JURIST EXCLUSIVE – As the Myanmar military junta attempts to tighten its grip on power, the Myanmar economy is slowing down with anti-coup strikes, supply chain interruptions, and power outages. One of our Myanmar law student correspondents reflects on what’s been happening.

We’re almost run out of “Cash” so we’re back to “barter trade”.

In Burmese, we call this campaign “ပိုလျှင်လှူ လိုလျှင်ယူ” [translated into “Give if you have & Take if you need”]

As a fruitful result of CDM, almost all banking transactions (cash in/out/transfer/ATM cards and machines) cannot be functioned. Even if any bank tries to run, people will take out all cash and close bank accounts as a social punishment to banks. During the revolution, mobile phone applications like KBZ pay, AYA pay and Wave Money pay are the main platform for Myanmar people to transfer and donate money. Right now, those applications cannot be run due to internet cut-off. Also, Myanmar people tend to collect gold bars to sell them out anytime they need cash. All jewelry shops are close too.

Since the very beginning of the coup, generous citizens never hesitate to donate money for all aspects: vinyl and posters for demonstration, food and drinks for demonstrators, defense facilities (metal shields, fire extinguishers) for front line defense teams, CDM [Civil Disobedience Movement] support (accommodation, transportation, meals), and funeral support payment for lost heroes. After spending and donating as much as we can, we’re almost run out of cash. No business can be run regularly so we don’t make any profit in cash and no one wants to make any profit out of all these situations.

However, no one will ever be starved in Myanmar as long as they’re one of us fighting for Democracy.

We share Goals, We share food!!!

Some people have rice but others have oil and they don’t have cash for any curry to eat with rice! So, they all can come to the barter trade spots in their towns or cities to exchange goods. The barter trade spots commonly provide onions, salt, oil, noodles, peas, dry chilies, vegan meats, traditional pickled fish, eggs, soy sauces, canned fish, vegetables, milk, etc. People can leave any extra food or belongings at the barter spot and they can take back anything they need. No one is in control of those barter spots, everyone is free to give or take anything at their best behavior.

We won’t share a piece of bread with the juntas and their family. This is a part of the campaign too. That’s why terrorists steal and rob food from us. Feeding them is the same as loading their guns which are pointing at our heads.

We’re out of cash, so are Terrorists. But we’ll survive.

Today, I went to the Railway residences to help the CDM staffs move out of the apartments to temporary shelters like monasteries and host families [the military junta has ordered railway workers to leave their accommodation because of their support of CDM]. There were many volunteers like me and many trucks for free transportation. I saw and heard many families discussing their plan with small disagreements due to very urgent and unfair situation.

Witnessing them packing things up, moving out and taking a look back at their home, I think these people are very brave and admirable. The small apartment is all they have and they’re willing to sacrifice their everything. There was a mixture of strong determination and tears in the eyes of old and young people.

But some kids were playing around with a backpack on their backs. What would these 3 to 5 years old kids know what’s happening? Kids just seem to think of this as a family vacation. Well, this is a vacation, in search of Democracy!!