Into the Life of Myanmar Women Factory Workers
Long familiar with the tiny gains and vicious crashes brought on by political shocks, workers in Myanmar now face insurmountable hardships as the fourth year post-coup gets underway. People must now decide either to shelter in place with no end in sight, or face down unknown conditions as migrant workers overseas. Young garment factory workers share their experiences from Yangon and Samut Prakarn, in neighbouring Thailand.
“Given the chance, I would burn it to the ground” // Testimony from Hpa-An women prison
HPA-AN, KAYIN STATE // Naw May, a former political prisoner, speaks out about the abuses she faced during her two years of detention. The number of political prisoners, and especially women, has never been that high in Burma’s history.
Checkpoints // Myanmar Map of Lawlessness
Shoddy concrete structures connected to the military have become a common and menacing sight in Myanmar. These pillboxes are being used by the military as watchtowers and strongholds from which they can erratically impose invasive checks on civilians, subjecting them to bullying, intimidation and arbitrary arrest.
Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand not invited to first social security board election
BANGKOK // On Dec. 24, Thailand will host its first social security board election. Close to one million workers from Myanmar, who contribute equally to this multi-million dollar fund, are not allowed to participate. A Thai migrant worker rights advocate is running to represent Myanmar nationals and will be listed as a candidate.
United by Blood Money, Police States Stand Together
OCTOBER 29th, 2023 // “Will the Singaporean Government stand for blood money – or clean business, with dignity?”
The Burmese diaspora stood in front of the Singapore embassy in Bangkok to demand that Singapore stop selling arms used to kill their fellow citizens in Myanmar.
Myanmar’s Mine Fields: Into the Shattered Lives of Refugees and Fighters
OCTOBER 29th, 2023 // One thousand days after a junta seized power in the coup, Myanmar remains embroiled in nationwide conflict. An elderly refugee and a young PDF fighter speak about losing a leg due to the mine epidemic crippling the Southeast Asian nation for decades.
Airstrikes Epidemic (I) // “Each time I ran from place to place, I got further and further away from home.”
SEPTEMBER 28th, 2023 // Amidst the sound of fire falling from the sky, they packed a few days’ worth of food and some clothes and headed for a place in the outskirts of Demoso, Karenni state. That departure from their house was the beginning of Yuri Soe’s endless family’s journey to escape the war.
/ ROHINGYA REMEMBRANCE DAY /
AUGUST 25th, 2023 // Six years ago, the Myanmar military launched a genocide against Rohingya people in Rakhine state. Our team interviewed Razia Sultana, lawyer, educator, and human rights activist, about the current situation of her community.
Jubilee Hall & Students Union Building Once Stood There
JULY 7th, 2023 // The military junta in Myanmar systematically destroyed historical landmarks, including the Students’ Union Building and the Jubilee Hall in Yangon. Both hold immense historical significance, representing the spirit of anti-colonial, anti-fascist, and anti-dictatorship struggles.
Myanmar diaspora hopes for a new dawn as Thailand votes to shed its green uniform
JULY 4th, 2023 // After pro-democracy parties led the way in the recent May elections, the Thai Parliament is expected to form a new civilian government. The majority of Thai citizens as well as Myanmar people who took shelter in the neighboring country after the coup, are hoping for a new era that will safeguard their respective rights. However, the new Thai government will have to confront the massive challenges posed by the Myanmar military and the growing refugee crisis.