Myanmar: Rebels Seeking Freedom and Democracy

A different story of Myanmar: a group of forgotten Myanmar heroes
The pursuit of democracy in Myanmar is not just the work of Aung San Suu Kyi alone.
There are also many freedom fighters who have made silent contributions.
During these fifty years, Myanmar continued to fight for freedom and independence.
Their experiences and struggles were unimaginably tragic and difficult...

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In May 2009, Myanmar was ranked among the most repressive and poorest countries in the world. The ruling military junta seemed at the pinnacle of power. Yet, a group of unyielding individuals, young dreamers and the elderly, united by the ideal of defying a perverse system, refused to yield. A fearless young man, Ah Wei; his sometimes-enemy-and-other-friend, Ni Zhe; and "Grandpa," a veteran opposition strategist recently released from prison after nineteen years, worked quietly in the alleys and internet cafes of Yangon, preparing for a battle fifty years in the making.

Book Description:
A group of unsung heroes who fought a long and hard battle in Burma.
Striving to build democracy with blood and sweat in a dark environment...

Ah Wei, a rebellious, seemingly dandy boy, possesses a quick-tempered, spontaneous, and unpredictable personality, yet possesses a rare gift for remaining calm even when others are paralyzed or panicked. His leadership shines like a beacon in the darkness. His long, unruly hair, draped over his sharply defined, symmetrical face, cannot obscure the intensity of his light brown eyes...

Nizhe, born in an urban slum, had the rare opportunity to receive an education that enabled him to more clearly diagnose and articulate his social grievances. He was able to connect the everyday injustices of his community, the unfulfilled parliamentary promises of post-independence, with the language of universal human rights and similar struggles for freedom in other countries.

For Grandpa Win Tin, a man of great vision born in 1930, finding a way to participate in the political frontline was always a priority. He spent his childhood amid Myanmar's struggle for independence and his adulthood during the fragile years of parliamentary democracy. He worked as a journalist and editor-in-chief during the chaotic anarchy of civil war, gradually gaining experience, enduring military rule and the country's subsequent decline that lasted until 1988.

Daphne Schrank, a relentless journalist, penetrated the secret underground dissident organizations.
Write with passion and emotion about their struggle for freedom during the authoritarian era...

At a time of profound transformation in Myanmar, "Myanmar: Resisters for Freedom and Democracy" tells the story of two or three generations of Burmese people who bravely and selflessly resisted the repressive government, capturing a moment of tremendous opportunity for development. In an era before foreign media coverage, author Shrank secured entry into the country, secretly immersing herself among dissidents and reporting on their struggle to save their country. To avoid being followed by agents, she visited tourist attractions and frequently changed hotels before and after interviewing sensitive individuals. She follows Ah Wei and his comrades from prison to hideout, depicting the opposition movement's formation, near collapse, and ultimate pressure on the government to implement irreversible political reforms. Through a humanitarian lens, the book explores the realities of their adventures and resistance, as well as the power and true meaning of freedom.

Author Shrank uses the story of a group of Yangon protesters to narrate Myanmar's political experience and development, and within the context of political history, he unfolds the blood and sweat experiences of these fighters who pursue democracy and defend freedom. In addition to depicting personal stories, he also closely follows important political and historical events or activities, making people feel like reading a history of Myanmar's modern development.

Myanmar's democratic reform has been a long, lonely, and relentless struggle. Some say the Burmese can see light at the end of the tunnel, but in reality, they remain trapped in an endlessly dark tunnel...

Delphine Schrank

He holds a BA in modern history from Oxford University and a MA in international affairs from Columbia University. He is an editor at the Virginia Quarterly Review. He has also studied at the Johns Hopkins University International Reporting Program and the East-West Center in Hawaii. His articles have appeared in prominent magazines such as Time, Foreign Policy, and The Atlantic. He was formerly the Myanmar correspondent and editor-in-chief of The Washington Post, as well as a contributing writer.

Gaoping Tang

He is a senior editor for newspapers and a special translator for film and public relations firm news summaries. His translations include "Hillary Clinton's Memoirs," "Aung San Suu Kyi," "The Ornish Spectrum Health Method Makes Your Genes Better," "The Big Bear Market," and "Buffett's Investment Handbook."

Foreword 1: A History of Myanmar's Modern Development / Song Zhenzhao Foreword 2: The Story of the Follower / Zhang Zheng Foreword 3: The Politics of Resistance and the Glory of the Shwedagon Pagoda / Yang Hao

Preface: A Tribute to the Freedom Fighters of Yangon

Part 1 : Avenizhe, City of Exile, Grandpa, City of Ghosts

Part 2 <br />The Road to Naypyidaw, the City of Kings

Postscript: An Uncertain Future