Families, relatives, and parents forsaking their dissident children; has become a routine affair in Myanmar. The military junta has been targetting the anti-coup activists and their families ever since it seized control of the country. It threatened to take over properties and make arrests if anyone sheltered protesters.
Families Cut Ties with Dissident Children
According to reports, 6 to 7 families have posted official notices to cut ties with dissident children in state-owned newspapers every day for the last 3 months. The disowned relatives include their sons, daughters, nephews, nieces, and grandkids publicly against the junta.
After arresting democratically elected government officials in February 2021, the military also raided several citizens’ homes in search of those against this move. Many fled overseas, and some joined armed resistance against the army, so families disowned them under pressure.
According to reports, the researchers found about 570 notices of such nature.
Violent Crackdown Against Opposition
The Myanmar military uses a common strategy to target families and draw out their dissident children. In response, families publically disown their anti-coup members to save themselves from potential harm. The junta has become more violent after thousands of young nationals took to the streets to protest against the coup. When the military intensified the crackdown, protesters fled overseas or joined militant groups. Families refused to support them or their fight against the undemocratic takeover by the army.
According to reports, the military has killed around 1,500 people (mainly including protestors) and arrested at least 12,000 after taking over Myanmar. It was devasting for anti-coup and pro-democracy demonstrators to see that even their families were unwilling to support their cause. However, they understood that their parents were under pressure and worrying about themselves.
Life on The Run
The military power grab in Myanmar triggered a significant uprising. The junta planned to curb it with violent crackdowns and mass arrests. However, the situation intensified, and even ordinary people became activists and protestors after facing the military’s behaviour.
Medical workers were among the first to join a nationwide anti-coup movement and started providing first aid training to civilians as the military grew more violent. They also went underground to protect their families from the military’s response.
All those on the run have been taking shelter with other rebels away from their relatives, using hidden safehouses and burner phones. But, none of them regretted choosing this life as a cost for battling the military regime and restoring democracy. As long as the military is in power, parents will never get to see their dissident children again in their life.
