While there were many reasons for the junta to pull the plug on Facebook this morning, many saw an attempt to deplatform an insult which had become ubiquitous in the comments for those behind the coup – sit khway, or military dog.
Long used as a term of derision for Myanmar’s soldiers, the term’s universal use since Monday’s coup d’etat had drawn a sharp backlash for its unflattering comparison. That’s right, the country’s canine population has stormed social media to tell the world – suddenly paying attention thanks to one authoritarian-chic aerobics dancer – that comparing them to soldiers was, well, a bit ruff.
Here’s who is standing up against Myanmar’s coup
As the public grows more furious, its furriest members have taken a stand against the slander with an awareness campaign on their grievances, posing for photos with messages around their fluffy little necks that translate roughly to:
“We request that people do not compare us to coup-makers. Such actions really hurt our image. Thank you,” read most messages, usually signed with the objecting doggo’s name.
Prima facie research suggests that, in this scenario at least, Pomeranians and Huskies are emerging as the face of the movement. However, whispers in Naypyidaw suggest that it is, in fact, Great Danes that are providing the behind-the-scenes thought leadership for the bold and brave campaign.
Though the military’s brand new Department of Carefully Chosen Information for the Foreign Press (Est. 1962) has yet to comment on developments, it’s worth noting their petulant fists rushed to mash the “Kill Facebook” button.
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