We are now in an ongoing civil war in the country. It is not an invasion, but the people are killing themselves for political power and interests. You would hear the news in Ukraine of how devastating and heartbreaking it is, but it is not worse than what we face, and we experience the same feelings; lockdown, pressure, fear, and anxiety.
The Myanmar military had been controlling the country for many decades, just a few years after independence. After killing, torture, and lives destroyed for many, they somehow let us free during 2015–2020. It was a rare and great opportunity for us, and we felt safe. The protest leader Aung San Suu Gyi was put in prison for decades, then they let her free, and she ruled for a five-year term, which we called democracy. Then we had an election in November 2020.
A nightmare came on 1st February 2021. Though we experienced democracy, the military had made their own constitution, in which 25% of political power belongs to them in the House, and the constitution states that no one could retaliate against them for any criminal charges. The military was always looking for an opportunity to seize power, and with their accusation of election fraud in 2020, they seized power in a coup and arrested all leaders, the president, and the cabinet members. Most have already died, and many have been killed during these years of 2021–2025, and it is still ongoing.
I still remember the morning I woke up on 1st February, shocked that mobile networks were not working, TV was not working, there was no electricity, and military troops were everywhere. We did not know what to do. They released thousands of prisoners with some drug injection, and these people created problems everywhere by poisoning water tanks or committing arson on homes. We blocked our street, guarded our homes at night, and we did not trust each other. We slept keeping a stick and a torchlight near the bed. We could not endure the suffering and fled out of town for three months with our church members.
There is much suffering and persecution, and there is no rule of law. Last week, they bombed a hospital and some schools. Many innocent people, school children, and patients died every day, and my birthplace has now turned into a war zone. Things are very expensive, and people go missing especially young girls and children are lost every day. The military come to check our homes at night, and we are required to report our household list to a military-appointed department in the village every two weeks, and we still need to pay money for it. There are many more…
Civilians fight for our rights by holding guns and forming the People’s Defense Force (PDF) to fight back against the military. The majority of Myanmar is under civilian forces, and the military bombs these places every day with airstrikes. Therefore, those places will not have elections. They also arrest leaders who fight for democracy.
After five years of the military coup, they are holding an election tomorrow, partially in areas under their control. We are forced to vote tomorrow. My wife and I will have to participate, but we do not know yet whom to vote for. Please pray for my country, Myanmar, that the situation will get better and that we will have freedom very soon.
The Myanmar military had been controlling the country for many decades, just a few years after independence. After killing, torture, and lives destroyed for many, they somehow let us free during 2015–2020. It was a rare and great opportunity for us, and we felt safe. The protest leader Aung San Suu Gyi was put in prison for decades, then they let her free, and she ruled for a five-year term, which we called democracy. Then we had an election in November 2020.
A nightmare came on 1st February 2021. Though we experienced democracy, the military had made their own constitution, in which 25% of political power belongs to them in the House, and the constitution states that no one could retaliate against them for any criminal charges. The military was always looking for an opportunity to seize power, and with their accusation of election fraud in 2020, they seized power in a coup and arrested all leaders, the president, and the cabinet members. Most have already died, and many have been killed during these years of 2021–2025, and it is still ongoing.
I still remember the morning I woke up on 1st February, shocked that mobile networks were not working, TV was not working, there was no electricity, and military troops were everywhere. We did not know what to do. They released thousands of prisoners with some drug injection, and these people created problems everywhere by poisoning water tanks or committing arson on homes. We blocked our street, guarded our homes at night, and we did not trust each other. We slept keeping a stick and a torchlight near the bed. We could not endure the suffering and fled out of town for three months with our church members.
There is much suffering and persecution, and there is no rule of law. Last week, they bombed a hospital and some schools. Many innocent people, school children, and patients died every day, and my birthplace has now turned into a war zone. Things are very expensive, and people go missing especially young girls and children are lost every day. The military come to check our homes at night, and we are required to report our household list to a military-appointed department in the village every two weeks, and we still need to pay money for it. There are many more…
Civilians fight for our rights by holding guns and forming the People’s Defense Force (PDF) to fight back against the military. The majority of Myanmar is under civilian forces, and the military bombs these places every day with airstrikes. Therefore, those places will not have elections. They also arrest leaders who fight for democracy.
After five years of the military coup, they are holding an election tomorrow, partially in areas under their control. We are forced to vote tomorrow. My wife and I will have to participate, but we do not know yet whom to vote for. Please pray for my country, Myanmar, that the situation will get better and that we will have freedom very soon.