Read on Twitter
This is starting now:
Might post a few key comments. Not going to live tweet everything.
Might post a few key comments. Not going to live tweet everything.
1st Q: How do you join the MTA?
Safina ( @IDmilktea ?): Hard question as its complicated but we saw that we needed do something in solidarity with other movements to defend democracy and freedom.
Safina ( @IDmilktea ?): Hard question as its complicated but we saw that we needed do something in solidarity with other movements to defend democracy and freedom.
2nd Q: What are the successes of the MTA.
Safina: Raising up the voices of Myanmar and spreading awareness with activists with other countries (such as @mta_ph) has been very effective. We don't want to speak over them (Myanmar) but we will raise/amplify them.
Safina: Raising up the voices of Myanmar and spreading awareness with activists with other countries (such as @mta_ph) has been very effective. We don't want to speak over them (Myanmar) but we will raise/amplify them.
Answer cont'd: Because the states are going to be more oppressive, we can take back our civic spaces and cyber space together. We can organise!
1st Q: How do you join the MTA?
Pup (Feminist & Activist, Thailand don't know tag): We were already part of a group "young people for democracy" we join with the wider Milk Tea Alliance groups to spread awareness and build wider network. Also start feminist liberate front
Pup (Feminist & Activist, Thailand don't know tag): We were already part of a group "young people for democracy" we join with the wider Milk Tea Alliance groups to spread awareness and build wider network. Also start feminist liberate front
Answer cont'd: We want to provide support to Myanmar and others as well. There are lots of people in Thailand support the people of Myanmar cause we know that a win there will be a win for all. Lots of People from Myanmar in Thailand and we have shared issues with coups.
Answer cont'd: One key thing we are trying to do is show our people that it matters as well. We have friends in prison on hunger strike too (Penguin #freeourfriends). We have our Struggles but the people of Myanmar give us hope that.
question: As you are a feminist activist. what advise do you have for building a feminist movement:
pup: this question touch my heart. We haven't succeeded yet but we are working on it. We are setting up groups but the term "feminist" had some bad connotations in Thailand...
pup: this question touch my heart. We haven't succeeded yet but we are working on it. We are setting up groups but the term "feminist" had some bad connotations in Thailand...
Cont'd: But the uprising gave us opportunity to stand up and be on the front line and show that we could fight as well. This visibility meant we where able to link up with other women who were working on other gender justice issues and build groups for gender justice & democracy
Comment from Chat: "Where are the women and the LGBT? We are here in the front lines with you!" beautifully put, Pup!"
Pup Answer cont'd:
Security & Non-violence are core values for us, we go on the ground to all protests. being there shows that we are part of the wider movement, shows "what a feminist looks like" actions with words. Try to ensure peaceful protest by example....
Security & Non-violence are core values for us, we go on the ground to all protests. being there shows that we are part of the wider movement, shows "what a feminist looks like" actions with words. Try to ensure peaceful protest by example....
.. we try not to antagonise the army on the streets to so that protesters are safe. We will work with other groups on tactics but advise against being violent.
We have a strong pro dem movement but we don't always accept our feminist group, we don't always get invited...
We have a strong pro dem movement but we don't always accept our feminist group, we don't always get invited...
to the organising meetings, not everyone respects the voice of women but we do not let that get us down. We will keep fighting for both democracy and feminism. if you have this problem, you are not alone you have thai friends. It doesn't stop us, we keep going out and intervening
Cont'd: we intervene with police, we shield protesters, we will get out message out by knowing everyone, proving our point and being example!
Cont'd: We don't just fight on street, we work on caring of each other & resting. We don't fight to die, we fight to live. We take time to reflect, review, discuss and learn from our experiences. This gives an advantage in developing strategy long term...
Cont'd: cause sometimes the wider movement doesn't plan. We also building & planning long term, we fundraise, strategist. We can provide support to our team for travel costs and other support for them to make sure they don't lose out financially by going to protests.
Comment from Chat: "Valuing inclusivity through mindful resource distribution! that's great!"
Section on intersectionality by Johnson Yeung begins:
- Intersectionality is a new concept in Asian movements.
- it is becoming a more understood concept.
- How does this generation start to understand it and out work it in our movements.
- Intersectionality is a new concept in Asian movements.
- it is becoming a more understood concept.
- How does this generation start to understand it and out work it in our movements.
- the basic values of intersectionality are:
- equality -inclusivity - listening to marginalised groups within our movement (which is probably marginalised itself - to stop the movement becoming a hierarchy
- equality -inclusivity - listening to marginalised groups within our movement (which is probably marginalised itself - to stop the movement becoming a hierarchy
- It can be abstract to think that the movement can be a hegemony but as a example have you heard any of these statements in your movements?....
"Have you encountered female frontlines?" Most chat say yes.
"Have you heard that female frontlines should stay back and be safe?" Almost same amount of chat also indicate yes.
"Have you heard that female frontlines should stay back and be safe?" Almost same amount of chat also indicate yes.
"Have you heard protesters use sexist language against wives of security forces?" Lots of chat say yes.
