I know a brilliant, young Burmese woman who recently moved to the States. When she lived in Burma she was always strong and courageous, never acting apathetic or disillusioned despite the overpowering junta that runs her country. She wants to return home one day, so I cannot give her credit and use her name. But here are her thoughts on watching the uprising and brutal crackdown in her home from across the world:

“I really feel sorry and even feel guilty because I was away from my people at the very critical time. I could not sleep at all. You know, at about 1:00 am or 2:00 am here, in Yangon, the government starts shooting people. The news comes out. So, I could not sleep at all. I have been crying after reading the news. I tried to call my Burmese friends in the States. And they also called me.. but we have no idea how we can help people and to stop [the] killing. So, we are just crying on the line. And I am so emotional during those days. I cannot concentrate on my study at all. I have been in front of the computer for the whole night and have been waiting for the news, searching the Burmese news, webs and blogs, spreading out the news to my friends.

And during those days, we have no idea what we can do. So, we even write several letters to the UN secretery general and even the vice president of the U.S. At that moment, the only wish I have is just to make the military government to stop killing Buddhist monks.

I don’t think I would be protesting, but I [would] be with the demonstrations. It’s definitely sure I would be covering all the news. Last night, as I called my mom, she said that if I were still in Yangon, I would be one of them [who] were shot or arrested.

The main thing I am guilty is, majority of the people cannot get access to the information. If we can publish like a newsletter, at least the leaders [in hiding] can give their messages. [Since Burma is] a censored country, it’s quite difficult to distribute such newsletter. But I think, at least, I could do that task if I were there.

I usually contacts with my friends in Yangon by emails and online. But, since the Internet connection shut down in Yangon last weekend, I have not met any of them online. My family is still in my native village. So, it seems that they are ok over there. They did not even get most of the information I get here. They have to rely on the BBC, RFA and DVB Burmese [radio] broadcasting services [from abroad].

I am now planning to go back Yangon during the summer break. I really want to go back now.”

For voices and images coming out of Rangoon (renamed Yangon by the junta), check out my photo essay and commentary on Washingtonpost.com.

Photo credit: The cartoon appeared on MoeMaKa blog.
Contact: hingber@gmail.com