I never thought one summer could change a lot of people’s lives, but that’s exactly what happened when the military dictator took over the power of the country in Feb, 2021. Before I continue, allow me to share a little more about my background and where I come from. I was born in a small city called Loikaw, which is located in the west of Myanmar. My hometown is surrounded by mountains. It has a balanced weather situation, rich in water resources. In addition, the community was beautiful with diverse cultures, values, and people. Even though it was not a developed region, it was a peaceful place to survive. Most people could live with dignity. Children could play from the streets to the playground safely without worry and fear. Young people like me could follow our interests without much limitations. Nights are full of laughter and the sound of singing. If the days were a good interval for us to follow our dreams, the nights were the best time of period to relax our mental and social health. The neighborhood street was a small paradise that young people could use freely without anxiety. At the time, I did not think that it was so lucky to have a meal together with my family.
In the early of February, an unexpected situation occurred. The streets of the city were filled with protesters’ voices, “returning public power to the public” their voice loud and strong against the military. I did not expect our vibrant neighborhood streets to be silent with fear at night, and groups of people would be shooting for hope in the day. The Myanmar military takeover on February 1, 2021, marked not just a political upheaval but a profound shift in the lives of countless individuals, particularly the educated youth who once envisioned a progressive Myanmar. In the immediate aftermath of the coup, the atmosphere was charged with fear and uncertainty. As a university student deeply invested in my academic pursuits, I felt the ground shift beneath my feet.
On Sunday morning, from my house, I could hear the people’s slogan of “the fall of the military dictator, Doh Ayay”. Not a long after that, the sound of gunshots fired by the Myanmar Army would lead to this situation. When the power of collective voices no longer fights against the gunshots, when the conflict accelerates, residents have to leave that beautiful city. Due to this, my family and I moved to the refugee camp for the first time. As a youth, residing for a long period in the countryside or camp felt like punishment. Every day is full of struggles. Struggling for healthy food, struggling for dealing with different people and new culture, struggling for healing anxiety. No Wi-Fi, no malls, just dense forest and animals I have never seen before. I felt I lost not only my pleasure but also myself. Every day felt like a struggle between sadness and hope. The scenes of children not growing up as a child and struggling to survive amidst airstrikes, the heart-wrenching cries of the mothers who could not even return her son’s dead body due to the battle have killed my heart many times.
Through my experiences with living in refugee camps and working with civil society groups, I witnessed the decline in the social lives of war victims and the gradual oppression of the victims, which threatened social harmony during the long period of political instability in the state. I always wanted to run from this situation. However, when I view it from a positive perspective, I realize that my experiences have guided me to live more harmoniously within a competitive world. The more I explored and uncovered these lessons, the better I came to understand myself.
I hope, after the end game, thousands of mothers’ sons will be free from the dark rooms, and thousands of fathers’ daughters will come back home, more than thousand of people will find themself back against their fears, homesick because this is their home, their place.