"Lgbtiq rights, women's rights, racial justice is not a priority while we are fighting" Lot of chat say they have heard this.
"Lgbtiq rights, women's rights, racial justice is not a priority while we are fighting" Lot of chat say they have heard this.
Examples show the basic issues that can exist in movement We are facing "big tyranny" and this can put pressure to conform but it also starts to exclude people (that we need) from the movement. This is why it is so important to learn to be inclusive & learn intersectional concept
How do we do this?
- Be open to all groups, give space for them to share visions of better society. Can't just have take down opponent mentality, also ask how to we build better society. what does justice look like in future!
- Be open to all groups, give space for them to share visions of better society. Can't just have take down opponent mentality, also ask how to we build better society. what does justice look like in future!
#MilkTeaAlliance 
should look forward and build better future for minorities, women, lgbtqi etc as we all share the dream of justice and freedom, and what we understand that to be needs to work for everyone!
should look forward and build better future for minorities, women, lgbtqi etc as we all share the dream of justice and freedom, and what we understand that to be needs to work for everyone!
For those of use with privilege, We must amplify the voices of the marginalised groups within the movement, give them space to put their voices and views across. Not speak over them.
(Presentation ends)
(Presentation ends)
Q for Johnson: Since you are the founder of MTA (er what lol) how did you build MTA?
Answer: I am not founder of MTA but I try to embody it, the people of all the countries are marginalised by govt. this allows contections between movements (in past connection was kpop) now is..
Answer: I am not founder of MTA but I try to embody it, the people of all the countries are marginalised by govt. this allows contections between movements (in past connection was kpop) now is..
answer cont'd: Now the connection is the values of freedom, democracy, equality, rights. All the movements in #MilkTeaAlliance share these.
share these.
answer cont'd: the other thing that brings #MilkTeaAlliance together is the cascade of protests, the sharing of tactics helped solidify and new gen signify that movements coming together but in new ways, leaderless (or lots of leaders), distributed working together.
together is the cascade of protests, the sharing of tactics helped solidify and new gen signify that movements coming together but in new ways, leaderless (or lots of leaders), distributed working together.
Answer cont'd: what is next? where do we go? I aspire to learn more about our friends, I want to understand more, because when we learn about each other that will help build common identity and build new identity for generation in SEA who want to build a better future!
Thae Nu Wah: End of questions. Safina will now share more thoughts and information.
Safina just want to make a few points about intersectionality.
- The violence against women and marginalised groups is severe by governments.
- When we think about justice, we need to consider this.
- Movements must include these groups to push movement forward.
- The violence against women and marginalised groups is severe by governments.
- When we think about justice, we need to consider this.
- Movements must include these groups to push movement forward.
- By making it justice for the most marginalised. we ensure that the Justice is for all.
- the personal is always pollical. As as women I know how it is to be a 2nd class.
- can't sleep well when see oppression, solidarity is what makes human.
- the personal is always pollical. As as women I know how it is to be a 2nd class.
- can't sleep well when see oppression, solidarity is what makes human.
Comment from chat: "There is no revolution when there is exclusion (when we exclude marginalized groups)"
Safina. It was not long ago that if a women spoke up, she would be considered a witch. We need to see that we now have a privilege to be able to speak up and must use it. We won't move on until we can raise up everyone.
Safina: Not enough to be not racist / not sexist. Must be anti-racist / anti-sexist.
If we don't learn from past, history could repeat. We must take lessons from other movements.
If we don't learn from past, history could repeat. We must take lessons from other movements.
Safina: Must consider tech safety and how we build & act online. Big brother exists. must take it down, retake cyber space.
Thae Nu Wah: Thanks all the panellist. Really powerful messages.
Ye Linn (host): Due to time we can't have full Q&A with panel but can talk in chat and particpants are on twitter etc.
Now @MilkTeaAllyMM session starts...
Ye Linn (host): Due to time we can't have full Q&A with panel but can talk in chat and particpants are on twitter etc.
Now @MilkTeaAllyMM session starts...
Presentation ends with "The Revolution Will win!"
Thank you so much. really packed presentation.
Ye Linn: Please reach out to the various #MilkTeaAlliance accounts. with questions. We will have another session please write down topics for other sessions and who you want to hear
Thank you so much. really packed presentation.
Ye Linn: Please reach out to the various #MilkTeaAlliance
accounts. with questions. We will have another session please write down topics for other sessions and who you want to hear
Session ends: Huge thanks to Chan Min: interpreter.
Nan Soe May, Ye linm Htet: Host
Thae Nu Wah: Panel Moderator
Johnson Yeung, Safina Maulida, Pup and @MilkTeaAllyMM
Nan Soe May, Ye linm Htet: Host
Thae Nu Wah: Panel Moderator
Johnson Yeung, Safina Maulida, Pup and @MilkTeaAllyMM
Quick Reminder from Pup. We should work together on the #freeourfriends #FreePoliticalPrisoners campaign as all of us have people arrested by the state.
Yes turns out I lied when I said I wasn't going to live tweet it all. I did miss quite a bit though. I hope I did the speakers justice as to what they said. This was a great session, really inspiring and thought provoking.
