Bryan Dickie

Come join me at U of T’s Hart House this Friday September 22nd from 7-9 pm for an artist talk and exhibit of my work covering Myanmar’s civil war. Tickets are free and can be obtained through the link below.👇👇👇

https://harthouse.ca/events/documenting-myanmars-revolution-project-presentation-2023

“Starting at midnight people who arrive at our southern border will be subject to our immigration enforcement authorities under Title 8 of the United States Code. Here is what that means.

If anyone arrives at our southern border after midnight tonight, they will be presumed ineligible for asylum and subject to steeper consequences for unlawful entry including a minimum five-year ban on re-entry and potential criminal prosecution. The transition to Title 8 processing will be swift and immediate. We have surged 24 000 border patrol agents, and officers, thousands of troops, contractors and over 1000 asylum officers and judges to see this through.”

-United States Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas

Sit Niang, along with his three brothers, came to the jungle with one goal in mind - topple the military government. The brothers arrived at the camp with the first wave of recruits when it was just a small clearing in the jungle. They helped transform the small outpost into one of the largest PDF training centres in the region and are now lending support and funding to smaller and less experienced PDF camps. Now the brothers are all experienced members of the PDF who are tasked with training the new recruits that constantly flow into the camp seeking military training.

Q: Why are you here?

A: I don’t like the dictatorship.

Q: How long have you been here?

A: Over six months.

Q: How old are you?

A: Twenty one years old.

Q: Experience of the coup and the journey coming here?

A: I was still at work when they took over the country. After two or three days, I participated in the protest with my brother because we are against the coup. It didn’t work, and we couldn’t live peacefully, even in our neighbourhood. Since I can’t live peacefully in my neighbourhood, I decided to come here.

Q: Did you come here alone?

A: I have three brothers and we came here together, and my youngest brother is the security guy in here.

Q: I heard that your mother wanted to come here as well?

A: Yes, she wants to come here, but she is still back at home.

Q: Where are your other two brothers?

A: My two brothers are at other camps.

Q: Is it hard to be separated from your brothers?

A: No, I consider everyone here as my brothers and my family.

Q: What was your life like before the coup?

A: I worked at a cleaning company in their production team.

Q: When the war is over and you don’t need to fight anymore, what would you like to do with the rest of your life?

A: I want to support my mother and care for her more, and I don’t want her to worry about anything.

Q: What would you like to say to the world?

A: I want my country to have peace and I don’t want a dictatorship. Since taking power, the situation has worsened with the military murdering unarmed civilians.