IN THEIR OWN WORDS: Portrait of the Burmese Freedom Fighters

Thein Oung Gyaw, S/o U Kan Gyi

My father is a goldsmith and my mother is a shopkeeper. We are five brothers and I am the youngest. We lived in Maung Daw township and I went to school there. After that I went to Sitwe Township for higher studies and I studied B.Sc. from 1984 to 1988.

In August 1988 there was a national uprising against the military dictatorship in my country. At that time, I joined in the movement for the restoration of democracy and I went back to my township Maung Daw where I along with other students organized a student union. I was chosen as the Chairman of the Union.

In September 1988 the Burmese intelligence was after me. So I was compelled to escape to the Bangladesh border. I worked at the border with other students to organize resistance to the military junta. There were many students from all over Burma. The Arakan students formed the All Arakan Students Union (AASU) in Bangladesh. After that I left for the Thai border to meet the other student leaders. On the Thai border, I lived amongst the Karen people.

In 1995, we Arakan students had a big conference at Bangkok and it was there that we formed the All Arakan Student and Youth Congress (AASYC) in the month of August. This was formed by combining the various units in different parts i.e. Bangladesh, Thailand and in other places. In 1997, the AASYC merged into the National United Party of Arakan (the NUPA). All the constituents of NUPA had the same aim, which was to resist the military dictatorship, which had refused to hand over power to the democratically elected government. In 1990, the National League for Democracy and its leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi had got landslide victory but the military junta refused to hand over power and they imprisoned many Members of Parliament and put Daw Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.

I lived on the Thai-Burma border for sometimes. In 1997 I was told to work in the sea, under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. In February 1998, I was told to join an operation which was to be undertaken jointly with the Karens. At that time I did not know the exact nature of the operation but in the boat our leaders told me that the Indian Government had promised to help our movement by allowing us an island to set up base and the island was a part of Andaman Islands.

On February 1998, we set out in two speedboats and later two trawlers were attached to our party. There were altogether 27 Arakan Army persons, 13 Karen National Union members and 37 fishermen of whom two were Thai. We first reached Narcodum Island and from there proceeded to Landfall Island. We reached Landfall Island on February 10, 1998.

We were warmly received by the Indian army officers who were waiting for us along with our leader Saw Tun and his assistant Ran Naing. My leader Khaing Raza introduced me to a Punjabi turbaned man as Col. Grewal who spoke fluent Burmese.

Khain San Thein, S/o U Maung

My parents are cultivators. I have eight brothers and sisters. I have studies till the IVth standard in my village. The Burmese army came to my village and used force and tortured my villagers. The villagers were forced to work for the army and also to provide them with rations. The Burmese army gave no payment to the villagers for their work or rations. Instead the military severely beat me up and other villagers.

To escape the brutality of the Burmese military I ran away to Central Burma in 1991. I joined the Burmese army and became a soldier to escape the torture and beating of the Burmese army.

As a soldier of the Burmese army I witnessed the senior officers in the Burmese army extract forced labour, rations and money from poor villagers. If any villager was physically incapable of working as a porter he had to pa money to the Burmese army to avoid forced labour.

As I did not desire to suppress and exploit my people, I left the Burmese army. I wanted to use my training as a soldier for the restoration of democracy in Burma and so in 1993 I joined the All Burma Students Democratic Front (Arakan). This is a coalition of students groups of different nationalities in Burma, jointly opposing the Burmese military junta.

In September 1995, I and other students formed the All Arakan Students and Youth Congress (AASYC) and in 1997 we integrated to form the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA).

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8 in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

We landed at Landfall Islands (Indian territory) on February 10, 1998. Our leaders were greeted warmly by the Indian army officers and we were told that India was going to help us in our liberation struggle and so we should treat the Indian army as our friends.

Tun Yin, S/o U Wai Sein Aung

My parents are farmers. I have four brothers and sisters. I have studies till High School at the Mandalay Division Mat Ta Rar township. In August 1988, I was a student and I participated in the demonstrations against the Burmese military junta and we demanded the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma. I along with other students and teachers marched on the roads and protested outside government departments and police stations. We shouted slogans asking for democracy to be restored in Burma.

The Burmese military junta brutally suppressed our uprising and arrested all the students who had participated in the demonstration. To escape arrest by the Burmese army I went to the Thai-Burma border. In 1996, I joined NUPA to continue the struggle against the Burmese military regime. In 1998 I was told to work in the sea.

In February 1998, I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8 in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

We landed at Landfall Islands on February 10, 1998. Our leaders were greeted warmly by the Indian army officers and we were told that India was going to help us in our liberation struggle and so we should treat the Indian army as our friends.

Shwe La, S/o Pha La Nway

My father is a farmer and I have seven brothers and sisters. I am the second child in the family.

In 1990 I joined the Karen National Union (KNU) because of the constant harassment and oppression by the Burmese army. The Burmese army forcibly grouped us and make us carry their things. Children cannot go to school because they have work for the Burmese army.

At times people have to work in their own fields, but the Burmese army demanded that their orders should be obeyed, otherwise the people are beaten and sent to jail or sometimes shot. Even animals are treated better than my people.

The Burmese army without any provocation would march into the village and set fire to the houses, destroying the entire property and livelihood of the people.

In 1997, I was sent to the sea for duty under Pado Mu Lway.

Our leader told us that we would go for an operation starting on February 8, 1998. We were not told the exact nature of the operation.

San Lwin, S/o Say Toe

My father is a freedom fighter while my mother is a school teacher. I have two younger brothers. I studies up to X standard.

I was born and brought up in Karen-Thai border. My family was forced to live in Thailand because of the inhuman atrocities inflicted upon the Karen people by the military junta. So I did my studies in Thailand.

After the completion of X standard I returned to my village to help in the movement. My mother dies in a refugee camp in Thailand, was forced to cremate her in Thailand as there was no possibility of taking her body to the village, because of the Burmese army.

I also acted as an interpreter between the Thai and Karen people whenever occasion arose. And later I was told to help in the sea, as radio operator. And I was told to join a joint operation with Arakan people by my commander Pado Mu Lway. I never thought that I would land up in Indian territory. The exact details of the operation were not disclosed to us.

Yar Aye Tha, S/o Pow Wa Tay

My parents are farmers and I live with them in my village. I have three brothers and one sister. I am the second child in our family. I helped my parents in the cultivation but I often faced many problems satying in the village from the military junta.

The Burmese military junta often come to my village, to loot and plunder. Villagers are forced to work as porters, road construction labourers, etc.

The children and youth can not get their education because most schools have been burnt down or constant shifting of villagers have made schooling impossible. I had to stop my schooling for this very reason.

The Burmese army commits all these atrocities and harassment to crush the liberation movement of the Karen people. For this reason, I sought the permission of my mother to join KNU. My father allowed me to join the KNU and when I left my parents my mother was crying inconsolably.

