Risking Death for Change: Tayzar San and the Struggle to Redefine Burma’s (Myanmar) Revolution
A Physician-Turned-Activist Who Refuses to Yield
Dr. Tayzar San has become one of the most remarkable figures of Burma’s resistance since the 2021 coup. Trained as a physician and raised in rural Sagaing, he entered public life by supporting young people through free clinics, student unions, and community libraries. His commitment to empowerment turned into open defiance when the military coup shattered Burma’s fragile democratic experiment.
Unlike many who fled to exile or shifted to online advocacy, Tayzar San chose the frontlines of civil resistance. He has risked everything—sneaking into Mandalay, Sagaing, Magwe, Kachin, Chin, and Shan—knowing that capture means torture and certain death. His belief remains unwavering: only a mass civilian movement, echoing the massive protests of 2021, can turn the tide against dictatorship.
“Yes, I’m scared. I’m afraid to die. But fear should not stop you from doing something. Taking risks in the civilian movement is necessary. It shows we do not accept the dictatorship.” — Tayzar San
The Dual Fronts of Resistance
Tayzar San does not dismiss armed struggle—he recognizes the sacrifice of ethnic armies and local defense forces. Yet, he insists that civilian mobilization is equally indispensable. Without mass participation, he warns, the revolution risks becoming trapped in endless cycles of militarization, leaving little foundation for the future federal democracy that ethnic communities desperately seek.
His travels through resistance-held areas highlight the paradox of this revolution: while ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) have long carried the weight of defending their people, the National Unity Government (NUG) has failed to unify these diverse groups into a credible governance system. In large part due to their failure in treating the ethnic people as equals. NUG’s arrogance and elitism precludes them from recognizing the ethnic people are the rightful landowners of their respective lands.
The NUG Under Fire: Weakness, Exclusion, and Lost Trust
Perhaps the boldest part of Tayzar San’s advocacy is his willingness to publicly criticize the NUG, Myanmar’s parallel government recognized by much of the international community. His grievances are not abstract—they mirror the concerns voiced by ethnic leaders, grassroots organizers, and civilians alike:
Weak Leadership and Poor Governance – Nearly five years into the revolution, the NUG remains institutionally fragile, unable to enforce chain of command or implement coherent policies in liberated areas.
Exclusion of Ethnic Voices – Despite rhetoric of inclusivity, the NUG has often sidelined EAOs and minority representatives, perpetuating Burman-dominated leadership structures that ethnic people have resisted for decades.
Failure to Adapt – The NUG clings to old structures, rotating faces but rarely reforming its internal systems. Tayzar San argues that while wholesale replacement is not needed, bold reforms are urgent before it is too late.
“For better inclusivity, the NUG must include ethnic armed groups, minority representatives and others. Having these in the NUG would boost the momentum of the revolution.” — Tayzar San
This mirrors the long-standing advocacy of ethnic people of Burma: a call not for symbolic representation but for genuine power-sharing, rooted in autonomy and interdependence.
A Ground Reality Ignored by Elites
The situation on the ground exposes the NUG’s structural weakness. Local defense teams (PDFs, LDFs, PDTs) often operate independently, running governance suitable to their territories rather than under a central authority. In practice, this means ethnic communities govern themselves—a reality long before the coup, now magnified by conflict.
Instead of attempting to force control from the center, Tayzar San’s vision suggests a model closer to what ethnic groups have always demanded: a confederated, bottom-up structure where shared governance grows out of local legitimacy, not imposed hierarchies.
Why Tayzar San’s Voice Matters
In a revolution increasingly shaped by weapons, foreign influence, and elite political maneuvering, Tayzar San represents the authentic grassroots voice. His insistence on civilian mobilization and structural reform reflects not only personal courage but also the collective frustrations of the ethnic majority and minority alike.
He reminds us that revolutions fail without people. Guns alone cannot build a democracy.
He challenges the NUG’s inertia. Without reform, inclusivity, and humility, the NUG risks irrelevance.
He aligns with the ethnic call for autonomy. Federal democracy must not mean Burman-led federalism but genuine ethnic self-determination.
Conclusion: A Path Forward
The courage of individuals like Tayzar San exposes the moral center of Burma’s resistance. But courage alone cannot restructure a broken movement. For the revolution to succeed—and for the ethnic people of Burma to secure justice and autonomy—two things are essential:
Mass Civilian Participation: Reawakening the spirit of 2021, where millions risked their lives for freedom.
Structural Reform of the NUG: Inclusion of ethnic armed groups and minority representatives, not as tokens but as equals shaping the future.
The world may focus on geopolitics, sanctions, and armed clashes, but voices like Tayzar San remind us: the revolution’s success will depend on whether the people themselves—not elites, not foreign powers—can claim ownership of their destiny.
References
International Crisis Group. (2022). Myanmar’s Coup and Civil Resistance.
Kipgen, Y. (2023). Democracy in Myanmar: Struggles, Failures, and Hopes. Routledge.
Lintner, B. (2024). The Cost of Conflict: Ethnic Wars and the Future of Myanmar. Yale University Press.
Smith, M. (2021). Burma: Insurgency and the Politics of Ethnicity. Zed Books.
