. However, we cannot accomplish this goal without your support. If you found value in today's episode, and think others might also benefit from this type of content, please consider making a donation so that we can continue our mission. If you would like to join in our mission to support those in Myanmar who are being impacted by the military coup. We welcome your contribution in any form, currency or transfer method. Your donation will go on to support a wide range of humanitarian and media missions, aiding those local communities who need to post donations are directed to such causes as the Civil Disobedience movement CDM families of deceased victims, internally displaced person IDP camps, food for impoverished communities, military defection campaigns, undercover journalists, refugee camps, monasteries and nunneries education initiatives, the purchasing of protective equipment and medical supplies COVID relief and more. We also make sure that our donation Fund supports a diverse range of religious and ethnic groups across the country. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about past projects as well as upcoming needs. You can give a general donation or earmark your contribution to a specific activity or project you would like to support. Perhaps even something you heard about in this very episode. All of this humanitarian work is carried out by a nonprofit mission that or Burma. Any donation you give on our insight Myanmar website is directed towards this fun. Alternatively, you can also visit the better Burma website better burma.org and donate directly there. In either case, your donation goes to the same cause in both websites except credit card. You can also give via PayPal by going to paypal.me/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 these respective accounts or email us at info at better burma.org. That's better Burma. One word, spelled b e t t e r b u r m a.org. If you'd like to give it another way, please contact us. We also invite you to check out our range of handicrafts that are sourced from vulnerable artists and communities across Myanmar available at a local crafts.com Any purchase will not only support these artists and communities, but also our nonprofits wider mission. That's aloka crafts spelled A L O K A C R A F T S one word alokacrafts.com Thank you so much for your kind consideration and support.