Myanmar Spring Chronicle – May 25 Scenes
MoeMaKa, May 26, 2024
Revolution and Criticism
When there are weaknesses related to the Spring Revolution, or the fight against the coup military, criticism often emerges in various forms. The Spring Revolution involves not just a single group but includes political forces and activist organizations that are not political parties. Among these organizations, the National Unity Consultative Council and the National Unity Government are generally understood to be leading the revolution. Some ethnic armed groups are also part of this effort, though some act independently and attack the coup military council separately.
In ethnic regions, there are armed conflicts, territorial occupations, and governance building, which present both strengths and weaknesses. A poet from Sagaing wrote a long poem titled “To Ma Ma Nu Kyi” about the situation in non-ethnic regions like Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay. The poem was posted on Facebook and quickly spread among social media users before the original post was taken down.
The poem, which spans 24 verses and 6 to 7 pages, reflects the real-life situations in the Sagaing and Magway regions more than it showcases artistic excellence. The poet likely felt compelled to write it due to personal sentiments.
For instance, the poem satirically describes how fragmented armed groups individually rule and how the public suffers from the war’s effects. It likens civil war to fishing with fish flesh, portraying the civil war as causing the people of this country, region, town, and village to form groups and kill each other, risking their lives. The poem evokes the feelings of the Anyar people and depicts the region’s destruction, where houses are burned to ashes and people mourn the loss of their homes and livestock.
The poem also touches on the violence and threats by some armed groups in the Anyar region without specifying which groups, suggesting that the responsibility lies with the National Unity Government (NUG). While NUG may not fully control the Anyar region, given the three years since the armed revolution began, it is fair to expect NUG to be accountable for military and administrative affairs in Anyar. The question of how to organize a region with numerous armed groups is easier to ask than to answer.
The pattern of armed revolution in border regions like Sagaing, Magway, and Mandalay differs significantly from that in ethnic regions. Ethnic areas have a bond of nationalism, whereas in Anyar, nationalism is too broad. Cultural, literary, and religious ties found in ethnic areas are absent in Anyar, where groupings are based on customs, cities, and villages.
The poet vividly depicts Anyar’s war wounds, critiques the National Unity Government’s privileged safety while young people fight and die in the civil war, and concludes by urging responsible parties to be accountable for Anyar. He ends with the plea, “Please don’t lie to Anyar.”
It is undeniable that the damage and suffering in Anyar are worse than in other regions of Myanmar, making it crucial for officials to take responsibility and repair the injuries in Anyar.