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!
‘Sometimes I Ask Myself, Do I Have a Country?’: Young Peace Builder and Refugee
Burma Link | September 15, 2016 Mee Lay is a 25-year-old inspiring young refugee woman who spent her early years in malaria infested jungle hideouts with constant food insecurity and struggle to go to school. [...]
Landmine Victim in Jo Haprao, Bee Ree: Mon IDP Report Case Study #2
Burma Link | September 14, 2016 The following case study is from the joint report “Invisible Lives: The Untold Story of Displacement Cycle in Burma” by Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), Burma Link, and [...]
‘It’s Not Like Before, Now We Don’t Have the Medicine, Not Enough for Us’: Mon IDP Report Interview #2
The following interview was conducted as part of the research for the joint report “Invisible Lives: The Untold Story of Displacement Cycle in Burma” by Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), Burma Link, and Burma [...]
Fleeing Sexual Violence from Yebyu Township to the Thailand-Burma Border: Mon IDP Report Case Study #1
Burma Link | September 7, 2016 The following case study is from the joint report “Invisible Lives: The Untold Story of Displacement Cycle in Burma” by Human Rights Foundation of Monland (HURFOM), Burma Link, and [...]
‘I Am Not Afraid of the Burmese Soldiers, Because I Already Decided that I Will Never Go Back’: Mon IDP Report Interview #1
Burma Link | September 5, 2016 The following interview was conducted as part of the research for the joint report “Invisible Lives: The Untold Story of Displacement Cycle in Burma” by Human Rights Foundation of [...]
‘None of the EAOs Can Be Left Behind in the Process to End the Civil War’: Tar Parn La on TNLA’s Absence from the Peace Conference
Burma Link | September 2, 2016 Tar Parn La, Head of Foreign Department of the Palaung State Liberation Front/Ta’ang National Liberation Army (PSLF/TNLA), commented to Burma Link about the PSLF/TNLA’s absence in the 21st Century [...]
‘When I First Came Here … They Hated the Burmans’: Burman Teacher Who Married a Mon Soldier
Burma Link | August 30, 2016 Daw Khin Nyunt is a 46-year-old Buddhist Burman woman living in rural New Mon State Party (NMSP) controlled ceasefire areas of southeast Burma. Daw Khin Nyunt comes from the [...]
‘We Hear About How ‘We Have to Return… We Have to Return’: Former Nu Poe Refugee Camp Leader
Burma Link | July 21, 2016 Saw Lah Hset Plet Htee is a Bible schoolteacher and a religious leader who has spent the past thirty years living in Nu Poe refugee camp on the Thailand-Burma [...]
‘According to the Burmese Military Activities in Our Area, Finding Real Peace Is Not That Easy’: Fifth Brigade Karen Commander
Burma Link | July 7, 2016 Located in the depths of Burma’s southeastern jungle, the Fifth Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) remains a stronghold of the ethnic resistance movement. On a visit to [...]
‘We Are Fighting for Human Rights, for Equal Rights, so Please Try to Help Us’: Arakan Army (AA) Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Han
Burma Link | July 4, 2016 Arakan Army (AA) Lieutenant Colonel Kyaw Han joined the army because he felt that “the military way is the final means to have a victory” and achieve freedom for [...]
‘We Want Women’s Participation on Every Step from the Ground to the National Level’: Soe Soe Nwe, Joint-Gen Sec of the Women’s League of Burma
Burma Link | June 29, 2016 Soe Soe Nwe is an ethnic Tavoyan woman who joined the Tavoyan Women’s Union (TWU) in 2001, inspired by her mother’s example of strong woman’s leadership in her family. [...]
‘Shoot Them [IDPs], Why Don’t You Shoot Them!’: Mon IDP’s Experience as Burma Army’s Hostage and Human Shield after Forced Repatriation
Burma Link | June 20, 2016 Mon IDP (Internally Displaced Person) settlements in southeast Burma were established over 20 years ago when scores of civilians were fleeing armed conflict and conflict-related abuse as well as [...]