SYDNEY: Protesting alone outside an Australian hospital where the son of Myanmar’s attorney general works as a doctor, Burmese electrical engineer Susu San is determined to let the military junta know their children will be hounded wherever they go.
The 33-year-old woman was hard to miss as she stood in the hospital car park, dressed in a pink track suit, one hand raised in a three-fingered salute of resistance, the other clutching a placard calling for the junta to release Myanmar's elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi.
"They think they are untouchable," said Susu San, having traveled 1,500 km (930 miles) from the northern tip of Queensland to the workplace of one of the "junta children" at a hospital in the small city of Mackay.
“This is a way to empower our people by saying that no one can escape from lawlessness and brutality."
Since the coup, some protesters have launched an online campaign to denounce family members and associates of the junta in Myanmar and beyond - and spotlight those living comfortably in democratic nations far from the bloody chaos at home.
Organisers say it is a non-violent way to put pressure on the junta to reverse the coup and return Myanmar to democracy.
“The military understands one language. That is pressure,” said Tun Aung Shwe, a member of the Burmese community in Australia who was among a group that has gone to Canberra to urge the government to sanction people affiliated with the junta.
"Social punishment is effective as it shakes up the junta, getting them to rethink what they are doing.”
Repeated calls to the military and government seeking comment were unanswered.
Aside from shaming friends, associates and kin of the junta on social media, activists have also created a website, called socialpunishment.com, information from which has been widely shared on Facebook.
The website features more than 120 profiles of people who are accused of failing to speak out against a coup that has halted 10 years of democratic reform and brought bloody suppression.
It ranks them on a "traitor" scale from elite to low, and there are photographs of the profiled person, details of their associations, and whereabouts on the globe, making it easy for Burmese in those countries to track them down.
As of 2016, there were nearly 33,000 people from Myanmar living in Australia alone.
Susu San said her target at the Mackay Base Hospital was 28-year-old doctor Min Ye Myat Phone Khine.
According to the website, his mother is the junta's attorney general, Thida Oo, whose office is now crafting legal cases against Suu Kyi. She had served as a permanent secretary in the attorney general's office during the civilian government, and her acceptance of a role in the junta was seen as a deep betrayal by Suu Kyi's supporters.
Neither have responded to requests from Reuters for comment, but two days after Susu San's protest Min Ye Myat Phone Khine posted messages for the first time on his Facebook page since the coup, declaring support for the pro-democracy movement.
"I have come out of the shadow of my parents to walk my own path," he wrote on March 8, "I will stand boldly with the people because I am only one citizen seeking to achieve a true and fair democracy."
ETHICAL DOUBTS
Still, the campaign against the children of the junta has raised questions among some participants over the ethics of shaming people online because of the actions of their parents.
Anger over mass arrests and killings during anti-coup protests outweighed those qualms, campaigners said. An activist group, the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, said security forces have killed more than 224 people so far. Reuters could not independently confirm this number.
Susu San grappled with the ethical complexities of targeting “junta children”, as she calls them, but ultimately decided in her mind that it was ‘fair’, given the number of Burmese being gunned down in the street.
Min Ye Myat Phone Khine's earlier failure to speak out against the coup on his social media accounts persuaded Susu San that he was fair game.
Last week, the United States imposed sanctions on two children of Myanmar’s military leader Min Aung Hlaing and six companies they control. Britain has sanctioned more than half a dozen generals, banning entry and freezing assets, while Canada said it would take action against nine military officials.
The junta has not responded to the imposition of these sanctions, but had said earlier that it had expected sanctions and was not worried by them.
In Australia, some in the Myanmar community are campaigning for the government to sanction children of members of the junta by freezing their assets or revoking their visas. A spokesperson for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade was unable to comment on whether it was considering sanctions for any additional individuals.
Some people targeted in Australia have had their personal information, phone numbers, places of work, and suburbs where they live, published online.
The campaign to shame the junta is an extension of wider campaign to boycott military run companies, and isolate individuals who back the coup.
This broader campaign, which was inspired by the protest movement, has four pillars: "Don't sell anything to them", "Don't buy anything from them", "Don't associate with them" and "We will never forget."
Amara Thiha, a Myanmar fellow at the U.S.-based Stimson Center think-tank, warned that there were signs that going after individuals online could prove counterproductive.
He noted a hardening of the language and threats used by soldiers and their supporters on social media as they came under greater pressure.
'PUNISH ME, NOT MY DAUGHTER'
Bryan Tun, the son of Myanmar’s commerce minister, Pwint San, is also working as a doctor in Australia. Though not listed on the website, Tun said he has been abused on social media even though he is a longtime supporter of Suu Kyi’s party, posts messages of support for the protest movement and disagrees with his father politically.
"I have been socially punishing him since this thing happened. I have been openly protesting against him," said Tun, 28, a doctor at Redland Hospital in Queensland.
Reuters could not reach Pwint San for comment.
