At age 35, Ma Su Thit’s life was upended on 1st February 2021.The peaceful existence she had known as a sales and marketing manager of a hotel in Yangon was shattered by the military coup. Watching her country plunge into chaos, Ma Su Thit faced a heart-wrenching decision: stay silent or act. With a steely resolve, she chose the latter, deciding to dedicate her life to advocating for freedom and justice together with her husband, who was a CDM soldier (captain). With a goal of unveiling truths and empowering voices in Myanmar's revolution, she founded the Blooming Padauk organisation, named after Myanmar's national flower, which blooms seasonally, including during the height of the civil disobedience movement in spring 2021.
Ma Su Thit's first major initiative, the "Sagarthan Program," aimed to provide information and share the experiences defected military wives to inspire more soldiers to join the defection. The program not only included military wives but extended to women human rights defenders and CDM women from various sectors participating in the revolution towards the coup.
Beyond social media, Ma Su Thit launched the "Breaking Brainwashed" YouTube channel, which sheds light on the military's atrocities and encourages soldiers and their spouses to stand up for justice. Through this platform, Ma Su Thit amplifies the voices of defected soldiers and their families, providing a powerful counter-narrative to the military's propaganda.
Despite facing significant challenges, including surveillance and repeated attempts by the military to censor her content, Ma Su Thit remains undeterred, driven by her belief in the power of storytelling to effect change. She explains, "It's about empowering the wives of soldiers to find their voice and use it to persuade their husbands to defect. We want to create a ripple effect, where one act of courage inspires another."
As a 2023 Exile Hub grant recipient, Ma Su Thit has the resources to share inspirational stories of courage and resilience through a series of YouTube videos. These videos feature the stories of brave women who have become active in the revolution since the coup, showcasing how storytelling can drive change even under oppression.
Inspirational Stories of Courageous Women, produced as part of Critical Voices Production Grant Project.
To see examples of Ma Su Thit's impactful work, check out the YouTube links provided.
Her commitment is paving the way for a more just and equitable future for the people of Myanmar.
Comentários