When Tattoos Become Symbols Of Resistance To The Myanmar Military Coup

Tattoo illustration (Unsplash / @ mehnditrainingcenter)

JAKARTA - A month of demonstrations against Myanmar's military regime, since the last February 1 coup, has provided space for artists to help shape how protests are expressed visually.

They range from moving illustrations of dead demonstrators to large murals, roadside art and symbols of satire mocking the leader of the coup, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

From big cities like Yangon and Mandalay, to Nyaung Shwe in Shan state, a small town near the popular tourist spot of Inle Lake, protesters are increasingly supporting democracy, against Myanmar's military.

"Tattoos are a lasting memory throughout your life, and a way to express our dreams. Tattoos cannot be removed and because it shows our solidarity. It unites us protesters," said Htun Htun, a resident of Nyaung Shwe, originally from Yangon.

Htun Htun is one of about 70 people who took part in the tattoo protest in Nyaung Shwe on Friday February 5.

The art creation of Myanmar's anti-coup protesters. (Twitter @ GuideCivilian)

The event, organized by a local youth group from the Intha ethnic minority, invited residents to get protest tattoos to raise funds for the civil disobedience movement or CDM.

The movement has seen thousands of white and blue collar workers, from medics, bankers and lawyers to teachers, engineers and factory workers, leaving their jobs in resistance to the February 1 military coup.

Eight tattooers drew the bodies of dozens of participants, each of whom was asked to donate a minimum of 2 US dollars. Each tattoo takes about 20 minutes to complete.

For speed, participants were given a choice of four styles: the face of deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi, the words' Spring Revolution ', the phrase' Kabar Ma Kyay Bu '(which refers to the protest song and means' we will not forget until the end of the world. ') and' three finger greetings' a symbol of resistance lifted from the film 'The Hunger Games'. Of course, the most popular one was Aung San Suu Kyi's face.

"I got tattoos because I love Aung San Suu Kyi and admire the people who stand and suffer under dictatorships. To make tattoos is painful, but it is nothing compared to the pain of our hearts (due to the coup). I want us to be free again. , "said Moh Moh, a 26 year old participant who did not want to give his full name for security reasons.

Protesters' creative words. (Wikimedia Commons / သူ ထွန်း)

"The tattoo campaign is our own idea. This is a group of tattooers using the event to support CDM. What is happening now with protests is more worrying than COVID-19," said organizer Nyi Nyi Lwin.

He added that the event was marred by the recent deadly crackdown on peaceful protesters by Myanmar's security forces. Some people were scared by the rumor that the police would come to arrest the participants.

Tattoo culture

Myanmar has a long and rich history of tattooing, especially among the country's diverse ethnic groups. In northern Shan and central Karen states, men will get tattoos on their thighs to symbolize masculinity and courage.

Others believe traditional tattoos will have magical powers. In Myanmar's remote and mountainous western state, local women are known to have their faces tattooed.

But tattoos were banned in Myanmar, then known as Burma, under British colonial rule. And the practice of Chin women tattooing their faces was banned by the Burmese military socialist government in the 1960s.

Since the country started opening up and embarking on a series of reforms from 2011, tattoos have become more and more popular, especially among the younger generation.

Htun Htun said all of his friends in Nyaung Shwe got protest tattoos. However, this is not possible in Yangon, because the Myanmar military regime is becoming increasingly aggressive.

"We all hope for democracy and see the liberation of our leaders

Increasing violence scared me, we were helpless. Guns are not the solution to this problem, "he added.