ROADROADROADNO EASY

a burmese political

prisoner’s story

by Paul Pickrem

•

THEREISNOEASYROADTOFREEDOMANYWHERE,ANDMANYOFUSWILLHAVETOWALKAGAINANDAGAIN

THROUGHTHEVALLEYOFTHESHADOWOFDEATHBEFOREWEREACHTHEMOUNTAINTOPOFOURDESIRES.

—NelsonMandela

InSeptember1987,twenty‐oneyearoldThihaYarzar,thesonofaBurmeseArmyColonel,wasarrestedinRangoonasoneoftheleadersofagroupofuniversitystudentsprotestingagainstthemilitaryregime’seconomicpolicies.HewasheldatBurma’snotoriousInseinPrisonforalmostfivemonths.

Fouryearslater,followingcontinuedpoliticalactivityandashamone‐daytrial,ThihawassentencedtodeathforHighTreasonandreturnedtoInsein,believinghewoulddiethere.

NoEasyRoad:ABurmesePoliticalPrisoner’sStorychroniclesThihaYarzar’snearly18‐yearjourneyonthelongroadtofreedom,firstasapoliticalprisonerjailedandtorturedinfivedifferentBurmeseprisons,andthenasapoliticalexileinThailand.

Ithoughttomyself,‘I’mgoingtogetadeathsentenceanddieintheend,or,maybetheywillkillmeherewhiletheytortureme.

Iwaschoking.Icouldnotbreathe.AndIswungbackandforthbetweenthetwokickingme,likeIwasinacradle.

Iwantedtoscream.But,Icontrolledmyself.Ididnotwanttoshowthemmyfearandmyrage.Iswallowedmyvoice.Ididnotwantthem

tothinkofmeasacoward.—ThihaYarzar

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NO EASY ROAD

a burmese political

prisoner’s story

TheLifeofThihaYarzar

byPaulPickrem

©2010,co‐publishedbyCanadianFriendsofBurma,ExPP‐ACT,

andTheBestFriendLibrary

printedinMaeSot,Thailandfirstedition:October2010,1000copies

NO EASY

ROAD

a burmese political

prisoner’s story

by

Paul Pickrem

WheneverIseeunfortunatebeingsOppressedbyevilandviolentsuffering,MayIcherishthemasifIhadfound

Arareandprecioustreasure.

TheBuddha

Thereisnoeasyroadtofreedomanywhere,andmanyofuswillhavetopassthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeathagainandagainbeforewereachthemountaintopofourdesires.

NelsonMandela

preface

AyeMinSoe

August2010

ThihaYarzarandIhavebeencloseandhaveworkedtogetherinthestruggleforfreedominBurmasince1987,whenwewerebothstu‐dents.We fought against the Burmese Socialist Government of NeWin,whichwasverypowerfulatthattime.Thousandsofuniversitystudents,includingThihaandme,startedtoprotestagainstthegov‐ernment’sactions.Weknewonlyalittleaboutpolitics,butweknewverywellthatitwasunjustwhenthegovernmentannouncedthede‐monetizationoflargebanknotesofBurmesecurrencyin1987.Itwasrobberyofthepeoplebythegovernment.

Fromthattimeuntilnow,everytimewebreathe inandout,weknowourselvestoberevolutionarieswhofightforjustice,peace,andhumanrightsinourmotherland.Thegovernmentcrushedourdem‐onstrationsin1987andwewereseparatedfromeachotherwhenIfledtothecountrysideandThihawasarrestedandimprisoned.

Atthebeginningoftheuprisingsin1988,wemetagainandhelpedorganizenewproteststogether.Wewerearrestedwhilestagingastu‐dents’boycottatRangoonUniversity.WeweresenttoInseinPrison,wherewewereinterrogatedandtortured.WepromisedeachotherwewouldcontinuetostruggletoremovetheBurmesedictatorshipfrompowerwhenwearereleasedfromprison.

Wedidn’tseeeachotheragainforalmost18years.WhenIwasinprisonagainservingafive‐yearsentenceforpro‐

democracyworkwiththestudentundergroundmovement,Iwasbro‐ken‐heartedtolearnThihahadreceivedthedeathsentence.Ithoughtwewouldneverseeeachotheragain.

no easy road • 9

Fortunately, I heard the good news that hewas released fromprisonon23September2008.AtthattimeIwasworkingwithDemo‐craticVoiceofBurma(DVB)asanundercoverjournalist.IwashidingandmovingfromoneplacetoanotherinRangoonbecauseIfearedbeingarrestedbecauseofthe“BurmaVJ”documentary,whichotherundercoverjournalistsandIhelpedtomakein2007abouttheSaffronRevolution.

Finally,Thihaand Imetagain inOctober 2008,whilewebothwerehidingfromthemilitaryregime.Wedecidedtofleethecountry.InearlyDecember2008,wesecretly leftRangoonpretendingtobebusinessmengoingtoThailand.

Today,ThihaandIliveinMaeSot,Thailand.Itiscalledbysome“LittleBurma”or“TheCityofExiles”.Wefeelweareinanotherprison,becauseitisverydifficulttoleaveMaeSot,andweareunderconstantscrutinybytheThaipoliceandindangerfromBurmeseinformants.Webothhopetofindawaytostartanewlifebyresettlinginathirdcountry.

Mycomrade,Thiha,isakindman.Innocentinmanyways,hehasthelion’sheartofarevolutionaryandisstillalwaysthinkingandplan‐ningabouthowtofightforjustice,democracy,andpeaceinBurma,despitethehighpricehehasalreadypaidasapoliticalprisoner.

Paul Pickrem is the right person towrite aboutThiha becausehehastakensomuchtimetounderstandthelivesandstrugglesofex‐politicalprisonersandrevolutionarieslivingontheborderswithBurma.

ThisbookisnotonlyaboutThiha,butaboutallpoliticalprisonersandtheirstrugglesonthelongroadtofreedom.

AyeMinSoe(Andrew)

‘88GenerationEx‐PoliticalPrisonerCo‐founderofBurmaVJNetwork,

DemocraticVoiceofBurma

10 • no easy road

contents

PrefacebyAyeMinSoe...9

IntroductionbyPaulPickrem...13

Chapter1:StandingWithTheLady...17Chapter2:DreamingthePrisoner’sDream...21Chapter3:SentencedtoDie...24Chapter4:TheColonel’sSon...29Chapter5:StudentActivisttoArmedRevolutionary...34Chapter6:OntheRun...39Chapter7:Caught...44Chapter8:ThePainBegins...49Chapter9:DeathRowAgain...55Chapter10:Taungoo,Kalay,andTaunggyi...59Chapter11:MaiSat...62Chapter12:ThePrisoner’sDreamComesTrue...68Chapter13:LifeonAnotherPlanet...72Chapter14:FreeBurma!...77

AppendixI:TimelineofModernBurmeseHistory...80

AppendixII:MapofBurmesePrisons...90

AppendixIII:20RecommendedBooks...91

AppendixIV:RecommendedBurma‐RelatedWebsites...94

CanadianFriendsofBurma...99ExPP‐ACT...100TheBestFriendLibrary...101

dedication

Thisworkisdedicatedtomymother,JoanDupree,whotaughtmebyexampletocarewhenothersaresuffering,andtomychildren,GarrettandLindsay.

ItisalsodedicatedtotheBurmeseactivistswhohavesuffered,andthosewhoarestillsufferingforthecauseoffreedom.

PaulPickrem

no easy road • 13

introduction

NelsonMandela,amanwhoknows, has said: “There is noeasyroadtofreedomanywhere,andmanyofuswillhavetopassthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeathagainandagainbeforewereachthemountaintopofourdesires.”

ThisisthestoryofthehardroadtofreedomtakenbyThihaYarzar,the sonofa formerBurmeseArmyColonel turned freedomfighter,whowassentencedtodeathbyhisowngovernmentfortreasonattheageof25.

DuringMayandJuneof2009,lessthanayearafterhewasreleasedfromalmost18yearsofhardtimeinfiveBurmeseprisons,ThihaandImetnumeroustimesinMaeSot,Thailand,alsoknownas‘TheCityofExiles’.

Wesattogether foraseriesof interviewsat ‘Aiya’, therestaurantownedby respectedBurmeseactivistand fellowAll BurmaStudentDemocraticFront(ABSDF)soldier,KoMyatThu,andhiswifeA,aThaihumanrightsactivist,whohasalsoworkedforthecauseoffreedominBurmaformanyyears.Wealsohadcountlessinformaldiscussionsovermanymonths.

When Imethima fewmonthsbeforewebegan the interviews,Thiha toldmehewanteddesperately to tell his story, but hedidn’tknowhow.

Isensedheneededtogatherhismemoriesofthosebrutalyears,and tellpeoplewhathisdecision tofight for human rightsandde‐mocracyinBurmacosthimandhisfamily.And,Isenseditwasastorywhichneededtobetoldbecausesomanypeopleacrosstheworldhaveneverhadtostruggleintheirlifetimefortheseideals.

PaulPickrem

14 • no easy road

IhadbeeninMaeSotforseveralmonthsatthistime,andhadlearned thisdifficult road to freedom has been travelled formanyyears,andisbeingwalkedtoday,bycountlessotherBurmeseactivistsandpoliticalprisoners.

ThewordsoftheBuddhacamealivetomeinMaeSot.Ihadbe‐guntocherishthesepeoplewhohavebeen,andarebeing,brutallyoppressedbyevilandviolentsuffering. I recognized that theyhadbecomemyrareandprecioustreasure.

