He was strolling alone on a school holiday in his native Rakhine State in 2007 when he was caught by three drunken soldiers.
They took him to their battalion headquarters, where he was tortured into agreeing to join the army. When darkness fell, he managed to escape from an unlocked hut and ran home in fear to his parents.
They sent him to Thailand, where he found work at a prawn farm. After a few months, he moved to Malaysia, where he was twice arrested. He lived and studied in a refugee camp run for Rakhine people by the Arakan Refugee Relief Committee based in Kuala Lumpur, hoping to return home.
His story was unearthed by writers Maggie Lemere and Zoe West, who interviewed refugees in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Bangladesh and the United States during 2009 and 2010. (Courtesy of Myanmar Times)
January 23, 2016
Myanmar ponders potential radicalization of Rohingyas
In the courtyard of Myanmar's Islamic University in Thetkaypyin village, half a dozen teachers sit around the courtyard while classes change.
It's the worst of times for the Buddhist-majority country's leading madrassa, now surrounded by refugee camps and villages that have been under prison-like conditions for three years.
At present 400 students are attending the university, the largest school in Rakhine State. Founded in 1951, some of the college's graduates go on to serve as imams or go abroad for further studies, says Kyaw Zaw La, university professor.
Observers suggest that the abysmal living conditions in the refugee camps and the abject poverty of its residents are ripe for radicalization. Rohingyas, who lack basic rights in Myanmar, are denied citizenship, stripped of voting rights and denied access to adequate health care and education.
The Jan. 14 attacks on the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, have amplified fears of recruitment by radicalized elements.
Aung Win, a Rohingya community leader in the district raised concerns that Myanmar could be a target of the so-called Islamic State by recruiting young, unemployed Muslims. (Courtesy of ucanews.com)
It's the worst of times for the Buddhist-majority country's leading madrassa, now surrounded by refugee camps and villages that have been under prison-like conditions for three years.
At present 400 students are attending the university, the largest school in Rakhine State. Founded in 1951, some of the college's graduates go on to serve as imams or go abroad for further studies, says Kyaw Zaw La, university professor.
Observers suggest that the abysmal living conditions in the refugee camps and the abject poverty of its residents are ripe for radicalization. Rohingyas, who lack basic rights in Myanmar, are denied citizenship, stripped of voting rights and denied access to adequate health care and education.
The Jan. 14 attacks on the Indonesian capital of Jakarta, have amplified fears of recruitment by radicalized elements.
Aung Win, a Rohingya community leader in the district raised concerns that Myanmar could be a target of the so-called Islamic State by recruiting young, unemployed Muslims. (Courtesy of ucanews.com)
Only Suu Kyi speaks for party: NLD
The National League for Democracy said only Aung San Suu Kyi could make announcements on policy and transitional affairs.
Its statement stressed the delicate nature of transitional politics and said Suu Kyi was handing the process with great care.
During the week, Nyan Win, an executive committee member, told the AFP news agency that MP Win Myint had been chosen as the Lower House Speaker and Kayin national MP Marn Win Khaing Than would be the Upper House Speaker. Kachin and Arakan nationals would be the two vice-Speakers, he said.
Subsequently Suu Kyi on January 21 refused to answer questions on the appointments. (Courtesy of Eleven Media)
Its statement stressed the delicate nature of transitional politics and said Suu Kyi was handing the process with great care.
During the week, Nyan Win, an executive committee member, told the AFP news agency that MP Win Myint had been chosen as the Lower House Speaker and Kayin national MP Marn Win Khaing Than would be the Upper House Speaker. Kachin and Arakan nationals would be the two vice-Speakers, he said.
Subsequently Suu Kyi on January 21 refused to answer questions on the appointments. (Courtesy of Eleven Media)
NLD Issues Apparent Online Rebuke Over Spokesman's Loose Lips
The National League for Democracy issued an official statement on Friday claiming that party leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi is the sole official spokesperson on matters of party policy and the political transition to the next government.
Issued at 4pm on Friday, the brief notice, posted on the NLD’s official Facebook page appeared to offer a rebuke to those who had been making announcements on the party’s behalf, without explicit reference to any individual.
“This is the time that NLD is taking carefully in transition period,” it read. “So the NLD would like to announce that there is no person can speak about NLD policy and transitional affairs except the chairperson of the NLD, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.'
The edict comes two days after NLD spokesman and central executive committee member U Nyan Win told AFP the party had finalised its choice of speakers to preside over the next Union Parliament in Nay Pyi Taw, when new lawmakers take their seats on February 1. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
Issued at 4pm on Friday, the brief notice, posted on the NLD’s official Facebook page appeared to offer a rebuke to those who had been making announcements on the party’s behalf, without explicit reference to any individual.
“This is the time that NLD is taking carefully in transition period,” it read. “So the NLD would like to announce that there is no person can speak about NLD policy and transitional affairs except the chairperson of the NLD, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.'
The edict comes two days after NLD spokesman and central executive committee member U Nyan Win told AFP the party had finalised its choice of speakers to preside over the next Union Parliament in Nay Pyi Taw, when new lawmakers take their seats on February 1. (Courtesy of Frontier Myanmar)
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