The Karen people want to live peacefully under the Karen rights. But because of the constant oppression and harassment by the military junta I also decided to join the KNU in 1996.

In 1997, I was asked to report at sea under the command of Pado Mu Lway.

Da Aye, S/o Ti Pha Kok

I studies up to III standard in Karen school. My parents are farmers and we are six brothers and sisters. I am the third child in the family.

In 1986, the Burmese army and the Karen troops fought for 4 days in my village. The Burmese army set fire and destroyed more than 200 houses along with the food grains and personal belongings.

The Burmese army treat my people with cruelty and shoot without any reason. The people’s rights are trample upon and people are forced to live without dignity.

The Karen people wish to live peacefully without being harasses and tortured by the military junta. Many youths have joined KNU to fight against the military junta.

In 1991, I left with no alternative but I joined KNU. Since then I have not been able to contact or trace my parents and other family members. The Burmese army constantly uproots the villages and forced the village people to shift from one place to the other. This is done in order to destroy the economy and the support structure for the movement.

In 1997, I was sent to the sea and lived under the command of Pado Mu Lway. We were not told the exact nature of the operation.

Saw Bo, S/o Ku Lu

My parents are farmers and I studies upto IV standard. I am the eldest child in the family of 8 brothers and sisters.

The Burmese army often looted our food grains and our cattle. Further they exploit those farmers who own about an acre of paddy field, were forced to pay 2/3 of the crop to the army. If the farmers are unable to pay in kind then they must pay in cash otherwise they are sent to jail.

The Burmese army force the Karen people to work without any payment, as road construction workers, porters, collect bamboo, construct their barracks, etc. if we refused we are beaten and sent to jail. Even children and old people are not spared by the army. If the villagers have to go for their own work (for their livelihood), they must inform and pay the Burmese army.

I have been a victim of these atrocities. I have worked as porter, construction labourer, etc. in inhuman conditions. To escape these oppressions and torture, I also decided to join the KNU to fight against the Burmese army and liberate my people.

In 1996 the Burmese army to my village and drove us out of our village like cattle to the Thai border. In the process many people got injured and many were also killed by the Burmese army.

In 1997, I was told to go to the sea. Mr. Pado Mu Lway was our commander. We were not told the exact nature of the operation.

Kak Tit, S/o Saw Kar Sein

My father was a sergeant in the British Army in the pre-independence period and he fought against the Japanese. After Burma became independent my father joined the movement for Karen people’s right to self-determination. The Karen people were angry because the Burmese troops killed Karen people instead of listening to their just demands. My mother stayed in the village and many times when the Burmese troops came my mother along with all the villagers escaped to the jungles where they lived for weeks.

After U Nu was democratically elected as Prime Minister he had an agreement with the Karen people. After that many Karen people were able to return to their homes in their village. But my parents lived in the jungle and after I was born my grandfather (my mother’s father) took me to stay at his village.

I studies at Pegu because there were no good schools in Karen State. This was in 1964. While I was studying school in 1974, there was a national uprising led by students because the Burmese junta of General Ne Win (who had seized power from U Nu) refused to give a honourable funeral to U Thant, the then Secretary General of the United Nations. U Thant had died while in office in the USA and when his body was brought to Burma, General Ne Win tried to cremate him quietly. The students demanded that he be cremated with all honours as he was a national leader and they took his body to the Rangoon University campus for a proper cremation. The army came in and shot at the students and tried to take away the body. During this nation wide uprising all the schools and colleges in Burma closed down and so I could not continue my studies.

Since my school closed down, I went to join my mother in the jungles. By that time my father had died and my mother had married Saw Kra Sein. I helped the Karen people’s movement along with my parents and in 1977 I joined Karen National Union (hereafter called KNU). I was working in the civil side and I was helping in the protection of our forests.

From 1982 to 1991, I was working as a forester on the Karen-Thai border. We Karen people want to protect our forests from deforestation because Burmese junta has been selling off our forests to Thai companies. We, Karen people have been protecting our natural resources from being destroyed by Thai businessmen. In 1985 I got married and I have three children.

In 1991, I was illegally arrested and detained by the Thai authorities on the pressure of Thai business men. I was kept in jail without access to a lawyer and without being informed about my rights. I was released only after six years in 1997. When I was released from the jail I contacted my stepfather (my mother had died even before I went into jail) and his son Pado Mu Lway, my stepbrother. That my stepbrother, Pado Mu Lway and my stepfather were staying in a Karen settlement in Thailand where they were forced to live because of the atrocities being committed by the Burmese junta on all Burmese people. My stepbrother asked me to help in an operation at sea. He did not inform me the details of the operation and since he was older and senior I did not ask him the details.

Pho Cho, S/o Saw Tha Min

I was born on 26^th June 1952 at Inn Sein township in Rangoon. My father was a driver and mother a medical nurse. At the age of six I moved to Taway township on my father’s death. I studies till primary school. At the age of 17 years I being the eldest child joined Government service at the lead mine. I worked at the mines for 3-4 years 9I am a Christian by faith).

In 1980, the Burmese military troops came to my village and ordered the village men to work as porters. I and the other men were asked to walk in front of the troops as they suspected that revolutionary groups opposing the military regime may have planted land mines and many people died. We stepped on a land mine and many people died. My left leg was severely injured in this blast and I had to be hospitalized for two months.

After this for a few years I ran a saw mill in the jungle and sold wood for a living. In the jungle I got in touch with Karen National Union (KNU) in 1984. I helped members of KNU to travel secretly from one island to another.

The KNU movement of the Karen people fought against the atrocities of Burmese military regime. The Burmese troops would arrive at the Karen villages and demanded that the village men work as porters. The men were made to work as forced labourer by the army.

If the villagers ran away to escape the army atrocities, the army set our grain stores on fire. The army has also molested and raped Karen women. We were never paid for our work. If we went to work in the fields, we had to pay the army.

The Burmese army fired with artillery at the Christian churches when Karen went there to pray. The army also burnt our religious book, Bible. The Burmese military regime has been persecuting and discriminating against Karens because of their faith in Christianity.

In 1988, I was in Kuk Thoung township. In August 1988, I also joined the uprising against the Burmese military regime. All villagers took part in the uprising. Karen people have been discriminated against by the Government at Rangoon and we had no good schools or roads or electricity. On return to my village I joined KNU and was engaged in operations in Karen liberated area, which extends to Thailand.

Saw Toe Toe, S/o Saw Pa lay

My father is a farmer and I have seven brothers and sisters. I am the fourth child in our family.

I studied upto III standard at Karen school. Living in my village was always frightful and insecure, because of the constant threat to life and oppression especially on my Karen people.

No one was spared by the Burmese army from being either a porter or a labourer in the road construction. If any person was invalid or unable to work, he or she must pay to the army for their absence.