That’s because knowing some of them and their stories haschangedmylife.

IbegantoseethatIamwitnessingtheself‐devouringofhuman‐ityinBurmaandonitsborders.Itbreaksmyheart,andhaschangedmyviewofhumanityandtheworldtoknowthatcountlesspeoplecanmakeaheroiccommitmenttostrugglefordecadesforhumanrightsandfreedomagainstoneofthemostbrutalregimesontheplanet,passingagainandagainthroughthevalleyoftheshadowofdeath,whilemostofmankind knows littleor nothingof this courageousstruggle.

Ibelievewhat ishappening inBurmaandtheborderareaputseveryoneeverywhereindanger.Onereasonforthisassertionisthatmanycountriesarerushingtodobusinesswiththemilitaryjuntaasitpushesthepeopleofftheland,creatinganappallingrefugeeemer‐gency. Themilitary is selling off the rich natural resources of thecountry,makingitprofitableforthemandforeveryonetoperpetuatetheoppression.

WhenpeopleaskmewhyIstayhere,Isayitisbecausewhatishappeningherecan,andmayverywell,happenanywhere.

Ibelievetheinternationalcommunity’stepidresponsetothebru‐talityofthejuntasendsamessagetooppressiveregimeseverywherethatmakingwaragainsttheircitizensfordecadeswillbetolerated,especiallyiftheoppressorsharesthespoils.

Tome,thisisespeciallydangerousduringthistimewhensomanygovernmentsaretakinganadversarialroleagainsttheirpeople.

Tome,weareallvulnerableaslongasthisaffronttohumandig‐nityisallowedtocontinue.

MycommitmenttoThihaandtoyouwassimplytohelphimtellhisstory.IamnotanacademicoranexpertonBurmesehistoryorpolitics,althoughIrespectthosewhoare.IhopeIhaveresistedthetemptationtomakethisvolumelargerthanitshouldbe.

Iamsimplyastoryteller.

IamverygratefultoMyatThuforsittingwithThihaandmethrougheveryinterviewtotranslateforThihawhenhehadtoexpresshisideasinBurmesebecauseitwastoodifficultinEnglish.

As well, I wish to acknowledge and thank Garrett Kostin andAndreaValentinfortheirsignificantcontributionstothetimelinein‐cludedinthisbook,whichismeanttoputThiha’slifeincontextwiththemodernhistoryofBurma.

Garrettalsoworkedtirelesslyasaproofreaderandlenthistalentsasagraphicartisttodesignthebook’scover,aswellascompilingthelistsofrecommendedbooksandwebsites.

IwanttoendbyexpressingmygratitudetothemillionsofcitizensofBurma,fromsomanyethnicgroups,whoteachushowtobravelystruggleagainstgreatoddsforfreedom.

Youallhavebecomemyrareandprecioustreasurebecauseyouin‐spireme.

no easy road • 15

no easy road • 17

chapter one

standing with

the lady

Someprotestorshadtearsintheireyesastheychantedtheirmantras

“FreeAungSanSuuKyi!”and“FreeBurma!”loudlyenoughtobeheardinRangoon.

no easy road • 19

LateinthemorningonMay27,2009,ashoutingthrongraiseditsvoiceatthegateoftheUnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefu‐geescompoundinMaeSot,Thailand.

Itwasadeterminedarmyofabout100protestors.Somewerewear‐ingredheadbandswiththeyellowfightingpeacock,symbolicofBur‐mesestudentactivistsinaction,andalmostallwerewearingT‐shirtsandcarryingplacardsemblazonedwiththefaceofDawAungSanSuuKyi.

Sheistherevered,democratically‐elected,andlegitimateleaderofBurma,whohasneverbeenallowedtotakeofficeandserveherpeopleingovernment.

Thecrowdfilledtheroadwayleadingtothebuilding,locatedjustminutesfromtheborderwithBurma.Atthesametime,SuuKyiwasbeingtriedforsubversionbytherulingmilitaryjuntainaclosedcourt‐roominRangoon.

Themonks,studentrefugees,andformerpoliticalprisonerspas‐sionatelydemandedherfreedomandthefreedomofallpoliticalpris‐onersinBurma,onthesamedayhermostrecenttermofhousearrestwasduetoexpireunderBurmeselaw.Itwasalsothenineteenthan‐niversaryofherparty’slandslideelectionvictory,whichthecountry’smilitaryregimehasignored.

Somehadtearsintheireyesastheychantedtheirmantras“FreeAungSanSuuKyi!”and“FreeBurma!” loudlyenoughtobeheardinRangoon.

Asonemansteppedtothefrontofthecrowdtoaddresstheas‐sembledmedia,hiseyeswerelitbytheflamesofthefireinhisbellyandhisclenchedfistpunchedthesky.

20 • no easy road

Likemanyof thedemonstrators,heknew fromexperience thelife‐chokingdepthsof InseinPrison,wheretheNobelPeacePrize‐winningiconofthepeacefulstrugglefordemocracyinBurmaandtheworldwasbeingheld.

Hehadbeenimprisonedandtorturedtherehimself,morethanonce.

In fact, 43‐yearoldThihaYarzar, the sonofa formerBurmeseArmyColonel,hadservedalmosteighteenyearsinfiveprisonsacrossBurmaforpro‐democracyactivityasastudentleader,andforarmedstruggleasafreedomfighter.

no easy road • 21

chapter two

dreaming the

prisoner’s dream

‘Prisonersoftendreamaboutbeingreleased.

Butwealwaysarereturnedtoprisonbeforewakingup.”

22 • no easy road

Thiha’sunexpectedreleasefromMaiSatPrison,ShanState,neartheThai/Burmaborder,onSeptember23,2008wasaturningpointthatmadehisleadingoftheprotestinMaeSotpossible.

“ItwasaTuesday,”hesaidduringoneofourfirstinterviews.“Pris‐onofficialswokemeupat4a.m.,becausetheyhadlearnedIwasgo‐ingtobereleasedthatday.Itoldthem,‘Hey,don’tteaseme!’,andIwentbacktosleep.”

However,at7a.m.theprison’sChiefJailerwokehimagainandinsistedhetakeashowerandchangehisclothes.MilitaryIntelligenceofficialsandSpecialBranchPolicewerewaitingtospeakwithhim.

Otherprisonersprovidedhimwithnewpantsandashirt,becausehehadnootherclothestochangeinto.

“Itwas likeadream. Itwasunbelievable,”hesaidof thosefirstmomentsofrealizationthathewasreallygoingtobereleased.

“Prisonersoftendreamaboutbeingreleased.Butwealwaysarereturnedtoprisonbeforewakingup.IhadtoconvincemyselfIwasnotdreamingthatsameolddream.”

Thiha Yarzar, the political prisoner, had dreamed that dreamcountlesstimesintheseventeenyears,sixmonthsandsixteendaysleadinguptothatmorning.

ThedeathsentencehehadreceivedforHighTreasonin1991hadbeenreducedtotwentyyearsin1993,whenthegovernmentreducedall thedeathsentences inthecountry inaneffortto improvetheirpublicimageafterthe1990electionupsetbytheNationalLeagueforDemocracy,thepartyledbyAungSanSuuKyi.

“IbegantohopeforreleasebecauseBurmesepoliticsseemedto

no easy road • 23

bechanging,”hesaidlookingback.“Ibecamemorepoliticallyactiveinprison,smugglingoutinformationaboutthetreatmentofprisoners.”

However,thelandslidevictorybythepro‐democracypartywouldneverresultinthemassivechangeinBurmesepoliticsthatitshouldhave.ThemilitaryregimerefusedtoallowatransitiontopowerfortheNLDthatwouldhaveseenAungSaanSuuKyi leadthegovernment,whichisseenbymanyasherbirthright.InsteadsheandmostofherfellowNLD leaderswerearrested. Since 1989shehas beenmade toservethreetermsofhousearrest,totalingnearlyfifteenyears.

WhenThihaYarzar’sdeathsentencewasfurtherreducedtotenyearsin1997,prisonofficialstoldhimhewouldbereleasedbytheendof1998,becauseaten‐yearsentencecouldbeshortenedtosevenyearsunderBurmeselaw.But,twodayslater,thathopewascrushedwhenhissentencewaschangedbacktotwentyyears.HewasbeingcarriedalonghelplesslyontherollercoasterofBurmeselaw,asinterpretedbythemilitaryjunta.

Onthedayofhisrelease,in2008,hewastoldthefinaltwo‐and‐a‐halfyearswouldberescinded,aslongashewasnotchargedwithanyfurthercrimesagainstthestate.

“IthoughtIwoulddieinprison,”hesaid,“orIwouldbeover50,ifreleasedatall,becausetheyhadchangedmysentencesomanytimes.”

24 • no easy road

chapter three

sentenced

to die

The25year‐oldconvictedterroristwasdrivenbycartoInseinPrison.

Herememberedhisthoughtsabouthowhewouldbeexecutedduringthedrive.

no easy road • 25

Thiha’sdeathsentencewashandeddownonMarch7,1991,afteraone‐daytrialinamilitarycourt.Heappearedbeforeapanelofthreemilitarycolonels,allinfull‐dressuniform.Hestoodbeforetheminthefilthyclotheshehadbeenarrestedinalmostthreemonthsearlier.

