Myanmar Parents Publicly Disown Their Activist Children In Fear Of The Junta

Myanmar youths have been protesting against the Junta to preserve the democracy they used to have ever since the coup d’etat in February 2021. They faced their fears of getting brutalised, tortured, or killed and we see them in a few articles throughout the past year.

Unfortunately, these youth activists’ parents do not share the same courage as newspapers and notice in the public that they are openly cutting ties with their children.

It started in November 2021 and an average of 6-7 families a day post the names of their young relatives; sons, daughters, nieces, nephews, and even grandchildren, on state-owned newspapers to disown them for “not following their parent’s wishes.”

A thin veil that masquerades these parents true intention: to not be implicated by their children’s political activities and suffer at the hands of the Junta. This practice also has a long history in Myanmar’s culture with social unrest since the 1980s as the junta habitually target families of opposers.

This leaves many youth activists without a home or support, and more damning, heartache from their parents’ rejection. One such case of Lin Lin Bo Bo, who fled to a Thai Border town, recounted how his mother disowned him after army soldiers searched their home to look for him. Many have comforted him by saying this is normal under such pressure.

Can you imagine going through that? Click here to read more stories of these youths and other perspectives of their parents.