Voices of the People
These are Burma’s voices for change, extraordinary stories of people of Burma from all walks of life. Their experiences, struggles, fears, and successes. These are unheard stories of incredible spirit of resilience and courage, voices of hope and dreams that have emerged from decades of oppression. Help us spread these voices across the globe!
‘We Would Like to Ask on Behalf of Refugee Youth to Recognise Refugee Camp [Education]’: Saw Say Moo, Karen Student Network Group (KSNG)
Burma Link | June 20, 2017 Saw Say Moo is a 27-year-old ethnic Karen refugee from Mu Traw district, Karen state. Ever since he was born, Say Moo has had a challenging life. With his [...]
‘Educated Persons Need to Lead the Struggle [for Peace]’: Naw Wah, Karen Village Chief
Burma Link | June 15, 2017 Naw Wah is committed to improving the lives of a great number of people. First, she has the residents of Karen State’s T’wal Thaw village, of which she is [...]
‘Support the Ethnic Education System’: Saw Klee K’Paw, EIP Headmaster
Burma Link | June 13, 2017 As a child, Saw Klee K’Paw’s education didn’t come easy. He studied in his village until grade 4 when fighting broke out in his village and he and his [...]
‘[With Education] You Can Improve Your People and Develop Your Country’: Naw Ku, Karen Student at English Immersion Program
Burma Link| June 8, 2017 Naw Ku is a former high school teacher and now a student. She studies at English Immersion Program (EIP) to further develop her English skills and widen her horizons. EIP [...]
‘If the Policy to Govern Their Own [Ethnic] States Is Given, I Believe That the Road to Peace Will Be upon Us’: Kayan Student and Activist
Burma Link| June 6, 2017 Khun Tu Tu Lay is an ethnic Kayan student who comes from the central headquarters of Kayan New Land Party (KNLP), the main ethnic Kayan armed actor, in the Karenni [...]
‘We Still Have to Struggle for Democracy’: Padoh Saw David Tharckabaw, Karen and Ethnic Alliance Leader
Burma Link| June 5, 2017 Padoh David Tharckabaw joined the resistance movement nearly seven decades ago when he was only 14 years old. Due to his young age, Padoh David joined without the knowledge of [...]
‘Even When You Are Faced with a Hard Situation, There Are Opportunities’: KNLA General Baw Kyaw Heh’s Message to Karen Youth
Burma Link | May 31, 2017 Over many years, General Baw Kyaw Heh, Vice Chief-of-Staff of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), armed wing of the Karen National Union (KNU), has been defending the Karen [...]
‘Please Help us in Burma Because Our Government Doesn’t Provide Us with an Equal Rights System’: Secretary of Karen Student Network Group
Burma Link | May 30, 2017 Naw Lay Lit Ray Thaw comes from a Karen village in a non-government controlled area of Karen National Union (KNU) Brigade 6 in Karen State, southeast Burma, where she [...]
‘Our [Karen] Leaders … Stand by Our Side Bravely Against This Dam Project’: Naw They Nay, KWO Chairwoman for Ei Thu Hta
Burma Link | March 20, 2017 On the banks of the Salween River, one of the largest free-flowing rivers in the world, local communities and community-based organisations gathered together on March 14th -- marking the [...]
‘Unity Is Strength and Unity Is Victory’: Major General Nerdah Bo Mya on the Occasion of the 68th Karen Revolution Day
Burma Link | February 1, 2017 Karen Revolution Day was celebrated in a number of locations along the border area and inside Burma. One of the celebrations took place at the Karen National Defense Organisation [...]
‘I Want to Go Where Other Teachers Don’t Want to Go’: Ethnic Mon Teacher Trainee and Advocate for Educational Change
Burma Link | January 27, 2017 A positive and passionate ethnic Mon youth, 21-year-old Tao always seems to have a smile on his face. It was no easy task, however, to arrive at where he [...]
‘There Is No returning, No Life to Go Back to’: Mae Lay, Muslim Revolutionary in Nu Po Refugee Camp
Burma Link | January 6, 2017 Two decades ago, Mae Lay left everything behind and fled a major Burma Army attack around Kyaik Hto in his Karen homeland. Together with hundreds of other civilians, he [...]