Therewasnolawyerpresenttospeakinhisdefense.Hehadn’tspo‐kentoalawyersincebeingarrestedonJanuary17.

Theprosecutorreadthechargesagainsthim.Hewaschargedwithunderminingthecountry’speaceandstabil‐

ity,andwasconvictedofHighTreason.“Itwasmycountry,butnotmygovernment,”hesaidofthetrial.

“Therewasnolegitimacy.”Hedecidedthatsamedaynottoappealthesentence.“Theyweretheterrorists,notI.IdecidedIwouldnotgiveinand

kneelbeforethem.Itwasuseless.Iwouldbealaughingstock.Iwillmaintainmydignity.”

The25year‐oldconvictedterroristwasdrivenbycartoInseinPris‐on.Herememberedhisthoughtsabouthowhewouldbeexecuteddur‐ingthedrive.

“Howwouldtheykillme?Hangingpossibly...ButI’dratherbeshotinthehead.Therehavebeenmanyrevolutionarieswhohavebeenex‐ecutedbytyrantsanddictators,whodiedcalmlyandwithdignity.I’lldothesame.Maybeit’smyturn.Iwillfollowthem.”

Hesaidhethoughtaboutsingingarevolutionarysongathisexecu‐tion.

“Ihadmyrelief.Iwasreadytodie,”hesaid.“Ineverthoughtaboutitagain.”

26 • no easy road

HisarrivalatInsein,inMarchofthatyear,wasactuallyhisthirdtimebeingimprisonedthere.

InSeptember1987,hewasarrestedfororganizingstudentpro‐testsagainstthegovernment’seconomicpolicies.Asa21year‐old,heandsixteenotherstudentorganizershadopenlycriticizedthegov‐ernmentfornotconsultingparliamentbeforedevaluingthecountry’scurrency.

“Iwasdetainedunderprovisionsinthelawwhichallowedmetobedetained,butnotcharged,”hesaid.

Foralmostfivemonthshewasheldintheclotheshewasarrestedin.Hedescribedhowhehadtotearstripsoffhispantsandshirttocleanhisbodyafterabowelmovement.

Hewasfedonlyriceandbeansoup,withwatertodrink.Here‐ceivedasmallpieceofmeatonceaweek.

Theprisonerswerekeptinseparatecells.Hehadnocontactwithhis familyor theotherstudents.However,hismotherarranged forfoodandcigarettestobesmuggledintohimbyaSpecialBranchPo‐liceOfficer.

Ominously,hewasassignedtoacellonDeathRow.“Ididn’tknowatthattimeIwouldactuallybesentencedtodeath

in1991,”hesaid.Itwasalsoduringhis initial incarceration inInseinPrisonthat

hefirstexperiencedthebrutalinterrogationmethodsMilitaryIntel‐ligenceofficersusedonpoliticalprisoners.

Hesaidhewasbeatenfrequentlyinthefirsttwomonths,duringinterrogationsthatsometimeslastedfordays.

“They kickedme and hit mewith their fists in the back, andslappedme in the face. Sometimes Iwas standingand sometimesseatedonthefloor.Myhandswerehandcuffedbehindmeandmyheadcoveredwithahood.”

Hewouldspeakmorethanonceduringourinterviewsaboutex‐periencingbothwhitehotangerandagonizingterrorwhilebeingtor‐tured.

“Itwaslikehell,”hesaid.“Iwasveryangry.But,Iwasscaredat

no easy road • 27

thesametime.Itriednottocry.Ihadtoswallowtheanger.IrealizedIcouldn’tdoanythinginprison.ButmyfriendsandIwoulddomorewhenwewerereleased.Iknewtheymustreleaseussoonerorlater.”

EvenduringthisfirstimprisonmentThiha’sresolvewasbeginningtogrow.

“Iknewwewouldhavetodomoretowindemocracy,towinfree‐domformycountry.”

HewasreleasedinFebruary1988,butnotforlong.Aboutonemonthlater,twostudentswerekilledbypoliceduring

aprotest.“It was the first student blood spilled during our time,” he re‐

called.Inthenextweekover200studentsdiedatthehandsofriotpolice

andsoldiers.“Alltheuniversitieswereclosed.But,wedidn’tgohome.Wecon‐

tinuedtoorganizeprotests.Forthefirsttimeweshoutedtheword‘de‐mocracy.’‘Downwiththeone‐partysystem.Bringdemocracy!’”

OnMarch 17, 1988hewasarrestedwith 140other studentsatacampusresidence.

“Theybeatmeandallthestudentswithclubswhiletheyputusinthepolicevehicles.“

Theirdestination,onceagain,wasInseinPrison.“Iwastheonlystudentwhohadbeenarrestedandbeenheldthere

before.Foralltheothersitwastheirfirsttime.”Thejailersknewhimfromhislaststay.Hebecamealeaderbecause

ofhispreviousexperience.But thatalsomadehima target,asMilitary Intelligenceofficers

brutallyinterrogatedthestudentstogetinformationabouttheleadersofthepro‐democracymovement.

Hesaidfivestudentsatatimewerehungupsidedownwithhoodsover theirheads for two‐hourperiods, threedaysata time,withnofoodandlittlesleep.

Hewasalsokickedwhiletiedbetweentwochairs.“Ifeltnumbwhentheyhitme.SofarasIcanrememberthatwent

28 • no easy road

onforaboutaweek.Therewereconstantquestionsabouttheleadersofthemovement.

“Theywereafraidof thestudentsbecause theBurmesepeoplebelievedinthestudents.TheybelievedthemandreliedontheminBurma.”

HistoryshowsthatstudentshaveplayedamajorroleinBurmesepoliticssincetheendofcolonialrule.

“Thepeoplelookedtothestudentsforleadership.”Hisinterrogatorsalsotriedtousehisfather’spositionasanarmy

coloneltochangehismindaboutdemocracy.“Theytoldme,‘Yourfatherisanofficer.Youhaveeverything.If

thereisdemocracy,yourlifewouldbedestroyed.’”

no easy road • 29

chapter four

the colonel’s

son

‘Wehadeverythingasacolonel’sfamily.AtthetimeinRangoon,

Fatherwaspowerful.’

30 • no easy road

Thihasaidhisfamilydidenjoyagoodlifebecauseofhisfather’spositionintheArmyandthecommunity.

“Wehadeverythingasacolonel’sfamily,”hesaid.“AtthetimeinRangoon,Fatherwaspowerful.”

ColonelBaTwaytaughthischildrentouse theiradvantages tohelpotherstoo.

Thiha brought twopooryoung friends home to his fatherandmother,whosupportedthemthroughuniversity.

“Hetaughtmeyouhavetouseyourmoneytohelpyourfriendsandthosesuffering,especiallythestarving,”heremembered.

“Hewasalwayssmiling.Hetaughtmehowtotreatpeople.Ev‐eryonelikedhim.Everyonewouldsay,‘He’saverykindman.Helivesverysimply.’Hewasneverarrogant,”Thihasaidrespectfully.

“Myfatherwasaverykindman.Hespokesoftlytoeveryone.Henevershowedhisanger.”

But,therewasoneexception.TheColonelwasonlyasocialdrink‐er,whodidn’tsmokeorchewthetraditionalBurmesebetelnut.Andhedidnotliketoseeyoungpeopleundereighteensmoking,tothepointwhere hewas known to take cigarettes from kids he caughtsmoking.

Thiharemembered, “Hewouldsay, ‘I take it.NexttimeIcatchyou,Iwillbeatyou!’

“That’swhyIneversmokedbeforeDeathRow.”Thiha’sfathermadesurehelearnedothervaluablelifelessonsas

well.Helovedreading,andtookThihatothelibraryandtaughthimtoread.

no easy road • 31

“Hetaughtmeeverythingabouttheworld.Wehadabigwallmap,andstartingaboutagesixhewouldaskme,‘WhereisPoland?’Iwouldpointwithmyfinger.”

HisfatheralsomadesureThihawastaughtthestoriesofthehe‐roesofwarsandhistory,likeWilliamWallaceandJoanofArc,fromabookofchildren’sstoriescalledAHero’sTale.

“Gradually,Ibecamemoreinterestedinhistoryandbecameahis‐torymajor,”Thihasaid.

Similar lessonsabouttheheroesofhistorycamefromhismoth‐er,DawTinLayMyint,acollegeprofessor,whomadesurehelearnedaboutthe“ladyheroes”,aswellasmanyotherthings.

Shewasamajorinfluenceinhislifebecausethechildrenspentsomuchtimeunderhercarewhiletheirfatherwasawayfromthefamilyonarmybusiness,sometimesaslongasayear.

His fatherwasacolonel, butThihadescribedhismotheras thefamily’s‘drillsargent’.

Herememberedhisfatherwasquicktogivewhateverthechildrenaskedfor,buthismotherwasnot.

“Forme,Fatherwasanidealist.Momwasmorepractical.ShetaughtmetothinkbeforeIactandtomakedecisions.Shesaid,‘Dowhatyouthinkisright.Butdon’tharmorjeopardizeothersbyyouractions.’”

Herecalledhermakinga listofthe“FiveP’s”toputonthewallbesidehisbedineighthgrade.

Patience, politeness, perspective, persistence and pride in yourcountryandyourpeoplewereprinciplesthatherememberedandputintopracticeasaninsurgent,andlaterasapoliticalprisoner.