Despite his experience, Tun said he still believed the online campaign was a valid act of resistance.
"I think that is one of the very few weapons that people have," he told Reuters. "They [the military] are killing people on the streets with guns."
But some targets of the online campaign feel victimised.
One of the first to be attacked online was Nan Lin Lae Oo, a student the social punishment campaign identified as the daughter of Lt. Gen. Kyaw Swar Lin.
Dubbed a “murderer’s daughter”, pictures of her were plastered around the Toyo University campus in Tokyo, where she is studying. Activists have urged the university to expel her.
Reuters was unable to contact either the general or his daughter for comment. The Myanmar military has not answered calls.
A Toyo University spokesman, Masakazu Saito, said the university was now consulting with police, but declined to comment further, citing concerns for the student's safety.
The police declined to comment.
Some parents have made impassioned pleas on social media, like the wife of a retired senior military officer, Htin Zaw Win, whose daughter was identified, by the "Civil Disobedience Movement Naming & Shaming" on its Facebook page, as a student at Yangon's University of Medicine 1.
“You can do any kind of social punishment to me, the mother," Khin Khin Aye Cho wrote on Facebook. "If it will satisfy you to beat both parents to death, then I will accept anytime and I will sacrifice my blood for my daughter.
"Please allow my daughter, the daughter of retired military family, Ayebhone Pyaecho's life to grow.
Reuters was unable to contact any of the family. They have refrained from social media since that post.
Reuters
Fri Mar 19 2021
![Outed by online campaign, children of Myanmar junta hounded abroad Outed by online campaign, children of Myanmar junta hounded abroad](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-03/71616135772_MYANMAR.jpg)
Myanmar engineer Susu San, 33, stages a protest in support of the ousted Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi outside the Mackay Base Hospital in Mackay, Queensland, Australia. REUTERSpic
![Man United tewas kelab kerdil, Ten Hag 'naik angin' Man United tewas kelab kerdil, Ten Hag 'naik angin'](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721094442_ManchesterUnited.jpg)
Man United tewas kelab kerdil, Ten Hag 'naik angin'
Perlawanan itu seri tanpa jaringan menuju ke masa kecederaan sebelum Noah Holm menemui jaringan dengan berbaki beberapa saat.
![Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81721093818_JoeBiden.jpg)
Tiada tempat untuk keganasan politik dalam demokrasi AS - Obama
Kenyataan Obama mengundang kecaman warganet terutamanya istilah 'keganasan politik' yang dikatakan menunjukkan sisi hipokrasi Washington.
![Guna EV di Felda, ladang Guna EV di Felda, ladang](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721091183_GunaEVdiFeldala.jpg)
Guna EV di Felda, ladang
EV itu dijangka digunakan di Felda pada hujung tahun ini secara berperingkat bagi menggantikan kenderaan sedia ada.
AWANI Pagi: Berita tumpuan & menarik di astroawani.com [16 Julai 2024]
[LANGSUNG] Fokus #AWANIpagi 16 Julai 2024 7.30 pagi,
Antara fokus Awani Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Azib Zikry
1. Perkembangan kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini
2. Waspada taktik penipuan gunakan teknologi AI, 'deepfake'
3. Pindaan Akta Antilompat Parti perlu dikaji secara teliti
Antara fokus Awani Pagi bersama Afiezy Azaman & Azib Zikry
1. Perkembangan kes bunuh Nur Farah Kartini
2. Waspada taktik penipuan gunakan teknologi AI, 'deepfake'
3. Pindaan Akta Antilompat Parti perlu dikaji secara teliti
![Cadangan guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura antara tumpuan Dewan Rakyat hari ini Cadangan guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura antara tumpuan Dewan Rakyat hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2021-10/41633311024_parlimentmalaysia.jpg)
Cadangan guru Bahasa Inggeris dari Singapura antara tumpuan Dewan Rakyat hari ini
Kalam minta Menteri Pendidikan nyatakan perancangan khusus berhubung cadangan itu dan langkah memperkasa guru Bahasa Inggeris tempatan.
![Penyasaran subsidi bukan untuk menyusahkan rakyat - Rafizi Penyasaran subsidi bukan untuk menyusahkan rakyat - Rafizi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/71721091161_subsidi.jpg)
Penyasaran subsidi bukan untuk menyusahkan rakyat - Rafizi
Rafizi mengakui jika penyasaran subsidi tidak dibuat segera kadar unjuran ekonomi negara akan menjadi lebih teruk.
![Usah tertipu tawaran kontrak bekalan makanan di balai bomba Usah tertipu tawaran kontrak bekalan makanan di balai bomba](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/51721091171_scammer.jpg)
Usah tertipu tawaran kontrak bekalan makanan di balai bomba
JBPM Johor menerima beberapa laporan daripada pengusaha makanan mengenai penipuan tawaran tersebut.
