The Silenced Voices

On 1 February, Myanmar’s military seized power from its civilian government, leading to a series of mass protests that show no signs of stopping.

Among the protests were thousands of healthcare workers who walked out, leading to a collapse in the healthcare system and throwing Myanmar’s vaccination and testing response into chaos.

— Tsoi and Myint, 2021

Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) Chaotic Deadly Murder

have you seen an apocalypse not in a movie but on the streets outside your window have you smelled the air of a chaos tamed by the weapons of armed soldiers have you heard of the silenced screams of the medical workers who were also civilians amongst civilians have you tasted the blood of either of these two murderers—COVID and Coup

have you seen, smelled, heard, or tasted a chaotic deadly murder?

could you see the blue empty cylinders lining up outside of oxygen factories could you smell the vacant hospital rooms that were badly needed by the 280,000 people outside that building could you hear the agony of those praying for their families in front of these factories and Yay Way cemetery could you taste the bitterness in their tears

could you see, smell, hear, or taste the chaotic deadly murder?

did you see the uniformed servicemen funneling oxygen from the public to military hospitals did you smell the fear of patients and families desperately in need of air in their lungs did you hear the it’s like we have to choose the best way to die cry did you taste the horror of a sick daughter whose mother died a few days after breathing the air she brought back from the prison

did you see, smell, hear, or taste the chaotic deadly murder? 

will they see the sun rise over the ancient plains of Bagan will they smell the golden-yellow Padauk blossoms on the day of Thingyan will they hear the roosters crow from the chicken coop in the backyard will they taste the sweet and juicy diamond mangoes 

will they see, smell, hear, or taste ever again?

Source: Grace Tsoi and Moe Myint. “Covid and a coup: The double crisis pushing Myanmar to the brink.” BBC News, 29 July 2021, https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-57993930

One morning in February, Mi Hser, a mother and a kindergarten teacher, witnessed four deaths and forty injuries at her school in the southeastern Karenni State’s Demoso township. “She blamed herself for not doing enough.”

Mi Htoo Htoo, another mother from the same village, lost her son two weeks before his 14^th birthday. Through tears, she says, “He’s still alive in my mind.”

—J and Fishbein, 2024

 

To My Dear Child

My dear child, 

May the cloud never flood your sky 

but the sun, the rainbow.

May the rubbles turn into 

raindrops that soothe your soul.

My dear child, 

May you never walk amongst your nightmares

but a green pasture, a haven.

May the cool breeze that touches your skin

takes away your recollection.

My dear child, 

May you always be in your church clothes

and live forever in my mind.

May your siblings be able to sing again 

with hearts full of joy.

My dear child, 

May the sounds you echo

never be frightened screams but laughters.

May your happiness never disappear

and your wounded spirit soon recovers.

Source: Esther J and Emily Fishbein. “Scarred by war, Myanmar children ‘cannot live the life they used to have.’” Al Jazeera, 27 May 2024.