While working as a porter I had to carry my own food for the day apart from being not paid for the labour. There was no medical facilities.

The Burmese army grouped the villagers and often forced them to work like animals without payment or food. Many able youths were often the target of the Burmese army.

In 1989 I decided to join the Karen National Union to safeguard my own dignity and the dignity of my people. In the movement, I was entrusted the task of a forester, to look after the forest of our land.

In 1997, I was psoted at sea under the command of Pado Mu Lway. We were not told the exact nature of the operation.

Cham Chit, S/o Phati Na Paw

My parents are farmers and we are eight brothers and sisters and I am the third eldest in our family.

In 1991, I joined the Karen National Union because of the inhuman treatment meted out to us by the Burmese army. They drove us out of our villages by setting fire to our houses and destroying our only means of livelihood. The Burmese army mercilessly forced our people to work as porters and labourers.

I specially remember the incident on 10.07.96 when two persons (namely Phati Tha Aye and Saw Mra Soe) were arrested and shot death by the Burmese army at my village Pawa. The Burmese army set fire to the houses and destroyed the like the little possessions that we had and drove us out of the village.

The Burmese army after destroying my village took away all our live stocks. They did the same to other nine neighboring villages and all of us were left with no choice but to go to the refugee camp in Thailand. I also was forced to leave my village.

When I returned to my village after 2/3 months, I found the entire village in ashes and deserted. I found a few skinny dogs and animals roaming around.

In 1997, I was posted at sea under the leadership of Pado Mu Lway. We were not told the exact nature of the operation.

Aye Wa, S/o Saw Tayo Pow

In 1985, I joined KNU because of the Burmese army oppression as I was unable to study. I joined the liberation movement to fight against the Burmese army oppression and to promote peace and democracy equal rights for my people.

Whenever the Burmese army came to the village, they harass and molest our women and girls, beat up the people without any reason.

After six years in the movement I returned to my village with the permission of my superiors to help my parents, but within a short period I had to return to my duty.

In 1997, I was asked to report at sea under the command of Pado Mu Lway. I was not told the exact nature of the operation.

Dynyalin, S/o U Tun Aung

My late father was a Headmaster of a primary school. I have 3 sisters. That I have studied till Second Year at the Regional College in Akyab. I was a student of History. I could not continue my studies as sensing unrest amongst the students, the government closed down many schools and colleges in July 1988.

Burma gained independence from British in 1948. At this time the people of Burma enjoyed a good standard of living. Rangoon enjoyed an important place amongst Asian countries. The people of Burma enjoyed freedom of speech and expression. There was considerable improvement being made in the field of communication, industries and agriculture.

The Government of General Ne Win ruled Burma for 26 years without bringing about any improvement in the living conditions of the people of Burma. In fact during his rule Burma became one of the poorest countries of the world. He prohibited freedom of speech and expression in Burma. The people of Burma were poverty-striken and could not exercise even their basic rights. Government used public funds carelessly and misappropriated the funds. The Government twice declared Burmese currency as illegal money, causing total devaluation of the ordinary peoples’ savings. The economy suffered gravely. This caused unrest and anger amongst the people. Phone Maung, a student of Rangoon institute of Technology was killed after an altercation by the son of the local senior official of the Government. The friends of Phone Maung demanded that the murderer be prosecuted, but the government ignored the demands of the students. This further angered the students.

These events led to a popular pro-democracy uprising led by students, workers, Buddhist monks and poor people on 8^th August 1988.

At this time I was in Central Burma. I joined many demonstrations. I joined many organizations and traveled to different parts of Burma, participating in demonstrations against the government. We raised pro-democracy slogans as we marched on the roads of Burma.

In August 1988, I joined a large demonstration outside prison in Sagaing Division. We were demanding that the authorities release our leader who had been arrested and imprisoned by the police. As we surrounded the jail, the police opened fire on unarmed demonstrators killing over 200 people and many were injured. The injured persons were picked up by the people and instead of hospitalizing them they were drowned in the river Irrawaddy.

The police and army also brutally cracked down at the headquarters of the students movement in Mawlamyein in Mon State. Over 100 students were killed in the police firing.

On September 18, 1988, the government was removed and the military junta assumed power. The uprising was brutally crushed.

I returned to my township in September 1988. However I soon learnt that the Burmese military intelligence was searching for me as I had been active in the 1988 uprising. It was therefore not safe for me to stay at home. After discussing with my friends, we decided to escape to Bangladesh border by boat. The army however got news of our plan. The army took our family members as hostage and brought them in a boat, when we were trying to escape. On seeing our parents in the custody of the army we returned to the village. As I was regarded as a student leader, I was placed under surveillance. I was required to report to the army camp every 2/3 days.

I have seen the Burmese army extract forced labour, goats, chickens, and rations from Arakanese villagers. The Burmese army gave no payment to the Arakan people for their labour or supplies. The Burmese army was very cruel and brutal in its treatment of the Arakan people.

The Burmese military junta at that time gave permission to every nationality to form its own political party. In the Arakan State, we united the major political parties to form the Arakan League for Democracy (ALD). I and my friends also formed the Arakan Students and Youth Congress (ASYC). I was a member of the Chief Executive Committee of ASYC. ASYC supported and campaigned for the Arakan League for Democracy.

As the ASYC became a strong and popular party, the Burmese military junta, cracked down on our headquarters at midnight and arrested me and 20 other members of ASYC. I was imprisoned for one month. We were released only on the condition that we would withdraw from political life and not work with ASYC or ALD.

In the 1990 elections, I actively campaigned for ALD. In the elections, Arakan League for Democracy and National League for Democracy (NLD) won from all the divisions of the Arakan State. In other parts of Burma also NLD swept the elections.

The military junta however did not hand over power to the democratically elected representatives. Instead the NLD and ALD were declared illegal and many leaders were arrested. Apprehending my arrest I left my home town and went to Thailand border in 1990.

I stayed in Thailand near the border for 4-5 years. During this period I actively supported and helped KNU, New Mon State Party, All Burma Students Democratic Front-Arakan in their struggle against the Burmese military junta. I also looked after the interest of Arakan people living in Thailand as I am fluent in Thai language. I also worked towards organizing and uniting the Arakan people living in different countries.

On September 27^th 1995, we formed the ASYC in Bangkok. I am the Vice Chairman of ASYC. The main aim of ASYC was to unite the different Arakan political groups and form a strong political party of Arakan people. We wanted to work towards regaining the independence of the Arakan State from the Burmese military junta.

On March 4^th 1997, four parties integrated to form the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA). I am a member of the Central Executive Committee of NUPA. I liaison with the parties of other nationalities like Karen, Mon, Shan to form an alliance against the Burmese military junta.

I was told by members of the Politburo of NUPA, including Khaing Raza and Mr. Saw Tun who was a member of the Central Executive Committee, NUPA, that Indian Government will support our movement. I also thought that since India was the largest democracy on the subcontinent, it would support our struggle for restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma.

