[OPINION] Release Saw Lin Htet Apr 21, 2021 3:43 PM PHT Shraddha PokharelOjaswi KC On April 8, when Twitter launched the Milk Tea Alliance emoji, it hinted at the significance of the growing student participation in Asia’s pro-democratic political movements. Over the past year, various demonstrations against creeping authoritarianism across the region have shown how young people have emerged as an important force in protecting their fragile democracies. These protests have also debunked the myth that young people are oblivious to political developments in their countries. Meanwhile, through their brutal use of force against the students, the governments, too, have tacitly confirmed this fact. One example of this comes from the ongoing civilian protest against the Tatmadaw, Myanmar’s military, by the country’s youth.