Suzanne and Ruth are joined by Jon, a filmmaker turned PDF from Myanmar. When the coup broke out in February, Jon, like so many others in the country, took to the streets to peacefully protest. He was unlawfully arrested and spent 25 days in the notorious Insein prison as a result of his peaceful resistance. Jon’s experience in prison with other innocent people made him even more determined to resist this illegal military coup. He decided to defend himself and his people, whatever the cost. Unable to go to the ethnic areas for training, he decided to join a People’s Defence Force group (PDF) in Yangon. The continued widespread brutality of the military across the country prompted Jon to attend a series of defensive training seminars on Zoom. But a controversial article published in New Naratif exposed this seminar and put Jon and numerous other people in the country at risk and set their operations back considerably. Here Jon talks about his journey from filmmaker to PDF, the infamous New Naratif article that he felt was a betrayal of everyone who has sacrificed their life for their country, and the wider consequences such reporting can have.
[Please Note] This conversation was recorded a number of weeks ago. However, in the last few days a number of PDFs and suspected PDFs have been arrested in Yangon. Images circulated by the military show clear signs of torture. Many of them are likely dead now. We are relieved to say that Jon is safe and secure and is thankfully not one of those who was arrested but we must stress he easily could have been and still could be at anytime. After careful discussions with our team and Jon we have on his request decided to air his episode as he wants his voice to be heard. He wants people to understand that he and all PDFs are normal people who have no choice but to take this pathway in order to be free from military brutality and oppression. A large part of this conversation focuses on an article written by Aye Min Thant and published in New Naratif that had significant consequences for Jon and other PDF members in terms of their safety, security and operations. At the request of Jon and other PDF’s, we would like to ask people with influential platforms and those in positions of power to use this episode as a opportunity to reflect and consider the impact their tweets, articles and reports can have on those on the ground. To our listeners we would ask you to be mindful of what you are sharing and posting on social media and consider the impact this too can have on those on the ground. Please try to only share verifiable information from trusted sources in order to not inadvertently assist the military’s propaganda operations.
Credits:
Song: Kabar Makyay Bu (Until the End of the World), was written and recorded by Naing Myanmar, it became the revolutionary anthem of the 1988 pro-democracy movement and could be heard once again all over Myanmar during the 2021 Coup. Naing Myanmar maintains that the song is no longer his, since the '88 uprising “it belongs to everyone”.
Graphics: SelinaXin
Sound Effects: https://mixkit.co
*Special thanks to Jon and all PDFs who risk their lives everyday to defend themselves, their people and their country against a brutal military dictatorship. We are so grateful to Jon for adding his voice to the conversation.
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