That Mr. Khaing Raza, who is a politburo member of NUPA, came to the Bangkok office and told the General Secretary of NUPA and me, in March 1997, that Mr. Saw Tun had developed very good relations with the Indian army and some political departments of the Indian Government. He also said that Indian Army had agreed to give some Island in Andamans to NUPA to use as its base against the military junta. In return NUPA will spy on China particularly the radar station at Coco Island. Since China is supplying arms to military junta, we were glad to do this.

Around May 1997 in NUPA’s Bangkok Office, I met an Indian Army Colonel who was code named Col. Nay Win. After my arrest at Landfall Island I learnt that the name of the Indian army colonel was Colonel Grewal. Colonel Grewal was introduced to me by Khaing Raza and our General Secretary.

Colonel Grewal speaks Burmese fluently. Col. Grewal gave me a map of the Indian Army of the Andaman & Nicobar Islands. I photocopied the map and returned the original to Col. Grewal. Col. Grewal informed us that he had discussed with senior officers in the MoD/Army and they were all agreeable to supporting NUPA. He also said that he was attempting to convince some members of the ruling party in India, to support the plan to assist NUPA.

Col. Grewal discussed with NUPA officers and finalized the details of our operation. Col. Grewal informed NUPA that Indian Army had agreed to allow NUPA to use Landfall Island as a base against the military junta.

At that time I was in charge of the NUPA office at Bangkok in and around May 1997. At that time Col. Grewal came for ten days and I met him along with out Chief Khaing Raza at breakfast at a luxury hotel where Col. Grewal was staying. Our party had to bear heavy expenses for his stay at the hotel. I do not remember exactly the price but it was around 4,000 to 6,000 bahts. At breakfast Col. Grewal had a little alcohol and he said he wants us to show him around Bangkok. He asked us about good resorts and he said he wanted to visit the exotic Island resort of Kawthung, which is an Island hired by Thais from Burmese junta. He visited the Island and stayed on the resort with a Thai businessman Phi Dan.

After having breakfast with Col. Grewal, we went to his room and there he showed me all the presents our party had given him like cameras, gold and other expensive things. I wondered why our party had given him and how an Indian military intelligence officer could accept such expensive presents and even ask our party to pay for shirts, pants and clothes.

I met Col. Grewal several times at our office and we took photos together.

Min Thar Tum, S/o U San Shwe Maung

My parents are farmers and we are 3 brothers and sisters. I have studied upto VIIIth standard. While I was studying the SLORC was ruling Burma.

At this time every family was forced to provide a member of the family to construct roads. Every person who did not perform forced labour and did his own work, had to pay 500 kyats (Burmese currency) to the Burmese army.

In August 1988 there was a pro democracy uprising in Burma. I went to the Ra Thi Township everyday to demonstrate against the SLORC government. We were able to remove the SLORC government but the military crushed the people of Burma. In 1989 however permission was given to form political parties. The military junta announced that people can choose their own government.

We chose the Arakan League for Democracy in Arakan State. But the military government ignored and refused to acknowledge and recognize the peoples verdict. Moreover the military junta arrested every representative of the people and leaders of the political parties. The military junta also arrested all the students and other participants of the 1988 democracy uprising.

In order to avoid being arrested by the military junta I went to the Thai-Burma border. I reached Ranang in Thailand.

In Thailand as I had no money, no shelter I faced many difficulties. I worked as a construction worker for four years.

After four years I was able to contact NUPA and joined them.

In 1996, I was promoted as Captain of NUPA. And in 1998 I was told to join a joint operation with Karens.

On Frbruary 8, 1998 I was a part of a joint operation with Karens under the command of the Arakan Chief Khaing Raza. I did not know the purpose of the operation. On February 10, 1998 we arrived at Landfall Island (Indian territory). The Indian army officers greeted us and our leaders tol us that we should treat them as friends.

Khaing Shwe Lin, S/o U Sin Pru

My father was the Headmaster of the Primary School. We are seven brothers and sisters. I am second eldest child of my parents. I have studied till Standard VIII. After leaving school in 1985 I used to work at an automobile workshop.

The Burmese Junta treated anyone opposed them as their enemies. They arrested and tortured anyone who tried to oppose them. In my region every family was forced to provide people to work at the army camp. The people who were forced to work free at the Burmese army camps were not even given rations. If someone made a mistake he was mercilessly beaten by Burmese soldiers.

The Burmese army soldiers as a whole misbehave and even rape women. In September 1993 I saw two women who had been admitted to hospital after they were gangraped by the Burmese military. This was an incident which became known to the people. Often the Burmese military get away without anyone knowing the facts. Sometimes people who were forced to work for the Burmese army died because of snake bite or of malaria but their family was given no compensation.

During the pro democracy uprising in 1988 I was at Akyab. I also participated in the demonstrations. We were demanding the restoration of democracy and human rights in our country. But the military junta tried to crush our movement and many persons were shot or tortured to death at Akyub. The Burmese military junta has no compassion at all and I felt I must join in the resistance so I went to the Thai-Burma border.

On June 1, 1995 I joined All Burma Students Democratic Front and later I joined the All Arakan Student and Youth Congress which later merged into the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA). In 1997 I was assigned to duty on the sea.

On February 8, 1998 I was a part of a joint operation with Karens under the command of the Arakan Chief Khaing Raza. I did not know the purpose of the operation. On February 10, 1998 we landed at Landfall Island (Indian territory). Indian Army officers greeted us and our leaders told us that we should treat them as friends.

Khaing Soe Lin, S/o U Loon Shey

My parents are farmers and I have three siblings. I passed the Xth standard in 1986 and got BGrade. I went to Rangoon to continue my studies. I lived in my uncle’s house.

In August 1988, there was a pro democracy uprising in Rangoon. I joined the old students Conference. I joined the demonstrations and marched in the front row.

On September 11, 1988 the military junta crushed the movement and shot dead many demonstrators. Many people and students were arrested. They were thrown into jail. The jail authorities raped many women. After release from the jail these women gave birth to children. Some women also tried to commit suicide, as they could not face the people.

After September 1988, General Saw Maung ruled Burma. All schools were closed down in Burma.

I returned to my native village in 1989. In 1990 when I was living with my parents I saw the Burmese army demand chiken, goats from the villagers. The villagers were forced to supply food to the army camps. The Burmese soldiers asked the parents of the beautiful women to give their daughters in marriage. The girls’ parents had no choice and out of fear had to give the girls in marriage to the Burmese soldiers. The Burmese soldiers however lived with these women only for 6 months to one year. Upon their transfer the soldiers abandoned these women. So in every village there are many deserted women.

On seeing the conditions of the helpless Arakanese people, I decided to join the protest against the military junta. So I went to Kwothoung on the Thai-Burma border in 1992. I joined the All Burma Students Democratic Front Arakan (ABSDF).

