Wa Lone

(Reuters) – Every day, six to seven Myanmar families have published notices in state newspapers denouncing their ties with children, grandchildren, and nieces or nephews who publicly oppose the military junta.

These notices first began appearing in large numbers after the army, who seized power from Myanmar’s democratically elected government last year, declared it would confiscate properties and arrest those providing shelter for protesters. Numerous raids were carried out on houses. 

Lin Lin Bo Bo Bo was a former salesman for cars who joined an armed resistance group against military rule. His parents disowned him in approximately 570 notices that were reviewed by Reuters.

Lin Lin Bo Bo Bo is now disowned because Lin Lin Bo Bo Bo never followed his parents’ orders,” stated his parents San Win, Tin Tin Soe in a notice in The Mirror (state-owned newspaper) in November.

Speaking from a Thai border village where he is now living, the 26 year-old told Reuters that his mother had said she was going to disown him following soldiers coming to their house to look for him. The notice was published in the Thai border town where he lived after he fled Myanmar. He told Reuters that he had cried when he received it.

“My comrades tried reassure me it was normal for families under pressure to do that,” he said to Reuters. “But it was so hard for me.” 

His parents refused to speak with Reuters when he was contacted.

According to Wai Hnin Pwint Thon (senior advocacy officer for rights group Burma Campaign UK), targeting families of opposition activists is a strategy used by Myanmar’s military in unrest between 2007 and 1980s. However, it has become much more common since that coup on February 1, 2021. 

Wai Hnin Thon stated that publicly disowning family members is one option to react. This practice has a long history within Myanmar’s culture. 

She said that family members fear being implicated in criminal acts. “They don’t want their family members to be arrested and they don’t want to go to jail.”

The Reuters team did not reach out to the spokesperson for the military in response to questions. Zaw Min Tu, the military spokesperson, commented on the November notices at a news conference and stated that those who make such declarations in the newspapers may still face charges if found to have supported the junta. 

VIOLENT CRACKDOWN 

Many young protestors in Myanmar marched to demonstrate against the coup one year ago. Some protestors fled to other countries or joined armies in remote regions of the country following a brutal crackdown by the army on demonstrators. They are commonly known as People’s Defence Forces and they have a strong alliance with the discredited civilian government.

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners monitors the situation and reports that security forces have arrested almost 12,000 people over the past year. These figures have been denied by the military.

So Pyay Aung, a journalist, told Reuters he filmed riot cops using shields or batons in order to end protests. The video was then livestreamed on the Democratic Voice of Burma (a news site). He claimed that he fled to Thailand with his infant daughter and wife after he was arrested by authorities. His father divorced him in November.

“I am declaring that I will disown my son, because he committed unforgiveable actions against his parents’ wills. Tin Aung Ko posted the notice to his son in the Myanma Alinn, a state-owned newspaper. 

Pyay Aung shared her feelings with Reuters, “When I read the article about me cutting ties,” My parents were under pressure, which I know. “They might have been worried about their home being taken or they getting arrested.”

Tin Aung Ko was his father and declined to comment. 

Two parents, who were not named because they feared being identified by the military, disowned their children with similar notices. They told Reuters that the notices were primarily meant to convey to authorities that their children should not be held accountable.

One mother stated, “My daughter believes what she is believing. But I know she would be concerned if it got in trouble.” “I am sure she will understand everything I did to her.”  

Lin Lin Bo Bo Bo stated that he would like to be able to return home one day and provide support for his family. According to Lin Lin Bo Bo, he said that he wants the revolution over “as soon as possible”.

According to Wai Hnin Pwint Thuon, a rights activist, such a reunification might be possible for families that have been separated in this manner. 

She said that disowning letters don’t count legally if they are not handled properly by lawyers. They can return to their family after a few years.

Pyayaung, the journalist, stated that he believes his breakup with his parents may be irreversible. 

He told Reuters that he doesn’t have a place to return to following the revolution. “My parents have been left behind by the military regime and I am constantly worried about it.”