As a child,Thiha and his familymoved frequently as his fathermovedupthroughtheranksoftheBurmeseArmyafterenteringof‐ficertrainingateighteen.TheylivedinArakanandShanStates,aswellasTaungooTownship,PeguDivision.

Byage15,hebegantoreadbooksonsocialism,dictatorshipanddemocracy.

AtthattimethecountrywasrunbytheBurmaSocialistProgramParty,underthecontrolofGeneralNeWin.Herememberslistening

32 • no easy road

carefullytothesocialistleader’sideasonhowtodealwiththeram‐pantpovertyinBurmaatthetime.

However, he was also influenced by the foreign friends of hismother,whowaseducatedatamissionaryschoolinRangoon.

Eventually, Thiha made a life‐altering choice: Democracy wasbetterforhim,andforBurma.

“In thebooks,communismorsocialismseemedverygood,”hesaid,lookingbackonhisteenyears.

“Butwearenotrobots.Weareflesh‐and‐bloodhumanswithabrainandaheart.Thefreedomtothinkandfreedomofexpressionbecamethemostimportantthingstome.Underdemocracywewouldhavethefreedomtothink,talk,write,criticize,andcreate.Idecidedourcountrywouldbebetterunderdemocracy.”

HeremembershisfatherwantedThihaandhisbrother,TwayYar‐zarKyaw,tojointhearmy.Buthismotherwantedhisfathertoresignfromthemilitaryinstead.

Hisfathertriedtodothatatonepoint,butwasthreatenedbyhismilitarycolleagues,sohestayed.

Hehasvividmemoriesofonespecificdaywhenhisfather,theninhislateforties,returnedhomefromthemilitaryheadquartersWarOffice.

“Hecameintothehousesilently.Isawhewasupsetwithangerinhisface.Isaid‘hello’.Hejustpattedmeonthehead.”

Hisfatherwentintothebedroomandspoketohismother.Thihaheardhimsay,“I’mfedupwiththoseguys.Theydon’tknow

howtorunacountryortreatpeople.Theyjustgiveordersandmoreorders.IsaidtomybossIwanttoquitthearmy.Butmybosssaid,‘SodoI.Butit’snotpossible.’”

Herememberedhismothersaid tohis father, “Darling, Iwantyoutobefree.Thetimewillcome.Wehavetowait.”

Eventually, Thiha became a history and philosophy student atRangoonArtsandScienceUniversity,wherehestudiedwesternphi‐losophyandworldreligions.

no easy road • 33

Aftergraduatingin1986withaBAinhistory,hebeganaMaster’sdegreeinhistory.

Buthisstorywouldunfoldinanunexpectedwayashispassionfordemocracycame face‐to‐facewith thepolitical turmoil in Burmaatthetimecausedbythemilitarygovernment’sbrutaltreatmentofthepeople.

The141studentswerefinallyreleasedonJuly7,1988.“Thatwasared‐letterdayforBurmesestudents,”hesaid.“Itwas

theanniversaryof thedayGeneralNeWindemolished theStudentUnionBuildingatRangoonUniversityin1962.”

Morethanhalfofthe141studentactivistsmettendayslaterattheShwedagonPagoda, inBahanTownship,asacred landmark forBur‐meseBuddhists.

“Wedecidedwewoulddoeverythingfordemocracy.Westudentsknewwehadaresponsibility.Burmawasourmotherland.”

TheyagreedtheywouldorganizedemonstrationsalloverBurma.However, the nationwide anti‐government uprisings thatwould

takeplacelessthanamonthlaterwouldputthemonacollisioncoursewiththemilitarygovernmentthatwouldchangethecourseofhistoryforBurma,andforThihaYarzar,forever.

34 • no easy road

chapter fi ve

student activist

to

armed revolutionary

“Shootingcouldbeheardalloverthecity.“Isaid,‘Ineedtobeinthecrowd

leadingthepeople.’Theysaid,‘Lookatyourrightleg.’”

no easy road • 35

ByAugust8,1988,ThihaYarzar,thetwenty‐threeyear‐oldpoliticalactivistandstudent leaderhadbeenappointedsecretaryof theNa‐tionalStudentUnion.

OnthatinfamousdaythepeopleofBurmaconfrontedtherulingmilitarywithanationwidepublicdemonstration.

ThihaledthepeopleofThingangyunTownship,wherehelived,onaseven‐milemarchtodowntownRangoon,carryinganti‐governmentplacards.

Thenationalandinternationalmediahoveredtoseewhatwouldhappen.WhattheywitnessedthatdayismarkedindeliblyinthemindsandheartsoftheBurmesepeopleandpro‐democracyactivistsevery‐where,forever.

Thiha recalled how the throngsofdemonstratorswalked into awallofpoliceandsoldiersnotlongaftertheyreachedtheareaofthegovernmentofficesneardowntown.

“Theyblockedtheroadwithmilitaryvehicles, includingatank,”hesaid.

When thepeople saw thesoldiers theysloweddown,until theyeventuallystopped.Thesoldiersjumpedfromtheirtrucksandaimedtheir German‐made automatic assault rifles at the demonstrators.Then,withoutanywarning,theyfiredatthepeoplefromabout60me‐ters.

Herememberedthecrowdonthe leftofhimwas inchaosafteraboutsevenpeoplefelltotheground,shot.

Peoplestartedrunningtowardthesoldiers,someoutofanger,butothersoutoffear.

36 • no easy road

Theycontinuedshooting,evenasthemediawatched.Hesaidhehadclimbedontopofacarandwasshoutingthrough

abullhorntothesoldierstostopshooting.Asthecrowdpanickedandstartedtorunawayfromthesoldiers

inalldirections,theystoppedshootingandranbacktotheirvehi‐cles.

Theylefttheareawhenthepeopledispersed.“SeveralfriendspulledmeoffthecarIhadclimbedonandpushed

meintoanothervehicle,whichdroveawayquickly.“Shootingcouldbeheardalloverthecity.“Isaid,‘Ineedtobeinthecrowdleadingthepeople.’Theysaid,

‘Lookatyourrightleg.’”Only thendid he realize he had been shot in the legandwas

bleeding.He liftedhispant leg,duringan interview, toshowmeasmallscarontherightknee,wherehesaidthebulletgrazedtheknee,butdidnotdamageit.

Heandhiscomradesreturnedtoastudentofficeinasecretloca‐tion.

“Someofmyfriendscried.Lotsofpeoplehaddied,”hesaid.“ItoldthembeforehandIknewthesoldierswouldshoot.Itold

themwewouldhavetocontinuethedemonstrationsuntilthegov‐ernmentfell.”

ThoughitisestimatedthatthousandsofdemonstratorswereshotbythemilitaryacrossBurmathatday,thedemonstrationscontinuedtogrowinsizenationwide.

General Ne Win tried to calm the widespread public unrestthroughaseriesoftransfersofpower,eventuallytoafigureheadlead‐er,Dr.MaungMaung.

However,fortydayslater,onSeptember18th,GeneralSawMaungtookcontrolofthecountrythroughamilitarycoup,promisingfreeandfairelections,andthatthemilitarywouldhandpowerbacktothepeoplethroughanelectedparty.

no easy road • 37

Thihaandhis fellowstudents remained in hiding, however, be‐causetheydidn’tbelievethenewrulers.

“Wedidn’ttrustthem,”hesaid.“Weknewthatafterthecoupwewouldbearrested.Wecouldguesswhatwouldhappen.”

Twodaysafterthecoup,Thihametwithhisfamilytodiscusswhattheyshoulddo.

Heurgedhisparentstopubliclydisownhimthroughanewspaperannouncement.Itwasaplanusedbymanystudentactiviststoprotecttheirfamilymembersfromharassmentandretaliationfromthegov‐ernment.

They announced theywould have no further contactwith theirson.

“Itwasmyidea,toprotectthemiftheywereinterrogatedbythepolice.Iknewmyparentslovedme.Mymomdidnotwanttodoit.Shesaid,‘Whateverhappens,wewillfaceit.’But,Isaid,‘NoMom.Itisthebestthingtodo.’So,mymothercried.

“But,Isaid, ‘Don’tcry.Iwon’tdie.NobodycankillmebecauseIhavelotsoffriends.’

“Fathertoldmenottoraiseagun. ‘Asastudentyoushouldbeapolitician,’hesaid.

“But,mymotherspoketomyfather,saying, ‘Hewasrightnottojointhearmywhenweaskedhimafterthetenthgrade.Butnowmaybethetimetouseagun,ifhewantsto.Heneedstodecideforhimself,inhisowntime.’

“Fathersaid,‘Youdohavetomakeyourownchoice.Butyouhavetoaccepttheconsequences,whateverhappens.Youmaydieoryoumaylive.But,whateverhappensweareproudofyou.So,youdecidewhatyoumustdo.’”

Hesaidhedidn’ttellthematthetimewhathewasgoingtodo.“Buttheyknewthatmoststudentswhofledwouldchoosetobe‐

comepartofthearmedstrugglefordemocracy.”Hehuggedandkissedhisfather,mother,andsister.

38 • no easy road

His sister said she knewher husband,anarmycaptain,wouldbedismissedbecauseofThiha’sinvolvementintheprotests.Butshesaidshedidn’tcarebecauseherhusbanddidnotwanttocontinuehisarmycareer.

“Ifeltverysad,becauseeventhoughmyparentsandfamilysup‐portedme,Ihadtoleavebecausemyactionswouldputthemindan‐ger,”hesaid.“TheyknewIwouldfleetoThailand.”

