Key Points
- The military in Myanmar staged a coup against the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021
- Actor and singer Min Maw Kun is among the activists using their star power to raise funds for the anti-coup movement
- The 43-year-old father of three currently lives in Australia
When Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup against the government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, it sparked widespread demonstrations that have continued until now.
Millions of people have taken part in the anti-coup movement. Advocacy group says more than 2,200 civilians have been killed by the junta and over 15,000 arrested.
Many, like Min Maw Kun - a singer and Myanmar Motion Picture Academy Award-winning actor - have been forced to flee their country.
The 43-year-old father of three, who arrived in Australia with his wife and two sons this year, says he is still committed to ending military rule in Myanmar even from afar.
In a recent , he wrote of history repeating itself: “In 1988, my father had to fight in a revolution and now I have to be in this revolution. We cannot allow our children to fight in another revolution. We must win.”
Min Maw Kun in front of the camera in 2020. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun
Acting and activism run in the family
Min Maw Kun, who made his film debut at the age of six and became a lead actor by 17, is known to Myanmar audiences for his baby-face look and reluctance to smile.
His father, Zin Wine, is a two-time Academy Award-winning actor and two-time chairperson of the Myanmar Motion Picture Organization.
In addition to acting in films, Min Maw Kun has also been a part of a traditional entertainment group called Hnin Si Anyeint that has toured the world.
They perform anyeint, a theatrical performance that combines dance, song and comedy.
Min Maw Kun performs as part of the traditional entertainment group Hnin Si Anyeint. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun
But then the junta responded by violently cracking down on protesters.
Zin Wine was arrested and later released.
An arrest warrant was also issued for Min Maw Kun, under section 505 (a) of the penal code by the State Administration Council (military junta), for speaking out against the coup and encouraging participation in the civil disobedience movement.
Min Maw Kun and his father Zin Wine at a protest. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun
Despite his public profile, Min Maw Kun refused to hide.
I would sneak out and participate in the protests every day. When there were arrests, I would run, when there were shootings, I would run and then move to another safe house.
For a while, Min Maw Kun lived in an unfinished hotel building, watching on from the rooftop as protesters were beaten and arrested.
At 8 pm every night, people would show their anger at the coup by banging on pots and pans, and honking car horns for 10 minutes - a noisy act seen as a way of symbolically warding off evil spirits.
Min Maw Kun says every night at that time he would go up to the rooftop of the hotel.
“The hotel doors were unfinished so they [soldiers] could come in easily. I thought to myself, if they come to the rooftop, I won’t let them arrest me. I would jump off from this rooftop,” he says.
Min Maw Kun lived for months in the jungle. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun
There, he and others established the D-Day Channel, a broadcasting platform whose revolutionary topics include how to stay safe and how to handle weapons.
“Living in the jungle I missed my wife and children a lot. So when the opportunity arose, I brought my youngest son and my wife for a visit. My oldest son stayed back to look after his grandparents and my older daughter is studying abroad.”
Monsoonal rains and an ever-tightening political situation meant they remained together in the jungle for almost a year.
Min Maw Kun's wife and son trying to pick mushrooms in the jungle. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun.
Eventually, Min Maw Kun and his wife decided to sneak out their older son and move to a safer place, in another country.
“Fighting on the Thailand-Myanmar border got intense, with military planes flying above us, so I agreed to accompany my family to Australia.”
Moving to Australia
Min Maw Kun is fortunate to have family in Australia.
His younger brother has lived in Canberra for the past six years, though his own family had remained behind in Yangon until also recently fleeing.
Currently living in shared accommodation that the Red Cross has provided, Min Maw Kun says he plans to help his family settle and then return to the Thailand-Myanmar border to continue his role in the revolution.
“If I wanted to settle in another country, I could have done that before the coup. I could have sold my house and cars, and lived a comfortable life in another country.
“All I could bring with me to the border area was a guitar I have owned since I was a teenager, but even that was left behind in Bangkok. I have to restart my life from zero now.”
Min Maw Kun at Federation Square in Melbourne. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun
“My parents are also in a safer place now, so I can work more openly and run some fundraising projects. Previously, my parents received death threats, so I tried to stay low-key,” he adds.
The coup has forced him to reevaluate his life.
I was famous and successful but I have nothing left now. But do I regret anything and feel sad? Not one bit... When I hear that people are being arrested or killed or executed or that people's houses have been burnt down, it makes me very angry.
“But I think I am also more mature now. I never thought I would become a rebel in the jungle or move to another country.”
Min Maw Kun with his family in Myanmar. Credit: Supplied/Min Maw Kun
Myanmar’s future
For more than a year and a half, Myanmar citizens both inside and outside the country have sought ways to crowdfund the resistance to the military junta.
“I want Burmese people in Australia to continue to work as much as they can to speed up our revolution,” Min Maw Kun says.
Members of parliament attend the opening ceremony of the National Unity Government's representative office in Canberra. Credit: NUG Representative Office - Australia
At the opening ceremony, the Australian Greens Party announced it would recognise the NUG as the government of Myanmar and encouraged other parties to follow suit.
The Australian government maintains that it recognises states rather than governments.
So far, the Czech Republic is the only country that recognises the NUG, but the European Union parliament also voted to support it last year.
Min Maw Kun remains resolute about the prospects for change, despite the recent .
“The military is trying to strike fear into people by executing our democratic heroes, but people’s hatred is growing and growing more.
I am sure that this is a revolution we will win. We will fight until we win.
