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!
‘FREEDOM is More Important than Anything’: Karen Major General Nerdah Bo Mya
Burma Link | June 15, 2016 Nerdah Bo Mya was born in a small Karen village in a KNU (Karen National Union) controlled area near Manerplaw—the former headquarters of the KNU and the pro–democracy movement—as [...]
‘If Men Can Do These Things, I Can also Do These Things’: Young Arakanese Woman Thazun
By Burma Link | June 1, 2016 Thazun is a courageous, beautiful and talented young Arakanese [Rakhine] woman who talks openly about her life and experiences. Despite being forced to spend her childhood separated from [...]
‘I Am Going to Bring Them to Court Some Day FOR JUSTICE’ – Former Teenage Political Prisoner Soe Lwin
By Burma Link | May 23, 2016 Soe Lwin is a 34-year-old man from Dawei who comes from a family of political prisoners. Despite his young age, Soe Lwin has spent nearly half of his [...]
‘I Don’t Want This Case to Disappear’: Family of Two Mon Fishermen Killed by a Burmese Army Captain
Burma Link | May 12, 2016 In a Mon fishing village Magyi Chaung Wa, Ye Township, everything changed in the early hours of March 9th, 2016. Two fishermen, 23-year-old Chit Soe and his 40-year-old uncle [...]
Interview: ‘We Are Very Keen to Stop Fighting’
By DVB | May 6, 2016 Arakan Army’s commander-in-chief Brigadier-General Tun Myat Naing speaks to DVB about the conflict in Arakan State. Question: Can you give us the latest update on the armed conflict in [...]
‘Our Village Was Burnt’: Karen Refugee Naw Woo
Naw Woo doesn’t know her age exactly but she thinks that she is about 40 years old. Naw Woo grew up in a small village in the Karen State, helping her parents make a living [...]
‘Land Confiscation Continues under the Name of Development’: Mon Human Rights Defender Nai Aue Mon
Burma Link | February 29, 2016 “We have to work with the voice of the people,” Nai Aue Mon tells me in Sangkhlaburi, Thailand, as we discuss the recent rise of land confiscation and land [...]
‘International Community Should Support the Ethnic People’: Former Political Prisoner – PART 2
Burma Link | November 3, 2015 Chit Min Lay was 24 years old when he was arrested at his home and taken to an interrogation centre, following his participation in the 1996 and 1998 student [...]
‘We Were Arrested, Please Tell the People!’: Former Political Prisoner – PART 1
Burma Link | October 28, 2015 In 1996, Chit Min Lay was a young university student full of dreams, wishing to become a literature man and a poet. He was about to finish his four-year [...]
‘I Want to See a Burma Where We Accept Diversity’: Student Leader and Former Political Prisoner Sithu Maung
Burma Link | October 20, 2015 The student movement has historically played a central role in the pro-democracy struggle in Burma. Sithu Maung, a 27-year-old university student is one of the many who have paid [...]
‘We Have Always Been Running’: Why a Young Karen Woman Chose to Become a Soldier
Burma Link | October 5, 2015 Naw Mu Gay, 22, wanted to join the Karen army since a young age. Coming from a large family, Naw Mu Gay’s father found it hard to provide for [...]
Burma Truth On-Line Film Festival and Arts Competition: “Helping Ethnic Minorities have Voice”
Ethnics have been greatly disadvantaged by those in power in Burma, as well as by those in the international community who support them. There are differing viewpoints on this matter that need to be brought to light. This festival-competition is intended to give activists, artists and interested […]