The Spring Revolution: Women’s Sacrifices

The Terror Twins of Climate and Conflict

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∎ SPOTLIGHTS

The “Spotlights” section aims to provide a succinct overview of recent noteworthy developments. Among various topics, two compelling issues will be discussed.

The Spring Revolution: Women’s Sacrifices

Myanmar’s women played a significant role in the resistance against the 2021 military coup. To symbolize their defiance, they actively participated in various street protests, including strikes such as the Sarong (htamein) Revolution, Flower Strike, and Thanaka Strike. Women also played a crucial role in the armed resistance. Over the three and a half years of the Spring Revolution, 5,649 women have been detained.

On September 1, 2024, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) documented the struggles of these political detainees in a report titled: Women Behind Bars in the Spring Revolution. The detainees were arrested on political charges by the SAC under various pretexts. Following their arrest, they suffered both physical and psychological harm, ranging from torture to severe sexual abuse. Recent incidents include group assaults by male wardens on women’s quarters in the Daik U prison in Bago Region last month, where they faced brutal beatings. In court, the women were subject to invasive searches that grossly violated their dignity and privacy. The majority of detained women are from Yangon, with Mandalay and Sagaing following second and third.

Moreover, 1,132 women were killed by the SAC. Of these, 82 percent were casualties of heavy artillery, air strikes, and shootings. The remaining 10 percent died in police stations, prisons, and detention centers, while about 1.4 percent were victims of murder following sexual assaults. The significant involvement of women in the revolution reflects their immense contribution.

Spotlights

The Spring Revolution: Women’s Sacrifices

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