"Simon"

Suzanne and Ruth are joined by ‘Simon’, a Myanmar NGO worker currently on the ground. Simon speaks to us by candlelight during a 6 hour power cut. Whilst his electricity is limited and essential for his work, he understands the crucial importance of telling the world what is happening in Myanmar. Relying on mobile internet that has skyrocketed in price since the coup and is no longer affordable to the majority, Simon knows he may not have the opportunity again to speak out. He is fortunate to still have work at this critical time, through which he is able to support his family and give what little he has left to support his friends in the PDF. Simon describes his heartbreak at the situation in his home state of Sagaing, where the internet has been cut off for months, village after village burned down by the military, and homes and crops destroyed, causing complete and utter devastation. The reality of seeing so many people he loves having their homes and food supply taken away, watching neighbours perish, and having to rely on those whose homes escaped destruction for food and shelter is becoming increasingly hard to bear witness to. Prevented from leaving these areas to find more stable refuge, the new reality for Simon's family and so many others is just survival. Here Simon tells us the heartbreaking situation so many in Myanmar are living through right now. 

The ah nah: Conversations with Myanmar podcast was born from a desire to bring into public consciousness the atrocities that are currently being committed in Myanmar (also known as Burma). Our goal is simply to keep the conversation going, and to let the people of Myanmar know that they have not been forgotten. You can continue to support the people of Myanmar by keeping this conversation going. You can subscribe to this podcast on all major podcasting apps, including Apple, Spotify and Acast. You can also follow us on all our social media pages, linked below. If you’d like to reach out, please email us or fill out this form to add your voice to the conversation (https://tinyurl.com/3ee7ssm9).

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 ‘Simon’ and all those still in the country who are finding ways to help the revolution and show their resistance to Military rule however they can.  We are so grateful to ‘Simon’’ for bravely speaking out and adding his voice to the conversation. 

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