In 1993, I was order to go to the Mon State. I tried to protect the innocent people from the atrocities of the Burmese military. I also tried to unite the people against the military junta. I was in this region for 3 years.

In 1996, we withdrew from the membership of the ABSDF and formed the All Arakan Students Youth Congress (AASYC). In 1997 AASYC united with National United Party of Arakan (NUPA) in 1998 I was assigned to the sea.

On February 8, 1998 I was included in a joint Arakan-Karen operation under the command of the Arakan Chief of Army, Khaing Raza. I did not know the purpose of the operation. On February 10^th, 1998 we reached Landfall Island (Indian territory). Indian army officers greeted us and our leaders told us to treat them as our friends.

Maung Nyo Sin, S/o U San Ni

My parents are farmers. I have an elder sister. I have received no education at the government school. But I have however studied religion at the monastery.

In 1988 when the pro democracy uprising begun, I was studying at the Bodh town monastery. I too as a monk joined the demonstration against the Burmese junta.

The Burmese military junta suppressed the uprising. The Burmese army forced people to labour for it without any payment. Many people were used as porters to carry the supplies of the army. Every family was required to provide wood to bake bricks at the army camp. Members of each family were forced to provide labour to construct homes for the army and their families. If any family could not provide free labour for the army they were forced to pay money to the army. The from each village at leat 50 young men had to compulsorily join the Burma army.

I could not bear the brutal exploitation of the people by the Burmese army and so I went to the Thai-Burma border to join the groups struggling for the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma. I wanted a free legal and accountable government in Burma.

From Bodhi town also 100 persons were forced to go and construct the AKYAB-RANGOON high way. Women and girls of my village were summoned to the army camp and treated very badly. Many beautiful women were raped by the Burmese army. The people of Bodhi town were also forced to give 500,000 bricks to build the micro tower. The people of Bodhi town were also forced to work at the prawn farm set up in the lake by the Burmese army.

In 1996 I joined AASYC to fight against the military junta and for the restoration of democratic government. In 1998 I was given duty on the sea.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8 in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

Moe Min Tun, S/o Tun Way

My parents are farmers. I am the youngest of 3 brothers and sisters.

In 1987, I decided to become a Buddhist monk and undertook religious studies and training for six years at the Yaf Lay monastery in Arakan State.

In 1988 there was a popular uprising of students, monks, people against the Burmese military regime of Gen Ne Win.

In 1988 I joined the Youth Monks organisation and participated in the demonstrations on the streets demanding restoration of democracy. Our uprising was brutally crushed by the Burmese army. Many pro democracy protestors were killed and many injured.

There was a crackdown by the Burmese army intelligence against all those who had participated in the uprising. To avoid arrest by the Burmese army I shifted to another monastery viz. Danma Rahthar in P Thein city outside Arakan State.

While studying in the monastery I saw the Burmese army use the villagers as forced labour, rape the village women and beat and torture the poor villagers.

I witnessed the brutality of the Burmese military junta. I decided to join the movement for restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma.

I fled to the Thai-Burma border and in April 1997 I joined the National United Party of Arakan to support against the Burmese military junta.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8 in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

Chan Du, S/o Nga May Age

My parents are farmers. I am the second of eight brothers and sisters. I cannot give more details of family because my family members can be victimised by the Burmese military regime.

I worked as a fisherman in the Irrawady Division from 1980 and during the 1988 uprising against the Burmese military junta I joined the workers Organisation and partipated in the demonstrations. I marched on the streets of Phar Phon along with students and other pro democracy activists. In September the Military Junta tried to crush our movement and in order to avoid arrest and torture I was compelled to leave Burma and I went to the Thai-Burma border.

From 1990 I did many kinds of organizational work to help the student and other activists organizing resistance against the Burmese military government, and I helped the Burmese refugees.

In 1995 I joined the All Arakan Student and Youth Congress (AASYC) to support the movement against the Burmese junta. In 1997 AASYC joined the NUPA along with the other Arakan groups.

In February 1998 I was told to join a joint operation with the Karens in the sea. The operation was under the command of the Arakan Chief, Khaing Raza. We set out on February 8, 1988 and two days later landed at Landfall Island where we were greeted by Indian Army officers. Our leaders told us to treat them as friends.

Maung Khain Aye, S/o Maung Way

My father was a framer and we are six brothers and sisters. I have studied upto Standard IV in my village school. After that I could not study further since I was the eldest child I had to help my father in cultivation. I am apprehensive about giving any further details about my family as my family members may be victimised by the Burmese military government.

The Burmese army came to my village and forced me along with my father and other villagers to construct a road for the army. On several occasions I was forced to work as a porter for the Burmese army. They never paid us for the work we did for them. One soldier of the Burmese army raped one of the girls in my village.

Sometimes the Burmese army captured our land and fields. We were given no compensation for the land that was forcibly taken away from us. Some villagers were forced to work on the lands occupied by the Burmese Army, but no one was given any payment for the work extracted out of them either in cash or in rations. When the villagers worked for the Burmese army not only were they not given any payment but they were severely beaten if they took rest due to exhaustion.

I was very angry and upset because of the atrocities committed by the Burmese Army on my villagers and my family members. I tried to contact the groups opposing the Burmese military junta but I was unable to do so. As I could not bear the oppression of the military regime any longer I escaped to Thailand. As I entered Thailand illegally I was caught twice by the Thai police and arrested.

In Thailand I met and joined All Arakan Student and Youth Congress which was committed to fighting against the Burmese military regime and for restoring democracy to our country.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8, 1998 in two speed boats and later two fishing trawlers joined us.

Soe Naing, S/o Maung Nyo

I was in Arakan Ram Ree township in Arakan state in Burma (Myanmar) in 1954. My father was a farmer and my mother a school teacher. I did my studies in Rangoon. In 1970 I joined Rangoon University to study Chemistry but I could not finish my studies because I joined the nation wide movement against the brutal military regime of General Ne Win.

In 1962 Gen Ne Win overthrew the democratically elected Government of Prime Minister U Nu. India gave refuge to U Nu and his family because India always stood for democracy and rule of law. Under Gen Ne Win my people became poorer and poorer. Farmers were forced to sell their products to the army for throwaway prices and there was an acute shortage of food. Burma, which was a rice exporting country became a rice importing nation. The gap between the ordinary people and the army officers grew to huge proportions. The villagers were forced to work without wages and they had to dig and build for the army apart from being forced to contribute food and materials such as bamboo to the Burmese Junta.

Apart from the Burmese people who were the victims of Gen Ne Win’s military regime the Indians too were his targets. Hundreds and thousands of Indian were forced to leave their homes, leaving behinds their shops factories and commercial establishments because of General Ne Win’s policies. I had many friends and acquaintances who escaped from Burma during the mass exodus of Indians in 1962.

