![]() The transfer to civilian leadership in 2011 spurred hopes of democratic reforms implementing economic policies to encourage foreign investment, as well as relaxing media censorship. There followed decades of repressive military rule and poverty due to years of isolationist economic policies, and civil war with ethnic minority groups. After a century of British colonial rule, Burma gained independence in 1948, with a short spell under a civilian government until a coup d'etat in 1962. The political history of Burma is incredibly complex and difficult to explain in a short blog post, so I’m only going to give a very brief background. Unless you have meaningful connections with Burma it’s difficult to explain why this was such a shocking turn of events. In the early hours of the morning (UK time) it was reported that this was indeed true, with democratically elected members of the country's ruling party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), deposed and detained by the Tatmadaw-Myanmar's military. Late on the evening of January 31 there were rumours circulating on Twitter of a coup in Burma. Subsequently, my father, brothers and sister emigrated either to the UK or the USA, whilst my mother’s entire family remains in Burma. In case you didn’t know, I am a Burmese-born artist and illustrator who moved to the UK when I was five. The gesture has become a powerful symbol of courageous defiance, a challenge to repressive regimes that transcends borders. ![]() The Salute was first used in Thailand during a military coup in 2014, then later in Hong Kong among people protesting against the interference of the Chinese government. ![]() The salute was a way for the oppressed people to show their solidarity against the tyrannical rulers. ![]() In the fictional world it was displayed by oppressed people to express solidarity in a dystopian future ruled by a totalitarian dictator. The salute was conceived in the popular franchise The Hunger Games, in which the three middle fingers are raised, and the thumb crosses over to reach the pinky finger. Let me start by explaining the origins of the three finger salute. 100 days after the coup in Burma and 100 three finger salutes later, after my remarkable appearance on the news occurred, the top question from my parents and various cousins, aunts, friends, and followers was how did you manage to attract an interview with the BBC? My answer, in its most basic form: I created my own luck. When I started painting my three finger salutes, the last thing on my mind was an interview with BBC World News. ![]()
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