Wai Moe Naing

Born in September 1995, Wai Moe Naing has risen to become one of the most prominent and influential leaders in Myanmar’s anti-coup movement. His work started at thirteen when he began writing and being published in local newspapers for his short stories that touched on the current state of Myanmar. As time progressed, Wai Moe Naing moved away from writing short stories and became one of the most action-driven leaders in his community.

As a part of Monywa’s General Strike Committee and the Sagaing Regional Youth Committee, Wai Moe Naing began organizing daily protests in February 2021. These protests, located in his hometown of Monywa, garnered national attention, reaching hundreds of thousands of individuals and spreading the word of the anti-coup movement. Wai Moe Naing has also been credited for the idea of banging pots and pans during the nighttime hours to show resistance against the military. According to local organizers, the sound is derived from a traditional ritual that is meant to remove evil from one’s household. The sound created can be heard across the country and has become a nightly act of resistance against the military, both physically and spiritually. 

In April of 2021, after three months of leading daily protests in Monywa, he was arrested after being hit by a car on his scooter and restrained by Junta-affiliated plainclothes officers who held him at gunpoint.  His arrest was captured on film and circulated through social media, encouraging more people to get involved with the anti-coup movement in Monywa. His arrest also led organizers across the country to speed up plans and promote more activism, fearing that the military government may become more aggressive. 

Wai Moe Naing spent the summer of 2021 in military custody, with images showing him brutally beaten. These images circulated around Myanmar, sparking outrage about the torture techniques used against those who are imprisoned. Almost a year later, after being charged with treason, incitement, and a number of other crimes, he was sentenced to ten years in prison on August 12th, 2022. His sentencing was called unjust by numerous international and domestic organizations. His sentencing was also watched by many other nations, including Sweden, which consistently advocated for the proper treatment of Wai Moe Naing.