Burma Link | March 29, 2018

This story is the second update to Daw Nan’s story, published as part of Burma Link’s “Protracted Displacement” longitudinal interview series. Daw Nan is a remarkably resilient and determined woman, who has lived through experiences of conflict, loss, and serving in the frontlines on special missions fighting the Burma Army. In this interview with Burma Link, Daw Nan discusses her life situation in the Karen village and KNDO (Karen National Defence Organization) base of Mu Aye Pu, where she has started building a workshop to help the Karen revolution by sewing soldiers’ uniforms. Although the situation in the village remains uncertain, with Daw Nan hearing the sounds of bullets and mortars the night before the interview in October 2017, She is happy to live in Mu Aye Pu. Daw Nan hopes that her children will also continue working for the Karen people.

The following story is part of Burma Link’s longitudinal interviewing project that provides a snapshot into lives of Burma’s displaced individuals. Over a period of about 18 months, Burma Link follows the lives of a few individuals in diverse protracted displacement situations along the Thailand-Burma border. Whilst the interviews provide an in depth look into these individuals’ lives, experiences, concerns and feelings, they are in no way intended to represent those of the larger displaced population. We selected these individuals based on diversity of age, gender, background, and current life situation as well as the likelihood of researchers’ long-term accessibility. The information also feeds into a research project “Protected rather than protracted-Strengthening refugees and peace” by a German independent non-profit organisation Bonn International Center for Conversion (BICC). BICC’s project started in January 2015 as a response to the challenges posed by the reintegration and local integration of displaced persons and their participation in peace processes. The project involves collecting data from seven regions: Southeast Asia, Middle East, Eastern Africa, Afghanistan/Iran/Pakistan, the Great Lakes region, Upper Guinea Coast, and Colombia/Ecuador. Read more about the BICC project here. Everyone taking part in the project interviews conducted by Burma Link was clearly explained about the projects and that their stories will be spread to local, national and international audiences as widely as possible. Everyone taking part was given the option to be anonymous and unidentified.

This interview series is meant to give more in depth understanding into the situation, concerns, and feelings of displaced persons about their lives on the borderline and the peace and political processes in Burma, and how they evolve and develop over this critical period of change. It should be emphasised that the series is a small snapshot into the lives of few individuals whose stories are not meant to represent the lives of others. The text has been edited and some parts have been omitted for flow and clarity. This interview, conducted in October 2017, is the second update to Daw Nan’s story.

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Part 4: Life in October 2017

Preparing for the sewing workshop: “We do not have money to buy it

[materials] yet”

Currently the situation here is okay so far, but I am not sure what will happen in the future, and I am not sure about other places either. We are preparing some wood for the [sewing workshop] building currently. In the future, we are planning to expand our buildings here as well as expand our [sewing] program. We are also planning to find more staff to work with us here, and we need more sewing machines, too.

It [time when building is finished] depends on wood and other resources. We could finish it in a few days if we had everything with us to build. The wood for the building is not ready yet, and we also do not have corrugated galvanized iron for the roof yet. It is kind of problematic for us to build it quickly. The reason is because we do not have money to buy it [materials] yet. One piece of tin [for the roof] is for 160 baht [USD 5]. The reason why [we need tin] is because tin roof is more durable. If we use thatch, we have to replace it every single year.

It takes times to finish it. It has been for two years [since the idea]. The reason [for taking time] is because we do not have resources. Currently, we are preparing wood for the building and preparing the ground to make it even for the building.

It is joined together [with the house]. After finishing the new one, I will repair the old one because most of the posts are decayed. I do not need to pay for the wood, but I need to pay for petrol to run the machine to cut the wood. [I have] around 100 pieces of wood.

Daw Nan’s husband working on the workshop building with Daw Nan in the background.

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Project idea and resources: “I believe that it [the project] will bring benefits to my Karen army”

My idea is in order to move forward to develop my organization [KWO].

Some of them [local women] already know how to sew, but some don’t. I will ask those who know how to sew well to train those who do not know how to sew. They can teach one another. Some of them are from the village [Ha Hto Ko], but I will ask them to stay here [Mu Aye Pu] during the rainy season.

For the sewing machines we do not need electricity. We just use our feet to work together with the [feet-powered] sewing machines.