The people of Burma rose up in revolt against Ne Win’s military repression and there were strikes and demonstrations all over the country. The students blocked military trucks and stopped them from entrying the campus in support of their demand that the students union building be reconstructed as it been demolished by the military junta. At that time many of my friends were arrested for taking part in the demonstrations. This was in 1970, the year I had joined Rangoon University. I too along with thousands of students joined students groups which were working secretly to overthrow the military junta and restore democracy and civil rule in our country. I published a pamphlet entitled “Mra Kyunt Tha” in Arakan language against human rights violations being committed by Gen Ne Win. While I was working secretly with a pro democracy group and was living in the jungles I wrote to my father to send me some money. Unfortunately the letter was intercepted by the authorities and my father was arrested. The military brutally tortured my father and he lost one eye. Since my father refused to betray his son he was kept under illegal detention for two years by the military authorities without trial, from 1973 to 1975.

Gen Ne Win ordered public execution of all those who dared protest against his inhuman regime. In 1974 the military arrested my leader Mr. Maung Thein Mra and he was publically beheaded in an attempt to terrorise and discourage anyone from protesting. I myself am a witness to the execution of more than 20 of members of our group. I too was taken into the jungles where deep trenches had been dug. I was thrown into one trench and the military would have shot me but a Burmese soldier arrived with a message that I was not to be killed but brought alive to the military headquarters for interrogation. They wanted to question me because I was involved in liasoning between different pro democracy groups. I was illegally detained by the army for a year at Akyab where I was mercilessly beaten and tortured and then sent to Rangoon Jail and finally released in 1976.

The story of my release from jail is itself interesting. Gen Ne Win was a very superstitious man and he invited the Chief Buddhist monk from Sri Lanka to plant a Bodhi tree in the belief it would bring him luck. The monk agreed to do this on the condition that Gen Ne Win release all political prisoner and India supported this demand. That is why I along with many political prisoners were released from the jail in June 1976.

On my release I was not allowed to go to Rangoon but was forced to go back to my village in Arakan State where the Military authorities tried to buy my loyalty by offering me a government job. I refused and I returned to Rangoon secretly but I could not resume my pro democracy work because the military intelligence were on my trail and they had arrested my friends. In these circumstances I was compelled to leave Rangoon and go into hiding in Maqui township which is on the Burma Thai border and live under an assumed name. I was thus compelled to live in Thailand to avoid arrest and torture.

In 1988 August there was once again a nationwide uprising against Gen Ne Win’s military misrule. The uprising was started by the students but every section of Burmese society, revolted and every ethnic group including the Arakans, Karens, Chins, Kachins and Karenis joined the movement for restoration of democracy and human rights. All the nationalities and people from every walk of life including students, monks, professionals and even a section of the armed forces joined the movement which was led by our leader and Nobel Laureat Aung Saan Su Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy.

As can be expected from a military junta there was an attempt to crush the revolt with military boots and guns. Hundreds and thousands of students and other activists were arrested and tortured. No family in Burma was left untouched and every home lost family members. Despite this attempt to crush the uprising the people continued their struggle and finally in 1990 the military junta was forced to hold elections. In that elections Daw Aung Saan Su Kyi and her party the National League for Democracy won by an overwhelming majority. All revolutionary groups including the Arakan Liberation Party supported the NLD and welcomed the landslide victory for democracy. However, the military regime refused to hand over power to the democratically elected government and instead put the MPs in jail and even put Aung Saan Su Kyi under house arrest.

Under these circumstances hundreds and thousands of Burmese students and others who took active part in the uprising were forced to leave their homes and their country and take refuge in neighbouring countries, India and Thailand. I helped many students and activists to escape and also provided food, medical care and shelter to those who came into Thailand. I was also actively involved in the movement for the restoration of democracy and human rights. All the ethnic national groups along with the Burmese people formed the Democratic Alliance of Burma and we worked together for the liberation of our country from the curse of army rule. We regard this as the second liberation struggle, the first was the Burmese struggle against the British led by Aung Saan Su Kyi’s father, Aung Saan.

The Burmese people have always looked to India and Indians for inspiration. India gave U Nu shelter ad his daughter worked for the All India Radio in the Burmese section. India’s first Prime Minister was a personal friend of U Nu and this time also India conferred its highest award to Aung Saan Su Kyi when they awarded her the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding. The world leaders and former Nobel Laureates have all been working for the release of our leader and for the restoration of peace in Burma. The United Nations has passed resolutions against the military regime which called itself State Law and Order Restoration (SLORC) and now the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). India welcomed the Burmese refugees and allowed them to stay in for the past decade on humanitarian grounds. Above all we thought since India gave support to the Bangladesh liberation movement India would extend its help to the movement for the restoration of civil rule in Burma.

It was in this background that my party did not hesitate to cooperate with the Indian military intelligence when they contacted our leaders in Thailand. We thought it our duty to help the Indians in return for their solidarity for our movement. I do not know exactly how and when the Indian military intelligence contacted my party, the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA but by late 1990s we were negotiating with one man of the Indian Military Intelligence who spoke Burmese language very well and we all called him Nay Win. My leaders, which included Khaing Raza and Saw Tun were in touch with Indian authorities in Bangladesh and in Thailand. Later on Saw Tun visited India on several occasions and he was authorized by the National United Party of Arakan to cooperate with Government of India.

The Indian Military Intelligence wanted us to provide with information on the movement of Chinese fishing boats in Burmese waters because these fishermen were being used as spies by the Chinese Government to spy on Indian military and naval positions. The Indian Military Intelligence also wanted information on Chinese Radar Station in Coco Island which is very near Andaman Islands. My leaders told me that in return for this information the Indian Government was going to allow us to operate from Landfall Island, which is the Northern most point on the Andaman Island.

The negotiations with Col Garewal went on for several years and our party paid him large sums of money. These negotiations were carried out between our party and Indian authorities in Bangkok and in New Delhi. Finally my leader Kahing Raza who was the chief of the Arakan Army informed me in the last week of January that the negotiations are completed and we would soon leave for Landfall Island. My leader also informed me that Col Garewal had asked for US$ 10,000 to be sent urgently. A member of our party who went to India with the money was refused visa but Col Garewal intervened and the visa was issued by the Indian Embassy at Bangkok. Our man went to New Delhi and met Col Garewal and gave him the money and Col Garewal gave him the code or frequency on which we could contact him.

On February 6, 1998 I was ordered by my leader Khain Raza to make arrangements to arrive at Landfall island by February 10, 1998.

Thein Kyaw Aung, S/o Tun Tha Aung

My parents are cultivators and we are five brothers and sisters. I am second eldest.

While I was still living with my parents the Arakan people were being oppressed by the Burmese army. The teachers in the government schools were not good and they acted as spies for the military government and reported on student activities. That is why I studied only upto Standard V and then I discontinued my studies.

