3 days ago
Written in blood
In 2015, Joe Freeman and Aung Naing Soe noticed the prominent status of poetry in Myanmar politics. At the time, both journalists heard that Maung Saungkha, a 23-year-old poet, posted a poem about having a tattoo of an unnamed president on his penis on Facebook. Saungkha, however, was charged for defaming former president Thein Sein under telecommunication law, serving a six-month jail term.
"It was eye-opening into the world of Myanmar's poetry playing such an outsized role," said Freeman, a journalist-turned-researcher for Amnesty International, in an event to mark the launch of their book titled Frontline Poets: The Literary Rebels Taking On Myanmar's Military at The Fort in Bangkok last month. The whole project took around three years.
In the wake of the military coup on Feb 1, 2021, poets have been taking up guns in the battlefield. A month after an end to civilian rule, those from the Myanmar Poets Union showed three-finger salutes in Yangon. When the earthquake hit Myanmar early this year, poets helped deliver humanitarian aid. It inspired two authors to examine why they are doing so.
"They are on the frontline of every single economic, political or social crisis, going back to the start of anti-British uprisings," said Freeman "This trend continues up until the present day, with many poets resisting the military coup."
The book focused on five figures who "embody different versions of frontline poets" before and after the military coup. After finding himself in hot water over his critical poem, Saungkha continued fighting for freedom of expression. In early 2018, he founded an activist organisation called Athan. Following the military takeover, he started his own armed group called the Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA). Still, he believes in his identity as a poet.
In the same way, K Za Win, a protest leader and poet, was killed in a demonstration on March 3, 2021.
"Had he lived, he would have joined the armed group," said Freeman. Shortly after the military coup, he started to post a short poem on Facebook, which has since become an anthem to the protest movement.
"Though I have different views than you, I'll lay down my life for you all," it reads.
"It is almost revolutionary in itself because Myanmar is such a fractured place. People live in different places and represent different groups. He is someone who is coming out of this to make a sacrifice for all," he said.
Freeman cited examples of his works that more or less chronicle real-time events. On Feb 23, 2021, he uploaded a poem titled About The Skulls in response to delayed international expression of concern over violence against protesters. He also urged those who were indecisive to join the movement. On March 2, 2021, he stressed the importance of solidarity. The next day he was killed.
Women and LGBTI individuals have also joined the battlefield. As a member of the LGBTI community, Yoe Aunt Min has been constantly marginalised. She started writing poetry in middle school.
In 2015, she joined a protest march in support of educational reform that K Za Win took part in. As a student activist, she coordinated protests within a week of the military coup. As the situation intensified, security forces fired on protesters in Monywa, including K Za Win. It led Yoe Aunt Min to join the BPLA to restore democracy and equality.
Young recruits received gruelling military training at its camp, where she wrote poems in her downtime. A lengthy piece, titled A Deserter Goes To War, reflects her mental state during the battle.
"That is the longest poem in the book. When we put materials together, we thought people didn't want to read a long poem," Freeman reflected.
"But it is our most favourite poem because it speaks to something else. It is the kind of poem that isn't necessarily about a fiery war, but about people trying to hold on to their humanity, despite what is happening to them.
"I think you will be surprised to find many poems are very intimate and personal. That is because it's human beings who wants to go back to their life.
"They don't want to fight, but be with their friends, write poetry and go to a reading. I think this is a way for them to hold on to who they are, processing what they are going through in real time.
"Yoe herself is on the frontline. Not long ago, she was in a house where an airstrike was 50 feet away. She is still writing poems that are extremely personal and intimate."
Meanwhile, Lynn Khar and A Mon are living in exile following a military attack on Lay Kay Kaw village, a new settlement near the border of Thailand, in December 2021.
In a visceral poem titled The Radio Of Dead People, Lynn Khar expresses his anger at unchecked military brutality. A Mon, who lost A Sai K to an airstrike, drew inspiration from his late friend's jade earring to compose a poem titled What Have You Left.
"Myanmar is not always on the front page of the newspaper," Aung, currently based in the US, said. "I think these stories can help raise public awareness."
Some are fighting on the frontline. Others are fleeing to other countries, including Thailand, for different reasons.
Aung said, however, "it is very impossible for us to settle" here due to visa and paperwork issues. He used to visit many cities, but following the military coup, Thailand is the most practical option.
