“Human rights and democracy solidify their bond. “Social media and pop culture unite the newer generation of Southeast Asians,” said Voranai Vanijaka, political commentator and editor-in-chief of. The hashtags #SaveMyanmar, #StandWithMyanmar and #WhatsHappeningInMyanmar have trended heavily in both Myanmar and Thailand. So too has a poster by artist Sina Wittayawiroj depicting hands proudly holding milk tea aloft in vessels bearing the flag of Myanmar alongside those of Hong Kong, Thailand, Taiwan and India. Myanmar celebrities Paing Takhon and Hnin Thway Yu Aung shared defiant selfies with the salute on Instagram, while tweets with a picture of Royal Myanmar Teamix have been shared thousands of times. The gesture has become a symbol of the kingdom’s youth-led protest movement, which is calling for reform of the government and monarchy. On Wednesday (Feb 3), photos of Myanmar hospital workers striking while flashing the three-finger salute of The Hunger Games franchise were spread widely across Thai Twitter. Now Myanmar has joined the club of Generation Z activists taking on entrenched holders of power with the only weapon they have – social media – while using the milk tea beloved in those territories as a uniting symbol. India has also been occasionally included in the alliance following its clashes with China over the countries’ disputed border. It quickly found sympathisers in Taiwan, then blossomed in military-dominated Thailand as young demonstrators flooded the streets last year. The anti-authoritarian hashtag began as a form of solidarity for activists during the 2019 protests in Hong Kong. Asia’s meme-laden pro-democracy movement, the #MilkTeaAlliance, has welcomed a new member in Myanmar after the country’s military removed the civilian government led by Aung San Suu Kyi in a coup.
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