![Kerajaan jimat RM10.5 bilion tenaga kumulatif dalam Pelan Tindakan Kecekapan Tenaga Negara - PETRA Kerajaan jimat RM10.5 bilion tenaga kumulatif dalam Pelan Tindakan Kecekapan Tenaga Negara - PETRA](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/61713155982_KementerianPeraliha.jpg)
Kerajaan jimat RM10.5 bilion tenaga kumulatif dalam Pelan Tindakan Kecekapan Tenaga Negara - PETRA
Sehingga Dis 2023, kadar penjimatan tenaga tahunan yang dicapai adalah 5.9 peratus atau 8,667 GWj, bernilai lebih daripada RM2.1 bilion.
![Konvensyen Dunia Fujian Ke-11 bakal lonjak pertumbuhan dagang, pelaburan dengan negara luar Konvensyen Dunia Fujian Ke-11 bakal lonjak pertumbuhan dagang, pelaburan dengan negara luar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/61721052525_Fujianconvention.jpg)
Konvensyen Dunia Fujian Ke-11 bakal lonjak pertumbuhan dagang, pelaburan dengan negara luar
Penganjuran Konvensyen Dunia Fujian Ke-11 akan meningkatkan pemahaman pertukaran budaya dalam kalangan masyarakat Fujian dari luar negara.
![Enam kerusi Bersatu: Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan - Penganalisis Enam kerusi Bersatu: Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan - Penganalisis](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/41721087087_AgendaAWANI.jpg)
Enam kerusi Bersatu: Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan - Penganalisis
Manimaran berkata, Parlimen perlu dipertanggungjawabkan kerana menggubal undang-undang yang lompang dan lemah untuk dicabar mana-mana pihak.
![Jepun gesa Myanmar bebaskan rakyatnya yang ditangkap jual beras pada harga tinggi Jepun gesa Myanmar bebaskan rakyatnya yang ditangkap jual beras pada harga tinggi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-07/81720520541_JailGeneric.jpg)
Jepun gesa Myanmar bebaskan rakyatnya yang ditangkap jual beras pada harga tinggi
Tokyo pada Selasa menggesa Myanmar agar segera membebaskan seorang warga Jepun yang ditahan kerana didakwa melanggar peraturan penjualan beras.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Tiga lelaki Myanmar ditahan kendali bot nelayan tempatan Tiga lelaki Myanmar ditahan kendali bot nelayan tempatan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/71719227691_handcuff.jpg)
Tiga lelaki Myanmar ditahan kendali bot nelayan tempatan
APMM Selangor menahan tiga lelaki warga Myanmar yang bekerja di atas bot nelayan tempatan kelas B1 tanpa kebenaran di perairan Tanjong Karang.
![Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/51712749007_TBrefugees.jpg)
Konflik Myanmar: ASEAN tegas kepentingan laksana Konsensus Lima Perkara
ASEAN tegaskan semula komitmen bantu Myanmar cari penyelesaian dengan mewujudkan persekitaran kondusif melalu pelaksanaan Konsensus Lima Perkara.
![Menteri luar ASEAN gesa henti segera keganasan di sempadan Myanmar Menteri luar ASEAN gesa henti segera keganasan di sempadan Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/81713498512_ASEANflag.jpg)
Menteri luar ASEAN gesa henti segera keganasan di sempadan Myanmar
Menteri luar ASEAN menggesa semua pihak menghentikan segera keganasan dan melaksanakan sekatan sepenuhnya di kawasan sempadan Myanmar.
![ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-10/51664963100_SaifuddinAbdullah.jpg)
ASEAN: Saifuddin gesa Malaysia lebih proaktif tangani isu Myanmar
Usaha proaktif akan membolehkan Malaysia membentuk persekitaran yang aman dan inklusif dalam rantau ASEAN.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Pemegang kad UNHCR edar dadah di pasar borong Pemegang kad UNHCR edar dadah di pasar borong](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/71708067321_TBPemegangkadUNH.jpg)
Pemegang kad UNHCR edar dadah di pasar borong
Kegiatan geng warga Myanmar edar dadah di pasar borong untuk kegunaan rakan senegara mereka berjaya dibongkar polis menerusi serbuan di Taman Sri Kuching, di sini pada Selasa.
![Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2016-10/81476241959_Rakhine.jpg)
Bangladesh hantar pulang 330 warga Myanmar
Bangladesh menghantar pulang kira-kira 330 warga Myanmar yang mencari perlindungan di negara itu, di tengah-tengah konflik di sempadan.
![Terpengaruh iklan kerja gaji lumayan, pemuda jadi mangsa scammer Terpengaruh iklan kerja gaji lumayan, pemuda jadi mangsa scammer](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-02/61707484201_TBmangsasindiketwa.jpg)
Terpengaruh iklan kerja gaji lumayan, pemuda jadi mangsa scammer
Seorang pemuda dari Rawang didera dan dipaksa menjadi 'scammer' atau penipu wang pelaburan kripto suatu sindiket beroperasi di Myawaddy, Myanmar.