Generation Wave (Burmese: မျိုးဆက်သစ်လူငယ်များ အစည်းအရုံး) is a pro-democracy Burmese youth movement founded by Min Yan Naing, Moe Thwe, hip-hop star Zayar Thaw, and one other activist.[1][2]
Contents |
| Part of a series on the |
| Democracy movements in Burma |
|---|
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The fighting peacock flag
|
| Background |
| Post-independence Burma |
| Internal conflict in Burma |
| Burmese Way to Socialism |
| State Peace and Development Council |
| Mass protests |
| 8888 Uprising · Protests of 2007 |
| Concessions and reforms |
| Roadmap to democracy New constitution Reforms of 2011 |
| Elections |
| 1990 · 2010 |
| Organizations |
| National League for Democracy · 88 Generation Students Group · Burma Campaign UK · Free Burma Coalition · U.S. Campaign for Burma · Generation Wave · All Burma Students' Democratic Front · The Irrawaddy · Democratic Voice of Burma · Mizzima News |
| Figures |
| U Nu · Aung Gyi · Tin Oo · Aung San Suu Kyi · Min Ko Naing · Thein Sein |
| Related topics |
| Human rights in Burma · Politics of Burma · Foreign relations of Burma |
Generation Wave was founded on 9 October 2007, following the anti-government protests popularly known as the Saffron Revolution, and used graffiti and pamphlets to spread messages opposing the State Peace and Development Council, Burma's military government.[2] Zayar Thaw reportedly developed one of the group's more widespread campaigns, bumper stickers reading "Change New Government" to apply to cars carrying "CNG" stickers (originally for "compressed natural gas").[2] The group's logo is a "red stencil of a fist giving the thumbs up".[3]
The group also circulated anti-government films, including Rambo,[4] in which the titular character battles Tatmadaw (Burmese military) soldiers in Karen State.[5] The film had been banned by the government for portraying the SPDC and its soldiers in a negative light.[6] In 2009, Generation Wave members recorded a hip-hop album known as "the black album", which they distributed by leaving unmarked copies in Burmese tea shops.[1]
As of 2009, the group was headquartered in the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Sot;[7] however, its members are required by the group to maintain legal residence in Burma.[8] Membership in the group is restricted to those between 15 and 25 years of age.[3]
As of February 2010, about thirty members of the group had been imprisoned,[8] including Zayar Thaw, who was arrested at a Yangon restaurant with friends on 12 March 2008.[4] In April, Zayar Thaw's Acid co-founder and fellow movement member Yan Yan Chan was also arrested, reportedly along with his longtime girlfriend and future wife, Chilli.[9].[10] On 20 November 2008, Zayar Thaw, Aung Zay Phyo, Arkarbo, Thiha Win Tin, Wai Linn Phyo and Yan Naing Thu were sentenced to five years' imprisonment apiece for breaking State Law and Order Restoration Council Law No. 6/88,[4] "illegal organizing under the Unlawful Association Act".[11] Amnesty International described this statute as "a vaguely worded law whose sweeping provisions can be interpreted as making it illegal to set up any kind of organization".[12] Yan Yan Chan was released without charges on 7 January 2009.[13]