Eventually, his father and brother‐in‐law would be dismissedfromthemilitary.Hismotheralso losthercareerasa teacheratagovernmentcollege.

Itwouldbealmosttwodecadesbeforehewouldseesomeofthepeoplehehuggedthatdayagain,face‐to‐face.

no easy road • 39

chapter six

on the run

‘Iwouldn’tjointhearmyasahighschoolstudent,

althoughIwasthesonofacolonel.ButnowIwasinuniformanyway.’

40 • no easy road

Thenextday,heandseveralfellowstudentactivistscrossedtheAndamanSeatoKawthung,onthesoutherntipofBurma.Twodayslater,theyillegallycrossedtheborderintoThailandatRanong.

ThihaYarzarhadleftBurmabehind,forthefirsttimeinhislife.“IkeptthinkingaboutmyparentsandthepeopleinRangoon,”he

said.“Someofmyfriendscried.Ididn’tcryinfrontofthem,butIwasworried.Thesituationwasverycomplicatedandconfusing.”

HestayedwithafamilymemberofformerUnitedNationsSecre‐tary‐GeneralUThantafterarrivinginBangkok.

HerecallsatthattimethatBangkokandothercitiesandtownsacrossThailandbecamehavensforBurmesestudentleaders,asThaipolice“lookedtheotherway.”

When the All Burma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF)wasfoundedinDecember1988,Thihajoinedandenteredatwo‐monthOfficerTrainingCourseandwastrainedbyagentsofforeigngovern‐ments,includingIsrael,France,andtheUnitedStates.

HealsoreceivedtwomonthsofmilitarytrainingfromtheDemo‐craticAllianceofBurma(DAB).

“Thiswasaverystrangeturnofevents,”hesaid.“Iwouldn’tjointhearmyasahighschoolstudent,althoughIwasthesonofacolonel.ButnowIwasinuniformanyway.

“Asastudent,myhobbywassingingandplayingguitar.Now,IheldanM16andapistolinsteadofaguitar.”

SoonhewaschosenforaspecialmissionbytheDAB.HeandtwootherformerstudentswouldbesentintoBurmatophotographmili‐

no easy road • 41

tarytargetsinRangoon,includingawaroffice,militaryarchives,andmilitaryheadquarters.

TheteamcrossedtheborderintoKarenStateinSeptember,1989.“Iwasafraidofbeingcaught,butIwantedtoseemyfamilytoo.”After reenteringBurma,Thiha had two secretmeetings in 1990

withhismotheratthepagodainatownshipneartothefamilyhome.Hesaidheapologizedtoherbecauseheknewsheworriedabout

himjoiningthearmedstruggle.“Ihavebecomearebel,”hetoldher.Shesaid,“It’sokay.Itaughtyoutothinkbeforeyouact.Sodowhat

youthinkisright.Idon’twanttoseeyouwithagun.Youhavebecomearebel,butIsupportyou.It’sokay.Wedon’thavemuchtime,Son.Youdowhatyouthinkisright.YouknowbetterthanIdoaboutthestu‐dentsandthestudentmovement.Iwon’tcriticizeyou.Keepfightingforwhatyoubelievein.”

Hedid.ForthenextthreeweeksThihaandtheotherstudentsstayedin‐

sidethecountry,takingphotographs,investigatingtroopmovements,andcarryingdocumentsandletterstoactivistleaders.

Hewasdeployedontwoothermissionsin1990,narrowlyescapingcapturebothtimes.

InMay,heliedhiswayoutofbeingarrestedwiththewitandskillsofaseasonedspywhilehecarriedgrenadeshiddeninabasketofbetelnuts.Hesaidasoldieratthecheckpointactuallyputhishandonthebasket.

Whenothertravelersinthevehiclegotoutandwenttotheofficetoshowtheiridentificationandtraveldocuments,Thiharemainedbe‐hind.Theofficeraskedhimtoshowhisidentification,butThihatoldhimhiswifehadalreadytakenittotheofficetoshowit.

Whenthewomanreturnedtothevehicle,Thihaaskedherinfrontoftheguard,“Didyoushowyourdocuments?”

Whenshesaidshedid,theofficerthoughtshewasThiha’swifeandhadshownhisdocumentstoo.

“During training they toldus tomakeeye‐contactandshowno

42 • no easy road

fear,”hesaid.“Iwasafraid,butdeterminedtocompletethemission,nomatterwhattherisk.

“Ihadplannedwellandwaswell‐preparedandbelieved inmyheartthatIwouldbesuccessfulandnotbearrested.”

Hesaidthegovernmenthadpublishedhisphotoinapropagandamagazine,andaninformerhadtoldpolicehewasinsidethecountry,sohewasawantedmaninBurma.

Heknewfromintelligencegatheredfromdoubleagentsthatthegovernmentwas searching for him, but so far hadn’t been able tocatchhim.

Onthatmission,hetalkedhiswayintotheconfidenceofpoliceatacheckpoint,whowarnedhimnottoproceedontheroadhehadbeentraveling.Threepeoplewerelatercapturedinthesameareaandaccusedofabombingtheyhadnothingtodowith.

Theyarestillinprisontoday,hesaid.In July, hewas smuggling three single‐useM72 rocket launch‐

ersintwobagsofpeanutsontheroofofatruck,andcarryingapis‐tol,whenaborderguardnoticedthebagslookedstrange,butdidn’tbothertoclimbontotherooftocheckthebags.

“Iwasprepared to shootanysoldiersorpolicewhodiscoveredthem,”herecalled.

Laterthatnight,heusedanillegaltaxitotransporttheweaponsbecausetherewasnoregulartaxiatthebusstation.

Hesaidhehad touseextremecautionwhenhe foundout thetalkativetaxidriverwasanoff‐dutypoliceman.

“WhenheaskedwhatIdid,ItoldhimIwasinthetimberbusi‐ness.”

Helefttheweaponsatamonasteryinthecareofamonkheknew.Theywerepickedupthenextdaybyhiscomrades.

WhileononeparticularmissioninsideBurma,Thihadevelopedarelationshipwiththeeldestdaughterofapoliticianwhohidhiminhishome.

no easy road • 43

Thetwenty‐fouryear‐oldfreedomfightermarriednineteenyear‐oldHtwayHtwayOoonhisbirthday,December25th,1989.

OnOctober1,1990,shegavebirthtotheirdaughter,whowasgiventhenameToneTonebythefamily.

However,thedivergingrolesofasoldierinthearmedstrugglefordemocracyandafathertoToneTonewouldeventuallycreateatensioninsideThihathatwouldcausehimgreatturmoilformanyyears.

Aseriesofeventswasabouttounfoldthatsethimonapaththatled back to Insein Prison’s Death Row, forwhat prosecutors hopedwouldbethelasttime.

44 • no easy road

chapter seven

caught

“IknewIwouldfacehorribletortureandImightdie.Icouldguesswhatthey

mightdotome.IwasluckyIdidn’tgomadthelasttimetheytorturedme.”

no easy road • 45

Whenthebabywasjustoverthreemonthsold,ThihaledateamofinsurgentsthatattackedamilitarybarracksnexttoamediaoutletinRangoon.Elevengovernmenttroopswerekilledintheattack,andtworocketsdestroyedthebuilding.

TheteamwasorderedtofleetoThailand.Oneofthethreeinsur‐gentsleftfirst,whileThihaandtheremainingmanweretoattempttotakeadifferentroute.

TheyhadactuallyboardedabusandtakentheirseatsonJanuary10,butThihareceivedalast‐minutetelephonecallfromhiscommand‐ersdirectinghimtoremainbehindtomakecontactwithanotherfree‐domfighterinMandalay.

Thethirdman,whostayedonthebus,madeitsafelytoThailand.Thihadidn’t knowwhenhegotoff thatbushewouldnot leave

Burmaagainfornearlytwodecades.

Forthenextweek,hewaitedformoredirectionfromhisbosseswhoweresettingupthemeetinginMandalay.

Duringthattimehewascontactedbyhisfifteenyear‐oldbrother‐in‐law,MyoAung,whowantedarecommendationfromThihasohetoocouldjointheinsurgency,tofightinthejungle.

“Irefusedtorecommendhimbecausehewastooyoung,”hesaid.“Hewasjustinthetenthgrade.IworriedIwouldbeblamedbyhis

parentsifsomethinghappenedtohim.Hewastheappleoftheireye;theyoungestchildandeveryonelovedhim.”

Butthedeterminedboylefthomewithfourotheryoungmenafter

46 • no easy road

makingothercontactsintheunderground.Hewasgivensensitivedocumentsoutlininginsurgencyactivities

intheareabyamanThihaknew.ButMyoAungwasnotawarethedocumentsincludedaletterwhichcontainedThiha’scodename.

Onthewaytodeliverthosedocuments,theboysaccidentallymetanotherpopularactivist,whowasundersurveillancebyMilitaryIn‐telligence.

Theywereall arrested thateveningat themain bus station inRangoon.

Theboysweretorturedduringinterrogation,givinginformationabouttheinsurgencyandthenameofthemanwhogavethemthedocuments.Thatman,BhaminDhit,wasarrestedthatnightaswell.HewasbrutallytorturedandgavetheauthoritiesThiha’srealnameandlocation.

OntheafternoonofJanuary17,1991,ThihawashidinginasafehouseinSouthOkkaLepaTownship,inRangoon,waitingforfurtherorders.

