Hard Truths About True Change in Burma
Why Inner Transformation Among Revolutionists Is Just as Crucial as Defeating the Regime
The revolution in Burma has now entered its fifth year. Since the military coup in February 2021, millions of people across the country have resisted the regime with courage and determination. Civil servants left their posts, young people took up arms, and ethnic groups joined together with the common goal of ending dictatorship.
But after more than four years of sacrifice, it is time for a bold and honest reevaluation of where we stand. The fight for Burma’s freedom is not only a struggle against a brutal military regime.
It is also a confrontation with ourselves. While the military bears full responsibility for decades of oppression, a painful truth must be faced. Some within the revolutionary movement are repeating the same harmful behaviors they claim to oppose.
True and lasting change cannot come from toppling the regime alone. It must also come from within. It requires moral courage, self-discipline, and ethical transformation among those who lead and fight for this revolution.
This article is not written with bad intentions. It is meant to encourage reflection and a call for inner transformation. Without this, we risk losing not only the war, but also the meaning and purpose behind our struggle.
The Need for Unity
One of the greatest challenges within the resistance is the lack of genuine unity. While all groups share the same goal to eliminate the military regime, there are growing leadership conflicts, rivalries, and power struggles between regional and ethnic armed groups. These divisions weaken cooperation and slow down progress.
If we cannot build real unity now, defeating the regime will be much harder. And even if we succeed, we may face deeper problems later. Conflicts over leadership, competition for power, and internal instability could replace the dictatorship we are trying to remove. The revolution must not only remove one regime. It must also lay the foundation for a peaceful and united future.
It is also important to remember that the current leaders of the resistance were not elected. They are not in power by the will of the people, but by circumstance. This is not a time to hold on to power. It is a time to serve. Leadership during a revolution is a civic duty, not a political prize.
The Corruption Within
Across the world, donors have given generously to support Burma’s revolution. Their hope is to empower the resistance and bring relief to those suffering under the regime. But troubling reports have emerged. Financial corruption, favoritism, and abuse of power have appeared among some in leadership. Donations meant for food, medicine, and supplies have been misused for personal benefit. Some leaders have punished their own people unfairly or used their positions without accountability.
These actions betray the trust of both local communities and international supporters. They weaken the moral foundation of the revolution and blur the difference between the resistance and the dictatorship it opposes.
Becoming What We Resist
After decades of living under authoritarian rule, it is no surprise that some in the resistance have unknowingly absorbed the same habits of control, secrecy, and corruption. This is why self-awareness is essential. Without it, we risk copying the same system we are trying to destroy.
The revolution must not only break the military’s control. It must also break the old mindset. If not, a new regime will take its place, repeating the same injustice under a new name.
A Crisis of Morality
Some of the most painful truths are personal. There are reports that some revolutionists have betrayed their families, cheated on their spouses, or abused vulnerable people, including women and minors in the jungle camps. These are not private matters. They are serious moral failures that harm the credibility and spirit of the movement.
A person who cannot lead with dignity in their home cannot be trusted to lead in public life. The revolution cannot be used as an excuse for moral collapse. True leadership begins with personal responsibility and integrity.
Fighting Two Battles at Once
Revolutionists are not only fighting a war against the military. They are also fighting a battle within themselves. This inner battle is against ego, greed, cruelty, and carelessness. Winning the outer war will mean little if the inner battle is lost.
We must build a culture based on discipline, honesty, and service. That includes holding leaders to strong ethical standards, encouraging moral reflection, and refusing to let the urgency of war justify the loss of values.
In the End: Real Change Starts Within
Removing the military regime is only the first step. If we do not change ourselves, and if we do not fix what is broken within our own movement, we risk replacing one form of tyranny with another. A revolution without moral renewal will not bring healing. It will only continue the cycle of pain.
The future of Burma requires more than courage on the battlefield. It requires conscience in our decisions, humility in our leadership, and discipline in how we live and lead. The hope for our country does not depend on violence alone. It depends on whether we can build a movement, and one day a nation, rooted in integrity.
True change must rise from within!
