Myanmar Spring Chronicle – November 1 Overview
(MoeMaKa, November 2, 2025)
The Value of Information
Every day, the Burmese-language internet is flooded with an overwhelming amount of news — reports of battles, political updates, human rights abuses committed by armed groups, economic stories, crime, assassinations, and the latest orders and announcements issued by those in power. So much information appears daily that it’s almost impossible to read it all.
Tonight, I came across a piece of news about a Pyusawhti militia member who was shot dead by a local defense force while he was out cutting grass to feed his cattle in Mying Township, Magway Region. Soon after reading that, I saw another post on Facebook — a public appeal issued jointly by Kachin monks, the Kachin Literature and Culture Committee, and the Kachin Youth Organization in Banmaw (Bhamo).
Their statement was a humanitarian appeal concerning Kachin civilians displaced by the recent fighting in Banmaw Township. Many villagers had fled their homes after the junta’s offensive there, unable to take enough food, clothing, or belongings with them. Weeks later, they now face serious hardship — particularly as the rice harvest season is approaching. The statement appealed to both sides — the junta and the Kachin Independence Army (KIA) — to allow farmers to safely harvest their rice, warning that failure to do so would lead not only to hunger for those displaced but also to food shortages for the entire region.
The appeal listed five specific requests addressed to both armed sides:
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Allow displaced villagers to safely return to their homes without harm or harassment.
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Ceasefire during the rice harvest period, and if fighting does occur, avoid operations near populated areas.
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Do not treat displaced civilians who fled into areas controlled by the opposing side as enemy supporters or collaborators.
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Recognize monasteries being used as temporary shelters as safe zones, and ensure that no armed personnel enter or take shelter in those areas.
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Give special consideration to children’s education and future, and act with compassion and conscience.
These five points reflect the same suffering now seen across much of Myanmar. For farmers, not being able to harvest the crops they have spent the whole season cultivating — their year’s livelihood and sustenance — is devastating. Escaping war only to face hunger is a tragedy that evokes deep empathy.
Although such humanitarian pleas mirror the realities across the country, they rarely make headlines. Major media outlets prioritize stories such as a political party leader being disqualified as an election candidate, while appeals like this one from Kachin civil and religious leaders — which concern the survival of entire rural communities — seldom receive the attention they deserve.
As mentioned earlier, while stories of killings and assassinations often capture attention, the Kachin community’s humanitarian appeal from Banmaw is, in truth, far more significant for the public.
News about local security conditions — where fighting is taking place, which roads are unsafe to travel, which villages have been attacked — is indeed vital for people’s safety. But the media must also recognize that its duty is not to serve as a platform for armed groups to boast of their victories. When journalists uncritically repeat military updates or battlefield claims, turning propaganda into “news,” they fail their public responsibility.
As readers and citizens, we consume vast amounts of online content daily. That’s why media outlets should prioritize stories that genuinely serve the public interest — stories that inform, help, and give voice to those most affected by war and hardship. Instead of chasing engagement metrics or repeating viral narratives, the media should focus on the voiceless — the ordinary, powerless people enduring this conflict — and tell their stories in ways that may actually lead to understanding, compassion, and help.