"The Harsh Journey of Revolutionary Youth During Five Years of the Military Coup"
Author: Thit Yeik (Ramanya)
Within the five years following the military coup, Myanmar's youth have faced the most severe oppression and dire circumstances in the nation's history. Under the military dictatorship’s rule by gunpoint, the country’s economy and social fabric have deteriorated on all fronts, and the rule of law has reached a point of near-extinction.
The military’s arbitrary laws have proven that not only holding a protest sign, but even wearing a flower, applying Thanaka, or simply staying inside one's own home can be treated as a crime. Consequently, young people have come to firmly accept that armed revolution is the only way to protect themselves and their families.
On the other hand, the military—which has combined weaponry, power, and self-interest—has squandered and stolen national wealth for over 70 years. Their conscience and morality have collapsed to the point where they no longer seem to value the lives or existence of the people.
While everyone says "truth is bitter," many older generations have been forced to swallow that bitterness in silence. Most young people, however, refused to accept it and bravely revolted, even at the cost of their blood. Thus, whenever there is suffering, the lives of the youth are always at the forefront.
The revolutionary journey is not a day trip; for the youth, it is a long string of hardships and exhaustion. Beyond physical toil, there is the daily mental exhaustion of sacrificing the freedom and happiness that should define youth. Countless days have been spent away from the warmth and security of home and a mother’s cooking—days of missing meals, sleeping unsheltered and insecure, running for their lives amidst bombs and bullets, and the inconsolable grief of seeing friends and comrades fall before their eyes.
Due to these physical and mental hardships, news of PDF desertions has been heard more frequently as the revolution reaches its five-year mark. Some units issue formal statements regarding deserters, while others remain silent. However, every case of desertion has different underlying reasons. Among them, there may be weaknesses that can be reformed, as well as personal individual weaknesses.
One crucial factor to note is the weakness in leadership roles. In leadership, "understanding human nature" is a vital quality. Some leaders frequently find fault with their subordinates, practice discrimination based on rank, lack openness and warmth, or behave arrogantly and abuse their power. Such undignified, dictatorial behaviors cause division and unhappiness among subordinates, leading to desertion.
Therefore, it is urgently necessary to go beyond relying solely on written reports of desertions and to conduct field assessments to understand and reform the situation on the ground. When leadership is good, subordinates develop a sense of trust and loyalty, thinking, "I would follow this leader even into the jaws of death." Training and cultivating such leaders for revolutionary units will help reduce desertions.
In conclusion, within the five years of the coup, Myanmar’s youth have not only been forced into a dire situation where they must seize their future through arms but also have to silently battle the lingering "legacy of dictatorship" that has seeped into the revolution itself. While the youth are taking responsibility at the grassroots level to overthrow the military dictatorship, who will take responsibility for reforming and improving leadership at the higher levels? We must not let it be too late.
[Note: This article is selected, edited, and presented as a segment intended to strengthen the revolution and allow the public to analyze diverse perspectives. The views expressed in the article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of People’s Goal. Readers are encouraged to write comments and discuss.]