Portraits of Justice #18: Mo {Yangon, Myanmar}

In week #18 of Portraits of Justice, we head over to {Yangon, Myanmar}, (formerly known as Burma) to meet the spunky and fierce Mo. 

There are many ethnic groups living in Myanmar with different cultures, traditions, contexts and religions since the ancient time. There are 8 major groups with 135 tribes. Mo is from the Karen ethnic group, one of the major ethnic groups. 

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"Myanmar has been in military dictatorship since 1962. As the result the governing of a military regime, everything was under controlled: transportation, education, economic, health care, natural resource management. The people of Myanmar suffered a lot the human rights violations and lost their standard rights. A kind of civil war happened, wherein th local ethnic groups were oppressed by government military. Local people suffered human rights violation; their houses, property, family lives, lives of women, and children’s education were destroyed by government soldiers. All that issues are happened because of the militarization mechanism."

"The word “justice” is the utopia word for the people from Myanmar. They don’t dare to use the word of peace, justice and freedom in a time of military government."

"The root of the problems has happened in the time of the military regime. The people competing are those that have power, and those who are powerless. Different social statuses have different powers. Unjust things happen because of power abuse. The important things in society are power sharing, to appreciate and acknowledge the different powers, and use it correctly. "

"Justice is aiming to reconciliation, it is not about revenge there are many ugly historic violence happen in my country, the incidents are already happen and we need to get lesson learnt from there. The most important thing in justice is confession and transparency and not blocks the history. Justice makes human beings equal and it aims to have peace and reconciliation and a peaceful future for next coming generation."

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"Tell me something beautiful you've have witnessed"

"Before 2012, when it comes to the words of PEACE, JUSTICE and FREEDOM, these words are allergic to our government. In 2012 September, the civil society and community based organizations were trying to celebrate the International Peace Day. At the same time, it was happening during the civil war in Kachin region (northern part of Myanmar) - the ethnic armed forces and government military were fighting for the land and natural resources. The local people from this area suffered the impact of war, and so we didn’t have a permit from authorities to celebrate the event."

"The authorities intimidate the civil society groups. But our organization, Student Christian Movement decided to participate by distribution the peace letters, slogans. We SCMers distributed to the public a pamphlet with peace message and. That move was very dangerous for us - we might have been arrested because that event wasn’t approving by government. Some leaders of this event were sued by local authority.  I was pleased myself participated in this event.  Although I know that it was not easy work according to situation, and although I was in fear, I choose to participate in that movement. I was proud of myself although it was just a small work."

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Encouraged by Mo's words? Let her know, and leave a comment!

Portraits of Justice #17: Mabel {Hong Kong, China}

In Week# 17, I introduce you the Mabel, of {Hong Kong, China}, of who I consider among the most lovely and brilliant of minds I've met in my travels. I photographed Mable in the cities of Turin and Riomaggiore, in Italy. 

Contextually it might be helpful to understand that under British colonial rule, Hong Kong operated as a separate entity for many years. It returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with a promise of a high degree of autonomy, judicial independence, and freedoms not enjoyed on the mainland China, under a formula known as “one country, two systems."  With recent changes in the ruling the government, the Chinese Communist Party, independence and democratic procedures are being slowly undermined and eliminated. Injustice lays in the wake. 

Mable is a part of the SCM and the Umbrella Movement, which is a group that is seeking for democratic reforms in Hong Kong. It has required dedication, sacrifice, and perseveration -- and it makes me proud to call her a friend. Here's what justice looks like in her world..

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“Hong Kong’s judicial independence is coming under political pressure. Core values such as freedom of speech, human rights, rule of law, democracy and professionalism have become shaky. Democracy is what Hong Kong people long looking for, but it's a yet achieved goal. The dual universal suffrage stipulated in the Basic Law has been rejected by Chinese government. They've insisted that candidates for the position of chief executive have to be pre-screened. It means that Hong Kong people cannot freely choose the city’s next leader in 2017. It is how injustice happening recently in Hong Kong.”

“Worst, injustice by judicial punishment has been used by authorities to suppress peaceful demonstration. A deputy magistrate convicted a protester who used her breasts to bump into a police office. Later, the female protester has been sent to prison for 3 1/2 months with a charge of bringing threats to a police office with her ‘big’ breasts. Female breast is now considered as offensive weapon. It is how injustice happening in Hong Kong!”

“Six plainclothes officers took a man to a dark corner behind a nearby building and threw him to the ground during umbrella movement. Some kicked and beat him, while others kept watching. Pictures were posted on Facebook and reported in television showed obvious cuts and bruises on his face and neck as well as circular welts running down his back. It is definitely a “real” threat to personal safety, ironically, none of the officers has been sent to jail. It is how injustice spreading and threatening Hong Kong.”

"In 2014 July 1, after a grand protest against the HK government, a group of students decided to escalate the protest by occupying a road in Central until the next morning. They were demanding reformation and universal suffrage in Hong Kong. There were six ministers, pastors, and theology students among the arrested protestors. It is said that their participation is to witness the presence of God among the protesters. God is with the poor and the oppressed. I am so proud of them who are willing to sacrifice personal freedom after arrest, for a greater common good of society. Christians are playing role contributing to a better world through fighting for justice being the good example in China."

"In Hong Kong every June 4th, there is a memorial vigil to commemorate the anniversary of China’s bloody military suppression of protests in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square. It is to witness the wickedness and brutality of the authority. People once again are being reminded of the plea made by the students in 1989, which they bravely yearned for a democratic political system in China. We commemorate the victims of the incident and all the people who yearn for reformation in China. This is an action to display the solidarity of Hong Kong people with all activists, to understand what happened in 1989, as well to calling people to continue fighting for freedom of press, human right, democracy and justice in both Hong Kong and mainland China. I met SCM members and some other my friends in the vigil yearly.”

It is my luck to witness the Christians in Hong Kong responding to the Occupy Central protest, as well as umbrella movement, in prayer and actions. On July 1, 2014, a group of students decided to escalate the protest by occupying a road till the next morning.

I was one of them. I saw a group of Christians sitting in a circle inside the park and praying for the protestors, universal suffrage and justice in Hong Kong. Christian symbols are highly visible during protests as demonstrators form prayer groups, carry crosses and openly read bibles. It is beautiful  hear that churches are supporting the protestors during umbrella movement with food and shelter while others were offering first aid, snacks and refuge to the protestors. It is so beautiful on witnessing the solidarity of Christians in fighting for common goods of society

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