Daw Nan says that she already knows how to sew the uniforms, because she used to do it for several years when she lived in Manerplaw, the headquarters of the KNU and the resistance and pro-democracy movement. Daw Nan doesn’t have any materials for her project yet, but she has talked to a Karen pastor from Chiang Mai about her plan, and he has agreed to help her.

I have talked to the pastor about my plan. He said he would buy me one sewing machine. I have ordered one sewing machine already. It costs 8,000 baht [USD 252]. If I had money now, I could go and get it straight away. I am waiting for money from the pastor now. I will go and get it as soon as I get the money.

I believe that it [the project] will bring benefits to my Karen army. For example, one uniform is very expensive if we buy it from a shop. One is for 800 baht [USD 25.2]. We need to buy only raw materials from a shop, and it is cheaper if we ourselves make it.

Daw Nan says the project to sew uniforms is her personal plan and idea. For the weaving project that she has also been planning, Daw Nan says the project is uncertain as she thinks her colleagues are not interested.

My co-workers are not really interested in weaving. I am not sure that plan would be successful or not.

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Family, food security and livelihood: “We had a problem with rice during the rainy season”

Two of my sons are going digging the elephant foot yams in the forest to sell it. One of my sons is preparing the wood for the [workshop] building. I have two daughters. One is staying with me here, and one is studying in Mae Ta Wor. Now, both of my daughters are together with me because her school is closed currently. She has holiday for one month after the mid-term exam.

We had a problem with rice during the rainy season. We did not have enough. The reason is because only three of my family members get the food ration, so it is not enough for our whole family. We get one bag per month [in total]. One bag of rice is not that much. It has become smaller. It is not as big as in the past. Previously, one bag of rice weighed 60 kilos, but now one bag weighs only 45 kilos. Sometimes my friends from KWO come here and eat with us, too. Therefore, one bag is not enough for us. It depends. If we have more guests, we finish it very early.

Daw Nan says they did not get any other support during the rainy season (since the last interview in June). She also says she did not visit any other place except the nearby Thai town Mae Ta Wor and Ha Hto Ko across the river.

I just went back [to Ha Hto Ko] to buy some food. I do not have a workplace there. I just work here.

I have started growing some vegetables here such as eggplants, chili, cabbages, gourds, cucumbers and so on. I am not sure when [I started]. These are just enough for my family and for those who work with me.

I am [also] raising chicken and pigs. They [piglets] are around 3 months old. I have around 20 chickens in total. One of them has eggs now. It lays its egg every single day. It lays one egg per day.

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Health: “I have learned it [administering medicine] through my experiences”

I sometimes get dizzy. However, I take medicine regularly. Here are my medicines [showing different types of liquid medicine in bags]. I always prepare medicine for myself. This one [bag of liquid medicine] is for 200 baht [USD 6.3], this one [different bag of liquid medicine] is for 55 baht, this one [different bag of liquid medicine] is for 50 baht, and this one for 70 baht. I brought them from Mae Ta Wor. I bought them ten days ago. I bought them from a shop.

Daw Nan explains that through her past experiences of being treated by medics, she has learned what medicine she needs to take. She can thus buy and administer the medicine by herself.

I myself know it. I have learned it through my experiences. No one told me about it. I myself experienced it. I only know how to treat my own disease. The reason is because I normally use these types of medicine whenever I get sick.

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Safety and hopes for the future: “Everyone here [in Mu Aye Pu] wants peace”

When asked about safety, Daw Nan says she has not had any worries or concerns during the rainy season. Just one day before the interview, the villagers in Mu Aye Pu had, however, been told to stay alert as conflict broke out again between the BGF and the DKBA. There was no uncertainty about the fighting as the sounds of gunshots and mortars could be heard in Mu Aye Pu the night before the interview.

We were told that we should be alert and be prepared. Just yesterday. [But] I feel nothing about it.

Daw Nan says she has no idea about the conflict situation or the peace process, but she would like to get more information. She has not, however, shared her views with the KNDO leadership. For getting peace, she seems more hopeful than during the last interview in June.

I have no idea about it [conflict situation and peace process]. Many people would like to know about it. Everyone here [in Mu Aye Pu] wants peace in Burma.

I am thinking about it [getting peace], but I don’t know when we can get it. I am thinking about if there is only way to get freedom — by scarifying our blood — or if there is another way.

I hope some members of my family will work for not only their own benefits but also for their Karen people.