honorable mention
Sandra Hoyn germany
title
The Punk of Burma
„In Burma I only have freedom of mind“, says Kyaw Kyaw. „The new government is mostly made up of members of the former military junta. The change to democracy is just a change in words not a real change.“ Kyaw Kyaw is the lead singer of the band Rebel Riot, he founded in 2007. He is attracted to punk music, because he likes the disrespectful words of the songs and because the music offers him a way to tackle the problems in Burmese society. In his songs he speaks also against the Buddhist monks making violence against Muslims while others in Burma are silent. Kyaw Kyaw does not believe in any religion because of the rules. He enjoys meditation even though he is not a buddhist.
Every monday evening Kyaw Kyaw and his punk friends arrange „Food not Bombs“. They go together through Yangon to hand out food donations to homeless people. "We don't need war. We need food and Human Rights. I can't change the world or Burma, but I can at least influence the people around me“, he says. „The people have two eyes, but they use only one.“
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entry description
Living as a punk in Burma is not only a lifestyle or just a copy of Western trends, it is an act of rebellion. Kyaw Kyaw, 26, has decided to become a punk to protest against the political and economical situation in his country.„In Burma I only have freedom of mind“, says Kyaw Kyaw. „The new government is mostly made up of members of the former military junta. The change to democracy is just a change in words not a real change.“ Kyaw Kyaw is the lead singer of the band Rebel Riot, he founded in 2007. He is attracted to punk music, because he likes the disrespectful words of the songs and because the music offers him a way to tackle the problems in Burmese society. In his songs he speaks also against the Buddhist monks making violence against Muslims while others in Burma are silent. Kyaw Kyaw does not believe in any religion because of the rules. He enjoys meditation even though he is not a buddhist.
Every monday evening Kyaw Kyaw and his punk friends arrange „Food not Bombs“. They go together through Yangon to hand out food donations to homeless people. "We don't need war. We need food and Human Rights. I can't change the world or Burma, but I can at least influence the people around me“, he says. „The people have two eyes, but they use only one.“
about the photographer
Sandra Hoyn was born in 1976 in Wolfenbüttel, Germany. She studied photography at the University of Applied Sciences Hamburg, Germany and graduated in 2005. She started working as freelance photojournalist for magazines, NGOs and on her personal projects, concentrating on social, environmental and human rights issues. Since 2007 she is represented by laif, agency for photos and reports.back to gallery