In 1970 I joined the Arakan National Liberation Party (hereinafter ANLP) in order to oppose Burmese army atrocities and oppression.

In 1974 I was a sergent in the ANLP I was posted to the Bangladesh border with around 80 others. Next year we discussions with the Bangladesh authorities and we were able to stay in that country.

While I was at the border Khaing Naing Aung who was in charge of foreign affairs in our party visited us. He visited Dhaka where he had discussions with officials in the Indian Embassy. After his discussions with the Indian Embassy I was ordered to shift to the Indian border along with my men.

I set up my camp at Parva in Mizoram near the Border Security Force camp. From there I conducted and organised operations into Arakan territory.

The Indian Army provided us with uniforms and rations. However, some tome later the Indian Army called six of our leaders stationed at Parva on the pretext of having some discussions but they arrested them without any reason. After the arrest we shifted our camp again to Bangladesh.

Before the arrest of our leaders we used to go freely to the BSF camp and they gave us medicines, uniforms and rations freely. But after the Assam Riles arrested our leaders we lost our trust of the Indians specially when they handed our leaders to the Burmese army after keeping them in an Indian jail for three years.

Our leaders (ANLP) and AIA after long discussion decided to join hand together to fight against the Burmese military oppression. Later, the Communist Party of Arakan (CPA) and Arakan Liberation Party (ALP) also decided to work together with us.

In 1988 there was a general uprising in Burma against the military junta. At that time I was at Arakan-Bangladesh border and we helped many pro-democracy students, protestors, youths, Buddhist monks escaped to Bangladesh for shelter. We also provided them food, medicine and shelter.

In 1990 the Arakan Army under the command of Khaing Raza shifted their base from the Thai border to the Bangladesh border and in 1993 the NUPA and Arakan Army once again shifted to the Parva Camp in Mizoram next to the BSF camp. They decided to trust the Indians once again because they thought India had given its highest award to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi and given shelter to hundreds of Burmese student activists.

In 1994 our party merged into the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA). Around 1997 I was involved in sea operations. In January 1998 Khaing Raza came to see me while I was on the sea and told me to get ready for an operation to begin on February 8, 1998. He told me that India had agreed to give NUPA the use of Landfall Island where we would be able to keep our arms and ammunition and also provide a safe haven for our people. He had told me of this plan in 1997 and we had tried to reach Landfall Island but we were caught in a cyclone and had to return.

On February 8, 1998 we set off for Landfall Island and we arrived on February 10^th. I met Saw Tun and Ran Naing along with Col Garewal. I had met Col Garewal earlier. The Indians met us with warmth and we shared food and cold drinks.

Soe Soe, S/o Tin Win

My father is a trader. I have studied till Standard X and we are four brothers and sisters. At the time of the 1988 uprising I was only 9 years old so I could not understand what was happening.

By the time I was a little grown up I realized how oppressive the Burmese army was to our people. In 1994 I saw how young boys of 10 to 11 years along with adults were forced to build the road from Kwank Pru to Rangoon. At the time of the road constructions Burmese soldiers raped girls.

When I was studying in school we students faced many problems. Schooling was very expensive, text books were not easily available and the teachers were paid very low wages so they did not bother to teach properly. Exams were not held in time and there was a lot of corruption in marking.

The Burmese Junta imposed high taxes on land and they seized the lands of poor farmers and distributed it in lieu of pension. The Burmese Army ordered the students to join the Burma Army and if they refused they were sentenced to ten months imprisonment.

I saw how brutal the Burmese army was and I felt very angry so I went to the Thai Burma border to join the pro democracy movement and I joined the NUPA in 1997.

On February 8, 1998 I was included in a joint Arakan-Karen operation under the command of the Arakan Chief of Arakan Army, Khaing Raza. I did not know the purpose of the operation. On February 10^th, 1998 we reached Landfall Island (Indian territory). Indian Army officers greeted us and our leaders told us to treat them as our friends.

Zaw Lin, S/o Aung Zan

My parents are farmers. I have studied till the Vth standard in school. I am the third child of six siblings. I left school to help my father in the work of cultivation.

On our land my family would grow a lot of paddy. However we were very poor as all the paddy was purchased by the Burmese military junta at a very low price. Despite a good harvest we remained poor. We were not allowed to sell our agricultural produce in the open market. We were forced to sell all our produce to the Burmese military junta at throw away prices. If we did not sell our produce to the government our lands were captured by the Burmese army and the farmers were arrested.

As I did not sell all my agricultural produce rice to the government but sold only a portion of it, I was arrested and severly beaten.

In 1988 I and my friends participated in the demonstration against the Burmese military junta for restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma.

After the pro democracy uprising was brutally suppressed the Burmese army began to arrest all those who had participated in the demonstrations.

To avoid arrest, I left for the Thai-Burma border in 1990.

In 1995, I joined All Burma Students Democratic Front, Arakan, to oppose the rule of the Burmese military junta.

I also joined AASYC and in 1997 I joined NUPA and I was told to work in the sea.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8 in two speed boats and later we got two finshing trawlers.

Aung Naing Win, S/o U Tun

My father is a trader and we are seven brothers and sisters. I am the third seldest. I studied upto Standard V after which I left my studies to help my father. My father traveled from Division to Division for the purposes of trading.

In the course of our work my father and I encountered Burmese army many times. The soldiers would take away the goods we had taken to trade without paying for anything and if my father tried to reason with them the soldiers beat him even though they were so much younger than him. I felt very angry when I saw soldiers beat and kick my father.

Sometimes my father and I would go by boat. Even then the Burmese soldiers would demand he give them our wares free, or they would demand money. Once when my father refused the soldiers beat him so badly that his knee was injured. The Burmese army took away all our things and gave back our boat empty.

My father told me that it is not a good time live in our country and the times were very bad. He advised that I leave Burma till the time there was democracy. At that time I was only 13 years old and I felt very sad and I wept. From that time I hated the Burmese Army.

In 1988 August there was a national uprising in Burma. The entire people, students, monks, even government servants revolted against the military dictatorship and demanded human rights and democracy. The Burmese army tried to crush the uprising and caught hold of anyone who took part in pro democracy demonstrations. I also participated in the demonstrations and protests and the army was after me. That was the time I remembered my fathers words about leaving the country.

I saw the Burmese army even pick up women traders on the pretext that their officers wanted to have a discussion with them and then they raped the women and beat them. I know some women who committed suicide.

After seeing all these atrocities and human rights violations by the Burmese army I felt very angry and I yearned for freedom so I decided to go to the Thai-Burma border and join the freedom fighters. I went to the border in 1993. On March 13, 1995 I joined the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and also became a member of All Arakan Student and Youth Congress. The latter joined the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA). As a member of NUPA I was assigned duty on the sea.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off in two speed boats and two fishing trawlers on February 8, 1998.