Hewasveryillwithmalaria,whichhecontractedduringoneofhisfirstmissionsinsideBurma.

Herecalledthatagovernmentofficial fromthe localneighbor‐hoodcametovisithimaround3p.m.Thihasensedhewasingravedanger,butwastoosicktomovequickly.

“Heseemedtobeafraidofme.Hewaspale.“Suddenly,thehousewasraidedbysixarmysoldiersandtheman

scurriedawayquickly.”Thehouse,whichhadbeencompletelysurrounded,wassoonfull

ofsoldiersandplainclothespolice.“Theywarnedmenottotrytorun,forcingmedowntothefloor.

Whentheyhandcuffedmyhandsbehindme,they liftedmetomyfeet.

“Myheadwaspounding from themalariaand Iwasshivering.TheyteasedmethatIwasshiveringfromfear.ButIhadatempera‐

no easy road • 47

tureof102degrees!”Theyplacedablackhoodoverhisheadandledhimthroughthe

crowdgatheredoutsidethehouseintoawaitingcar.“IthoughtabouthowIcouldescape,”hesaid.“ButIcoulddonoth‐

ing.“IknewIwouldfacehorribletortureandImightdie.Icouldguess

whattheymightdotome.IwasluckyIdidn’tgomadthelasttimetheytorturedme.”

ThihaYarzarwastwenty‐fiveyearsold.

Hearrivedataninterrogationcentreabout4:40PM.Theyplacedhiminalineofthirteenotherswaitingtobeprocessed

bypolice.Ashelookedattheothersaheadofhiminthatline,herecognized

hisfifteenyear‐oldbrother‐in‐lawMyoAung,aswellasBhaminDhit,thecolleaguewhohadgivenawayhislocationtopolice.

BhaminDhitwasstillbleedingfromhisheadbecauseofthetor‐ture.Hisfaceandeyeswerebruised,hislipwasswollenandhisnoselookedlikeitwasbroken.

“Iunderstoodverywell.Noonecouldstandupinthatsituation.Iknewverywellaboutthetorture.Isympathizedwithhim.”

Thihasaidhesawamessageinhiscolleague’seyes.“Heapologizedwithhiseyes,asifsaying,‘Icouldn’thelpit.’“Islowlynoddedtohimandsawaverylittlesmile.”Eventually, theyoungboyand theothermanwhogavehimthe

documentsbothreceivedthedeathsentence.MyoAungwasreleasedinFebruary2009.BhaminDhitisstillinprison.

Thethreejustlookedateachotherinthelineup.Then, Thiha’s hands were freed momentarily while being pro‐

cessed.Thepolicehadlaidoutanumberofweaponsseizedfromin‐

48 • no easy road

surgentsonatablenearby.Hethoughtforamomentaboutgrabbingoneofthoseweaponsandtryingtoescape.

“ButIworriedaboutthesafetyoftheboyandmycolleague,andwhetherornottheotherprisonerswouldhelpbyjoiningtheescapeattempt.”

Themomentwasgone.Thihaandhisfellowfreedomfightershadjustenteredhell.

no easy road • 49

chapter eight

the pain

begins

“Iwillprotectmyself—mymind,soulandspirit—

becauseIcan’tprotectmybody.”

50 • no easy road

After being photographed and videotaped, the prisoners wereseparated.

Thihawasblindfoldedandtakentoaroomwherehesatacrossthetablefromamanwhoaskedhiminaquietvoicetorevealtheloca‐tionofweaponstheysuspectedhimofhiding.

Hetoldthemanhehadnoweapons.HesaidhehadleftthembehindintheforestinKarenState.

Hedeniedknowingthelocationofanyweaponsthreetimes.“Okay,takehimtothedarkroom,”themansaidtootherofficers

intheroomafterThiha’sthirddenial.Hewasremovedtoanotherroomwherehewasexaminedbya

doctorbecauseofhishighfever.“Hewon’tdiefrommalaria,”thedoctortoldtheofficers,although

hehadatemperatureof102degrees.Hewashandcuffedby the leftarm toan iron ringaboutwaist

highonthewallinthedarkroom.“Theyallleft.Iwasalone,sittingonthefloor.Itwascompletely

dark.Ididn’tknowifitwasdayornight,”heremembered.“Iwasthinkingaboutmythreemonth‐olddaughterandPaand

Maandmyfriends.ButIknewitwasnogoodtothink.Ihadtofacethetorture.

“Iwillprotectmyself—mymind,soulandspirit—becauseIcan’tprotectmybody.

“IfIgiveintofearIwilllosemyreputation.So,Iwillresist,ormydaughterandmyfamilywillhavetoliveknowingthattheirfatherandtheirsonwasatraitor,andtheywouldsufferbecauseotherswouldbe

no easy road • 51

arrestedandtorturedbecauseofme.”Hesaidhewasleft inthedarkroomallthatnightanduntilthe

eveningofthenextday.“TheyhadnotfedmesinceIarrivedattheinterrogationcenter.I

wasthirsty,soIkickedthedoorandaskedforwater.“Theyledmeblindfoldedandhandcuffedtoasmalltoiletdown

thehall.Theyopened thedoorandpushedme in, saying, ‘Youcandrinkallthewateryouwant.’

“Ihadnochoicebuttodrinkthewaterinthetoilet.“Fromthatdayonward, formorethanamonth,whenever Iwas

thirstytheytookmetodrinkfromthewaterinthetoilet.”

Laterthatnighthewasinterrogated.Hewastiedbyhishandstoasteelpoleinthestandingposition

whileblindfolded.Herecognizedthevoicequestioninghimasbeingthemanwith

thegentlevoicewhointerrogatedhimthefirstnight.Formorethantwohourshewasquestionedaboutthenamesof

relatives.Therewerenoquestionsaboutweaponsthistime.“HepattedmeontheshoulderandsaidinBurmese,‘Yourfuture

willnotbeverypleasant.Youreallydonothaveafuture.’”Thiha was taken back to the dark room for another sleepless

night.Onthethirdday,hewasfinallygivenasmallcupofricesoup.He

wasalsoallowedtodrinkmoretoiletwater.Thatnightthetorturebegan.Hewastiedagaintoapoleinthestandingposition.Hisheadwas

coveredbyahood.ThreeorfourMilitaryIntelligenceofficersbeathimforaboutanhour.

“Atfirsttheyhitmewiththeirfistsonmyfaceandinmyribsandstomach.Whentheyuntiedmyhands,Iwasbleedingfrommynoseandmouth.

“Iwasfilledwithtensionfromrage.Theywerecowards.

52 • no easy road

“‘Letmeseeyou!Iwanttoknowwhoyouare,’Iscreamedatthem.‘It’snotaman’sworktobeatsomebodyblindfolded.’

“Theylaughedatme.”Theyuntiedhishands.Butthenhefeltastickstrikehimacross

theshinsandhefelltothefloor.“Theykickedmeallover,inthechest,back,hipsandstomach.”Hewasthentakentoanotherroomwherehewasseatedonastool

withhishandshandcuffedbehindhim.Hewasaskedmorequestionsaboutthelocationsofweaponsandhiscomrades.

Hesaidhetoldthemhedidn’tknowwhereanyweaponswere,andallhiscomradeswerebackinThailand.

Theykickedhimoffthestoolontothefloorandbeathimandkicked him all over his body, before taking him back to the darkroom.

“I thought, ‘Dohumansact like this?’They treatedme likeananimal.But,theyweretheanimals.Aretheyhuman?”

Hesaidhewas losinghis senseof time in thedark room, butcouldhearguardstalkingtoeachotheroutinthehallandcouldde‐duceifitwasnightorday.

“Itwaslikeanightmare.Afterbeingbeaten,Iwasnumb.Ididn’tknowwhereIwas.

“Mymindwasnumbtoo.Ididn’tgounconscious.IfeltlikeIwasfloatingintheair.”

Thenextmorninghewastakentoanotherinterrogationcenterinadifferentlocation.Hewasfedriceandaboiledegg,andgivenmoretoiletwater.

That night they began to question him for about twenty‐fourhours, non‐stop,with interrogatorsworking in pairs for two hourshifts.

Thequestioningonceagaincenteredonweaponsandcomrades.Hewasgivennofoodanddrankonlytoiletwater.“By that time the toiletwater seemedverydelicious because I

neededwater.IwasinthesameclothesIwasarrestedin.Theywerefilthy.Mywholebodywasstickyandsweatyanddirty.”

no easy road • 53

Thatnighthe learnedaboutthetorturemethodcalled“thecra‐dle”.

Hewas suspended horizontally between twopoles aboutwaist‐high.Hewasblindfoldedandfacedupwardtowardtheceiling.

OneMilitary Intelligenceofficer stoodbesidehis head,pouringwateronhisfaceandslappinghimintheface.Meanwhile,twootherstookturnskickinghiminthesideandlegs.

“Iwaschoking.Icouldnotbreathe.AndIswungbackandforthbetweenthetwokickingme,likeIwasinacradle.

“Iwantedtoscream,butIcontrolledmyself.Ididnotwanttoshowthemmyfearandmyrage.Iswallowedmyvoice.Ididnotwantthemtothinkofmeasacoward.”

He recalls using Buddhistmeditation techniques to control hismindandtodealwiththepain.

“Itlastedabouttwohours,butIdidn’tgivethemanynewinforma‐tion.Ionlytoldthemthingstheyalreadyknew.”

