Issue and Opponent: The military, led by army chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, overthrew Aung San Suu Kyi’s government after claiming, without evidence, that the November 2020 election that returned her National League for Democracy (NLD) to power was fraudulent, an accusation dismissed by the election committee and Western governments. Tens of thousands have turned out in street protests against the coup, despite a ban on large gatherings and a night curfew. Young demonstrators used a light-hearted approach to garner public interest in the protests.
Dilemma Action: In February 2021 Armed with witty placards and wearing elegant evening dresses, a large group of Burmese women make their way through Yangon, Myanmar’s largest city. More than 100 young women, dressed as princesses, paraded in downtown Yangon despite ongoing police violence and repression against protesters and in the day following a woman’s being shot by police. Beauty pageant queens dressed in evening gowns, sashes, and tiaras held up signs with more traditional messages such as “Fight for democracy” and “Please listen to our voices”. The protesters wanted to show that young girls were also participating in the military coup and they thought the costumes were the most obvious way to do that. The protests have mostly been peaceful, with some demonstrators taking a very laid-back approach.
Outcome: In contrast to earlier opposition movements, this generation has grown up in a freer and more open society, with better access to the internet. Myanmar’s military coup has already generated international outrage. Mocking the military is unlikely to force a swift return to democracy in Myanmar. But it’s proving an effective method for drawing global attention to the ongoing protests. The protests were the largest in the Southeast Asian country since the “Saffron Revolution” led by Buddhist monks in 2007.