Maung Naing, S/o Saw Maung

My father was a fisherman. I have studied till the IVth standard at school. I am the eldest child of my family.

I worked as a fisherman with my father. As my father grew old and weak I had to work continuously to support the family.

On March 24^th 1987, I was arrested by the Burmese army on the suspicion that I had links with the revolutionary pro democracy groups. I had no association or link with any group at that time. I was rigorously interrogated and tortured by the Burmese Police and military intelligence. I was kept in solitary confinement and not given even the basic facilities like ground sheet in the jail. I was given very little water for bathing and that also once in 2 days. For food I was given only a little bit of rice and nothing else. The conditions in the jail were inhuman and unbearable.

After 9 days of incarceration I was released as the authorities found out that I was innocent.

When the pro democracy uprising broke out on 8.8.88, I along with my friends marched to the Thein Kyi Town Hill to join with other demonstrators. The police fired at the demonstrators killing 3 students. This further angered all of us and we demanded the restoration of democracy and human rights in Burma.

On September 11^th 1988 the Burmese junta crushed the pro democracy uprising and cracked down on all those who had participated in the demonstrations. Mass arrests of students, monks and other people followed.

To avoid arrest I went to Mon State in Burma. I reached 3 Stupa region where the headquarter of the New Mon State Party was located.

In January, 1989, I joined the New Mon State Party to struggle against the Burmese military junta. As a member of the party I continued to protest against the atrocities and brutality suffered by the people of Burma at the hands of the military junta.

In 1994 I was transferred to Shou ship camp. At this time the New Mon State Party and Burmese military junta entered into a cease-fire agreement.

However the Burmese military junta did not respect the cease-fire and violated it by killing and torturing the people. I now understood the nature and intention of the Burmese military junta.

In 1996, I joined the KNU for our liberation from the oppressive rule of the Burmese military junta.

I was assigned to the same seas and I undertook joint operations with the NUPA led by Arakan Chief Khaing Raza and the KNU leader Pado Mu Lway.

I was told by our leader Pado Mu Lway that we would go for an operation starting on February 8, 1998. We were not told the exact nature of the operation.

Khin Maung Kyi, S/o Ba San Oo

My parents are cultivators and we are seven brothers and sisters of which I am the third eldest.

I completed my studies upto Standard IV in my village Sin Mor. In 1991 I became a monk and joined the Mandalay monastery Maha Wi Thu dar Ron and did religious studies till 1993. Then I was transferred to another monastery at Utkalapa in Rangoon called Maha Gan Dar Ron Monastery.

When I returned to my village I found that my parents were being made to do road construction work without wages. Many people were made to do forced labour by the Burmese army.

The Burmese army forcibly took away paddy and ricefrom my parents. This made me very angry and once I hit the soldiers who were trying to take away my parents rice. After that I fled to another monastery in Rangoon called Maha Gan Dai Ron Monastery.

In 1995 I was able to contact a freedom fighter and I went with him to the Thai-Burma border. From then on I joined the Arakan liberation movement which is fighting for the Arakan people and also for the liberation of Burma from military rule.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

Khaing Hla, S/o U Tun

My parents are farmers. I have four brothers and sisters. I am the third child of my parents.

In August 1988, when I was 11 years old and studying in IVth standard in school there was a pro democracy uprising in Burma. I also joined the demonstration and marched on the roads. We thought we could pull down the Burmese SLORC.

Because I joined the movement I could not study further. After three or four months the primary schools opened but the other schools were closed. Our family was too poor and they could not afford to give my fees. Since I had no father I had to take his place.

The Burmese military government ruled by using force and crushing people. Sometimes Burmese troops came to my village and demand chicken, pig or buffalo without payment. Villagers cannot refuse. Sometimes, each household has to send family members to build the army camp without any wages. If someone cannot go to do forced labour they have to give Kyat 500 to 1,000 to the military authorities.

Since I had no father I had to go to the army camp for forced labour. At the army camp a sergeant ordered me to carry stones, catch fish and get vegetables for the families of Burmese army. I carried a very big stone and sometimes I rest along with others. When we rest we talk but the military beat us because they think we are discussing against the military junta.

That I felt very angry and I could not control my feeling. I could not live in the village so I decided to become a monk. After three years I went to the Thai Burma border and joined the All Arakan Student and Youth Congress (AASYC) on March 12, 1996. In 1997 AASYC integrated with the National Unity of Party of Arakan (NUPA). I was assigned to work at the sea.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8, in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

Ran Naing, S/o Ou Maung Tin

My parents are farmers. I have seven brothers and sisters and I am the third child in our family. Further, details are withheld for fear of repercussion on my family members by the military junta.

I stayed with my parents and helped them in the cultivations. The Burmese army are constant visitors to my village and force people to work on the road constructions. The Burmese army demand money, beautiful girls and women, so for this reason parents have to shift their daughters to safer places.

In 1988 students cam to my village and asked us to join the pro democracy demonstration against the military junta. The villagers responded spontaneously and joined the pro democracy demonstration for the restoration of peace and people’s rule in Burma.

In the course of the people’s uprising, my people also started having discussions and I also decided to go the Thai-Burma border in 1993. And in 1995 I joined the Arakan Army and worked in the sea under a senior.

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief Khaing Raza. We set off in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.

We landed at Landfall Islands (Indian territory) on February 10, 1998. Our leaders were greeted warmly by the Indian army officers and we were told that India was going to help us in our liberation struggle and so we should treat the Indian army as our friend.

Khain San Thein, S/o U Maung

My parents are cultivators. I have eight brothers and sisters. I have studied till the IVth standard in my village.

The Burmese army came to my village and used force and tortured my villagers. The villagers were forced to work for the army and also to provide them with rations. The Burmese army gave no payment to the villagers for their work or rations. Instead the military severely beat up me and other villagers.

To escape the brutality of the Burmese military I ran away to Central Burma in 1991. I joined the Burmese army and became a soldier to escape the torture and beating of the Burmese army.

As a soldier of the Burmese army I witnessed the senior officers in the Burmese army extract forced labour, rations and money from poor villagers. If any villager was physically incapable of working as a porter he had to pay money to the Burmese army to avoid forced labour.

As I did not desire to suppress and exploit my people I left the Burmese army. I wanted to use my training as a soldier for the restoration of democracy in Burma and so in 1993 I joined the All Burmese Students Democractic Front Arakan. This is a coalition of students groups of different nationalities in Burma, jointly opposing the Burmese military junta.

In September 1995 I and other students formed the All Arakan Students Youth Congress (AASYC) and in 1997 we integrated to form the National United Party of Arakan (NUPA).

In February 1998 I was ordered to join an operation at sea to be jointly conducted by the Arakan and Karens under the command of the Arakan Army Chief, Khaing Raza. We set off on February 8 in two speed boats and later we got two fishing trawlers.