Hesaidhedrewonhispreviousexperiencesbeingtortured.“Iknewhowtoanswerthem.Buttherewasn’tasmuchpaintodeal

withasthefirsttwotimes.IknewifIgavethemanyinformationatallitwouldbeworseformebecausetheywouldonlytorturememore.It’sbetternottogivethemanyinformationatall.”

Healsobenefitedfromtheexperienceofotherpro‐democracyac‐tivistswhohadbeentorturedbythegovernmentbeforehistime.

HesaidsomeofthepoliticianswhowereinterrogatedandtorturedafterthedeathofformerUNSecretary‐GeneralUThantin1974talkedtohimaboutit.

“TheytoldmestoriesabouthowtheyweretorturedwhenIwasyoung.Now,itwasmyturn.”

Duringthetorture,theguardssometimestalkedabouthimmostlikelybeinggiventhedeathsentence.

“Ithoughttomyself,‘I’mgoingtogetadeathsentenceanddieintheend,or,maybetheywillkillmeherewhiletheytortureme.

‘Iamgoingtodieintheendanyway,soI’llfightanddiewithdig‐nitynow.Iwillnotanswerthem.’”

54 • no easy road

Herecalls hearing theguards trying to restraineachother be‐causeiftheywenttoofarwiththetortureandkilledhim,theywouldnotgetanyinformation.

Theywerefrustratedbyhissilence.

ThetorturecontinuedforaboutamonthasThihawastransferredtovariousMilitaryIntelligenceandSpecialBranchPoliceinterroga‐tioncenters.

“ItwaslikeIwasaball,kickedfromoneplacetotheother.”ThegameendedwhentheballcametorestonDeathRowatIn‐

seinPrisononMarch7,1991,followingabrieftrial.

no easy road • 55

chapter nine

death row

again

LifewasaboutwaitingtodieforthoseonDeathRow.

Noonehadanyideahowlongtheywouldremainthere

orwhenoriftheywouldactuallybeexecuted.

56 • no easy road

ThihaYarzarwashousedincell51,inacellrangeofsixtywhiteconcretecellswithironbarsforadoor.Therewasnothinginsidebutathinbamboomatforabedandtwoceramicbowlsforatoilet.

Out of 140 Death Row prisoners, five were political prisonerswithdeathsentences.ThreeofthosewereThiha,hisfifteenyear‐oldbrother‐in‐lawMyoAung,andBhaminDhit,themanwhogaveThi‐ha’snameandlocationtothepoliceafterbeingtortured.

Fourmorepoliticalprisoners,whodidnotreceivedeathsentenc‐es,werealsojailedthereasaformofmentaltorture.

ThreeotherDeathRowprisonershadbeenstudentswithThiha.“Howdid it come to this?We justwanted to studypeacefully.

Noneofuswantedtotakeuparms.Butwehadtofightfordemocracyandhumanrightsinstead.Andnowtoendupthisway...notonlymebuttheothersaswell.

“Who is responsible? It is the faultof the tyrants, themilitaryleaders.Iwasangry.

“But,wehadnoregrets.Weweresatisfiedwehaddonetherightthing.Wewereatpeace.

“Iwasinprison.But,Iwasreallyfreeinmymind.IencouragedotherprisonersonDeathRownottobeafraid.”

LifewasaboutwaitingtodieforthoseonDeathRow.Noonehadanyideahowlongtheywouldremainthere,orwhen

oriftheywouldactuallybeexecuted.Atleastthefilthyoldclotheshehadwornsincehisarrestwere

no easy road • 57

finallygone.Thihaandtheothersnowworeaprisonuniformmadeofawhite,short‐sleevedshirtwithacollarandawhitelongyi,orsarong.

EveryFridayhewasallowedtwovisitorsfromhisfamily.Hiswifeandmotherandsisterwouldtrytocomforthim.

“Theycriedandencouragedme.ButIsaid,‘I’mokay.Youbecare‐ful.’”

Hiswifewasarrestedonceaftervisitinghim.Hiswife’sfamilyeventuallyhadtosellthesmallpickledteashop

theyoperatedbecausepeoplewereafraidtobuyfromthem.Hiswifewasastudent.Shewassupportedbyherparentsandhis

familyaswell.Somesympatheticpoliticianssecretlyhelpedthefamilyfinancially.

Inside,Thihahadhisshareofchallengestoo.HeandotherprisonerswerecaughtsmugglinginformationtoBBC

Radioabouttheconditionsinsidetheprison.Theyweresenttoliveinpunishmentcellswithmilitarydogshousedon‐site.

Herememberstheywerekeptinshacklesandheardthesoundsofotherprisonersbeingbeateneveryday,buttheymadethebestoftheirpredicament.

“Afteraweek,weandthedogsbecameveryfriendly.So,wecouldeattheirmeat.Thedogshadbetterfood.Weonlyhadricetoeat.”

Thiharecountedhowprisonfoodwasusuallysobad,hetriednottoeatit.

Guardsweresadisticandbrutal.Prisonerswereforcedtoshout,“Iamnothuman.Iamjustapris‐

oner!”whilebeingpunished.Hesaidprisonstafforganizedprostitutionandsolddrugstomake

money.Femaleprisonstaffhadsexwithprisonersformoney.Child soldierswhohad tried todesert butwere recapturedand

58 • no easy road

senttoprisonweresoldtootherprisonersandstaffforsexbyguardseagertomakeextramoney.

Thihawantedthoseconditionschangedandheandothersusedmoneygivenbyoutsidesupporterstobribeguardstobuyashortwaveradioandtwocellphonestheyusedtopass informationabouttheconditionsinsidetheprisontotheoutsideworld.

“Everyonehasaresponsibilityfordemocracyandhumanrights,evenmeasaprisoner.Iwasstillyoung.”

no easy road • 59

chapter ten

taungoo, kalay,

and taunggyi

“Icried.Itwaseasiertodealwiththetorture

thanthemalaria.”

60 • no easy road

InJuneof1994hewastransferredtoTaungooPrison,PeguDivi‐sion,afterthreeyearsinInseinPrison.Thetransfercamejustbeforeotherprisonerswerecaughtwiththecellphonesandradiosandre‐ceivedlengthysentences.

Fouryearslater,hewentonahungerstriketoprotesttheauthori‐ties’decisionnottoreleasehimearly,aftertheyhadsaidtheywould.

HewasforcedtoreceivenourishmentfromaglucoseIV,andwastransferredtoKalayPrison,innorthwesternBurma,neartheIndianborder.Theweatherwasknownfor itsextremesofhotandcold.Itwasalsoamalariaarea.

“Politicalprisonerswhocausedproblems inotherprisonsweretransferredtoKalay.Itwasabadsituation.

“Almosteveryprisonerandstaffgotmalariafrequently,andbothprisonersandstaffdiedfromthedisease.”

Thiha said he gotmalaria in Kalay nearly thirty times in fouryears—almostmonthly.Hewashospitalizedthreetimes.

Herecountedtheperiodsofsufferingthroughboutsofhighfe‐ver, chills and shivering, aching bones and body, vomiting,weightloss,andterribleheadaches.

“Iwaslosingmymind.Ihadafeverof106degrees.Ifeltalone,isolated,andsufferedterriblywiththedisease.

“Icried.Itwaseasiertodealwiththetorturethanthemalaria.Itwasterrible.”

Duringone interview,heshowedacopyofadocumentstatingtheRedCrossvisited him inKalay PrisononMarch 29, 2000andDecember12,2001.

no easy road • 61

Hesaid localdoctorsandRedCrossofficialsrecommendedhistransfertoaprisonwithapermanentphysicianandahospital.MilitaryIntelligencerefused.

“Theysaid,‘LethimstayanddiehereinKalay.’”Atthattimehejoinedinahungerstrikewithtenotherpris‐

oners, includinghis friendKhunMyintTun,aMemberofPar‐liament‐electfromtheNationalLeagueforDemocracywhowasneverallowedtotakeoffice,whoistodaytheLaborMinisteroftheNationalCoalitionGovernmentoftheUnionofBurma,thegovernment‐in‐exileformedbymembersoftheNationalLeagueforDemocracy.

“Ourdemandwastoreleaseallpoliticalprisonersuncondi‐tionally,”hesaid.

“Itwasasifwehadnorights.Weweretreatedlikeanimals,notlikehumanbeings.

“Iwasfullofanger.Iwasbecomingmentallyill...crazy.”HeandKhunMyintTunwenttwenty‐onedayswithoutfood,

eighteendayswithoutwater.Ondaytwenty‐one,theywentunconsciousandweregivenan

IVandflowntoTaunggyiPrisoninSouthernShanState.Twenty‐fivedays later,ThihawassenttoMaiSatPrison, in

EasternShanState.

62 • no easy road

chapter eleven

mai sat

“Iwantedtotalktomydaughter.Italkedwiththebugsinmycell

andtalkedwiththestarsabouther.”

no easy road • 63

HewascoveredwithahoodandbeatenuponarrivalatMaiSatPri‐sion.Hewasdraggedtosolitaryconfinementandputinaconcretecellwithnofurnitureandnomattress.

Hispersonalbelongingswerestolen.Atnightguardsthreatenedhimthroughthedoor,constantlywak‐

inghimuptodeprivehimofsleep.Butstill,thesparkofactivismhadnotdiedoutcompletely,evenafterallthistimeandsuffering.

