Burma’s Silent War: Civilian Lives Shattered While the World Watches
As global attention shifts from one crisis to the next, a powerful exhibition in London demands we confront a crisis we have too long ignored. Testimonies from Beyond, on display at the Koppel Collective until May 6, exposes the devastating impact of the Burmese military’s airstrikes and atrocities. Featuring the personal belongings of civilians killed, including a nine-year-old’s backpack and schoolbook, and the rosary beads of an elderly couple, the exhibit forces us to see the real human cost of the military regime’s campaign of terror.
This is not just an art installation—it is a call to moral action. Every item displayed represents a life stolen, a family destroyed, and a government emboldened by global inaction.
War on Civilians: Airstrikes, Rape, and Mass Imprisonment
Since the 2021 coup, the Tatmadaw (Burmese military) has intensified its assault on civilians. Airstrikes on monasteries and homes, sexual violence against women, and massacres in ethnic villages have become routine. Children have been murdered in what should be sanctuaries. One exhibit shows a child’s school supplies and lunch money recovered after an airstrike on a monastery.
Over 29,000 people have been arrested since the coup, with more than 22,000 still imprisoned in dire conditions. Despite a publicized “amnesty,” most released were not political prisoners, but common offenders nearing the end of their terms. The current number of political prisoners is nearly 1,000% higher than during the previous dictatorship—a staggering sign of repression.
$5 Billion for War, While Healthcare Collapses
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute reports that military spending surged by 66%, reaching $5 billion in 2023. In stark contrast, Burma’s public health budget has been slashed each year since the coup, including a 50% cut in 2023 alone. Clinics are shutting down, medicine is scarce, and health workers are being detained. This is a regime that prioritizes war over the welfare of its people.
A Long Pattern of Ethnic Cleansing
The horrors on display are not new—they are part of a decades-long strategy of ethnic persecution and forced displacement. The regime has repeatedly targeted Karen, Kachin, Rohingya, Chin, and Shan populations, burning villages and denying humanitarian aid. These are not isolated attacks—they are part of a systematic effort to erase Burma’s ethnic minorities.
The Cost of Global Silence
Despite the scale of these crimes, the international response has been dangerously inadequate. The United Nations remains hamstrung by Russia and China, who block resolutions. ASEAN continues to engage diplomatically with junta leaders, legitimizing their rule. Western countries offer statements but fail to create effective, targeted sanctions or enforce existing ones. This lack of unified pressure has allowed the junta to operate with impunity.
From Testimony to Transformation: A Moral Imperative
Testimonies from Beyond is more than a tribute to the dead—it is a plea to the living. Advocacy must become action. Humanitarian corridors must be opened. Min Aung Hlaing and junta leaders must face justice. And the voices of Burma’s ethnic nationalities must be amplified, not buried under diplomacy and delay.
Burma is being torn apart, but its people remain defiant. Their stories—etched into schoolbooks, prayer beads, and ashes—deserve to be heard, honored, and fought for.
References
Testimonies from Beyond Exhibition
– Exhibition details from Koppel Collective, London, highlighting personal effects of Burmese airstrike victims.
– Organizers' public statements and promotional materials (April–May 2025).Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI)
– Military Expenditure Database – Myanmar/Burma (2023 Report)
– Reported 66% increase in Burmese military spending, reaching $5 billion in 2023.
– https://www.sipri.org/databases/milexAssistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP-Burma)
– Regular updates on arrest numbers and prison conditions post-2021 coup.
– Latest total of 29,000+ arrests, 22,000+ still detained.
– https://aappb.orgUnited Nations Human Rights Council Reports on Myanmar
– Fact-finding mission reports on war crimes, crimes against humanity, and sexual violence.
– Documented attacks on civilians, use of airstrikes, and ethnic cleansing patterns.
– https://www.ohchr.org/en/countries/myanmarHuman Rights Watch (HRW)
– 2021–2024 reports on Myanmar’s military abuses.
– Analysis of airstrikes, arrests, healthcare collapse, and impacts on ethnic groups.
– https://www.hrw.org/asia/myanmarAmnesty International – Myanmar Reports
– Eyewitness accounts, satellite imagery, and interviews regarding attacks on villages.
– https://www.amnesty.org/en/location/asia-and-the-pacific/south-east-asia-and-the-pacific/myanmar/Burma Campaign UK
– Advocacy and data on military-linked businesses, political prisoners, and exhibition sponsorship.
– https://burmacampaign.org.uk
