Coming to terms with inequality in Burma
Burma is a country of inequalities.
Thousands of people live in close to destitute conditions in the downtown core - in small apartments in buildings from the early 20th century on streets that flood with day's garbage in the monsoon rains. They ride buses packed full with people hanging off the sides in the 100 F heat and now live in constant fear of displacement in the midst of rapid gentrification and modernization projects sponsored by the government and foreign businesses.
This is Burma's urban reality
But down the street from these realities are beautiful, modern, luxurious (and often foreign-owned) hotels. Surrounding these hotels are restaurants unaffordable to the local population serving French, American, and Italian cuisine. You can buy "traditional" jewelry that costs more than a doctor's monthly salary. And further North in the city are entire neighbourhoods of mansions and beautifully manicured parks. Some of these are Burmese, a relic of the inequality promoted by the 60 year (continuing) military regime.
In these neighbourhoods are beautiful parks and religious sites, attracting tourists from all over the world, but largely inaccessible to the general local population.
This past weekend, my mother and I took the local commuter train around the suburbs and agricultural areas surrounding Yangon. The train ride further emphasized the inequalities I witnessed in the urban area, as the downtown core reality for the vast majority of the Burmese population is magnified in the suburbs and rural areas.
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I find this inequality difficult, although I realize that in many ways the same inequalities exist in my own country and throughout the West. And at home, like here, they also often take the same racialized and dynastic dimensions. So maybe what's hardest for me now, is coming to terms with the idea that although Myanmar is reforming and democratizing, those in power seem to be failing to confront these inequalities. It's hard because I know that even the human rights work I've worked on in the past was selective, calling for democratization and political rights, but refraining from promoting social and economic rights that could potentially address many of the underlying inequalities.
For now, I try to limit my negative effects here - by writing about what I'm seeing and supporting local businesses and institutions.
Off to work in the monsoon rains,
Sima
Thousands of people live in close to destitute conditions in the downtown core - in small apartments in buildings from the early 20th century on streets that flood with day's garbage in the monsoon rains. They ride buses packed full with people hanging off the sides in the 100 F heat and now live in constant fear of displacement in the midst of rapid gentrification and modernization projects sponsored by the government and foreign businesses.
This is Burma's urban reality
In these neighbourhoods are beautiful parks and religious sites, attracting tourists from all over the world, but largely inaccessible to the general local population.
This past weekend, my mother and I took the local commuter train around the suburbs and agricultural areas surrounding Yangon. The train ride further emphasized the inequalities I witnessed in the urban area, as the downtown core reality for the vast majority of the Burmese population is magnified in the suburbs and rural areas.
.jpg)
For now, I try to limit my negative effects here - by writing about what I'm seeing and supporting local businesses and institutions.
Off to work in the monsoon rains,
Sima
Great post - was waiting for an update from you! Hope all is well and please keep us updated!
ReplyDeleteMeg
Having had the pleasure to travel to Yangon with you and witnessed these injustices, you have truly expressed my thoughts. Stay positive. The best you can do is put into words and images what the majority of the local population faces on a daily basis. And hopefully, awaken a new generation of activists who can address social injustice in a more effective way.
ReplyDeleteSo proud of you and love you beyond works
Salut Sima,
ReplyDeleteGlad you are feeling better and are up on your feet. Seems like lots of work to be done.. Please update your blog as often as you can so we can travel and reflect along with you. It is great that you chose to make a career out of helping make the world a better place.
We are all very proud of you,
Tante Louise
Allo Sima,
ReplyDeleteHow are you? You have not posted in a while... Is work keeping you busy? Are you still enjoying it? Keep in touch as we look forward to reading about your trip and enjoy the pictures you include. Your cousins say hello!!