Hewrotealetterabouttheconditionsintherelativelysmallprison,whichheldthreehundredmaleandfemaleprisoners.Hethentriedtobribeastaffmemberwithclothingtocarryitoutoftheprison.

Thestaffmembertooktheclothing.Hedidnotdelivertheletter.“But,justwritingitwassatisfying,”heremembered.“Iwastrying.”“Theycoulddestroyourbody.But,theycouldn’tcontrolourmind,

oursoul,orourspiritsinprison.Theoppressiononlycausedus—forcedus—tofightback.”

Thihadidfightback,butnotonlyforhisowncause.Onemorningheoverheardguardsmistreatingaprisoner inan‐

othersectionoftheprisonhecouldnotsee.Theprisonerwasforcedtokneelinthehotsunfortwohours,while

shouting,“I’mnothuman.I’maprisoner!”Hiscrimewasstealingsomevegetables.“Thihashoutedbackfromhiscell,“Hey!Stopit!Iamalsoapris‐

oner,but,Iamhuman.”Hecontinuedhisprotestuntiltheprison’sHeadJailercameand

spoketohim,toquiethimdown.TheJailertoldtheguardstostopthepractice.

64 • no easy road

ButduringhissixyearsofisolationinMaiSatPrison,Thihaalsohadtofindwaystofightagainstgnawingdepression.

Duringthedaytimehecouldseeamountaininthedistanceifheleanedagainstthewallacertainwayinastandingposition.

Hestillremembershowbeautifulthatmountainwastohim.“Itwasgreen,with lotsoftrees. I lovedthosetrees. I imagined

strollinginthatforestundertheshadeofthosetrees.Itouchedthemandhuggedthem.Iranlikeachildamongstthem.”

Hisimaginationactedasamagiccarpet.“SometimesIcouldn’tsleepdayornight,forthreeorfourdays.

Then,Iwouldsleepfortwenty‐fourhours,withnofood.Sittingonthebedandleaningagainstthewall,Iimaginedthewallinfrontofmewasacinemascreen.Isawmylife.Isawmyfriends.IimaginedwatchingSeanConneryas007andJean‐ClaudeVanDamme.Isawlotsofmoviesonthatwall.”

Whenbored,hesatwithhislegsthroughthebarsofthecelldoorandhuggedthebarswithhisarms.

Heremembers lookingupattheskyandtalkingtothe insectsandsharingricewiththebirds.

“Iwantedtoflylikeabug,”hesaid.“Atnight,thestarsandthemoonweremycompanions.But,my

skywasverysmallbecauseofthesizeofmywindow.Icouldjustseethirteenstars.But,thosethirteenstarsweremybestfriends.Icouldnotsurvivewithoutthestars,themoon,thebugsandbirds,andthosetreesonthatmountain.”

Heaskedfavorsofhiscompanions,thebugsandthebirds.“‘Talktome.Say,‘Hello’,tomydaughter,’”heremembersasking

them.“Sometimesthesituationwassodepressing.Iwantedtotalkto

mydaughter. Italkedwiththebugs inmycellandtalkedwiththestarsabouther.”

Herecountedtheexperienceofbeingisolatedforsolong.

no easy road • 65

“Thesameness—theroutine—isdepressing.Ihadonlythepres‐ent.Nopastandnofuture.”

Heremembered,“Isangatnighttocomfortmyself.”Heusedpainkillersanddiarrheapillsaschalk,towritepoetryon

thefloorandwalls.“Mybestpoemwasformydaughter,”hesaid,passingmeahand‐

writtencopyofthepoem.Itisentitled,“PerfectMoment”:

JustadropofloveSpiltfrommybeloveddaughter’sheartMakesthewholeworldfullofcelebration.

Iwalkintheclouds.ThedruminmychestisBeatingitselfaloud.

Thebreezeisgiggling.Thetreesarewavingtheirhands.EventherainbowBecomesabridgeofgold.

Wow!ShecallsmeDaddy.IbelievethatTonightwillbestarry.

JustadropofloveSpiltfrommybeloveddaughter’sheartMakesmefeelhappinessthatIhaveneverhad.

ThepoemwaswrittenonToneTone’s sixteenth birthdayas hispresenttoher.Itwasalsothedayhereceivedaletterfromherinwhichshecalledhim“Daddy”forthefirsttime.

66 • no easy road

Shewasthree‐monthsoldwhenhewasarrestedandThihawasworriedtheywouldneverbeabletomakeupforallthelosttime.

ButsomeofThiha’sfriends,whowerealsostudentactivistsandpoliticalprisoners,includingtheprominentstudentleader,MinKoNaing,whohadjustfinishedservingasixteen‐yearsentence,inter‐venedtohelphimbegintodeveloparelationshipwithher.

Hesaidtheywrotetohimandsaid, “Don’tworry.Wewill takecareofyourdaughter.Wewillcareforherasifshewereourown.”

“Theywereworriedshehadnofeelingsforme,”Thihasaid.“Theyexplainedmystorytoherandencouragedhertocontactme.Theygavehermoneyandaschooluniform.Theyhelpedalot.Theyhelpedmecuremymentalillnessaboutmydaughter.”

He remembered his excitement when she wrote him the firsttime.

“Iamnowsixteen‐yearsold,”shewrote.“Iamatenthgradestu‐dent.Takecareofyourself.”

“Ireaditagainandagain,”hesaid.Shewroteagain,threemonthsafterherepliedtothatfirstletter.“Takecare.Iamokay.Now,Iamlearningaboutcomputers,”she

wrote.But itwas theword “Daddy” inher third letter thatwas likea

miracledrugtoThiha.“Ikeptitinmyshirtpocketandreaditagainandagain,”hesaid.

“ThatnightIwrotethepoem.”However,hebegantoworryabouthisinabilitytocareforTone

Tone,evenifheweretobereleasedsomeday.“Istartedtoworryaboutmyrelationshipwithmydaughter.She

saidshewantedtogoslowwiththerelationship.ButwhenwouldIbereleased?AndwhatwouldIdoforaliving?CouldIevenpayforhereducation?”

Thatworryintensifiedwhenhisfriends,whohadbeensohelpfultohimandhisdaughter,werearrestedagainduringtheSaffronRevo‐lutioninthefallof2007.

ThihaonceagainlostallcontactwithToneTone.

no easy road • 67

Butnow,barelyayearlater,ThihaYarzarlistenedcarefullyasBur‐mesemilitaryandpoliceofficialstoldhimhewouldsoonbeonaflighttoRangoon,wherehewouldbereunitedwithhisbeloveddaughterandtherestofhisfamily,nearlytwentyyearsafterhelefthisparents’homeasanexiledfreedomfighter.

68 • no easy road

chapter twelve

the prisoner’s

dream comes true

“Sheaskedme,‘AreyouDad?’Isaidnothing.

Ihadnostrengthtospeak.Ihadnowords.”

no easy road • 69

“Itwaslikeadream,”heremembersofthenighthewasdriveninataxitohissister’shouse.

Wasthisthatoldprisoner’sdream,andwouldbereturnedtopris‐onjustbeforewakingup?

He got lost because the city streets and the neighborhood hadchangedsomuchwhilehewasinprison.Twopolicecarsfollowedthetaxiashetriedtofindthehousehehadspentsomuchtimeinasachild.

Buthedidn’twakeup inhiscell. Instead,hefinallystoodathissister’sdoor.

Whenhissister,DawKhinMarWin,answeredthedoor,theyjuststaredateachother.TheyhadnotseeneachothersinceshevisitedhiminInseinPrisonin1992.

“Sheshouted,‘Hey!ThisisThiha!’Shecamerunningtomeetme,crying.”

“Mommyishere,”shetoldThiha.Thihastaredinamazementashewatchedanoldwomancomeout

ofthehouse.“Itwasmymother.ButIdidn’trecognizeheratfirst,”hesaid.DawTinLayMyintwasnow68years‐old.Heremembersherhair

hadturnedwhite.Shewasthin,butlookedhealthy.“She just stared atme, as shemoved slowly towardme,” he re‐

called.“ThisisThiha!”hissistershouted.“Theythought Iwasdead,”Thihasaid,explainingthattheyhad

losttrackofhimsincetracinghiswhereaboutstoKalayPrison.

70 • no easy road

“Momtouchedme,myhair,myface,myshoulder,”heremem‐beredvividly.

Theytoldhimthefamilyhadmadeplanstomakeacontributiontoamonasteryinhismemoryjustdaysbeforebecausetheythoughthewasdead.

“Then,mysisteraskedmeifIhadescaped,”heremembered.“Whatdidyoudo?”sheasked.“Therewillbeaproblem.”But,Thihaeasedtheirconcernsbyshowingthemhisreleasedoc‐

uments.

Thatevening,Thihalearnedofhisfather’sdeathin1996,theyearbeforehiswifedied.

Healsolearnedhowhisfatherlosthisrankinthearmyandwasforcedtoretire.

“I’mverysorry,”Thihatoldhismotherandsister.“Itwasbecauseofme.”

But,theytoldhim,“It’snotyourfault.”“Thiha, I’mvery happy to seeyoualiveagain before Idie,” his

mothertoldhim.Theytoldhimtheydidn’tholdoutmuchhopetoseehimalive

againbecausesomanyprisonershaddiedinprison.“Ihadseensomuchdeathandsomanyfamiliesdestroyedduring

myprisonterm,”Thihasaidduringourinterview.“AndIshouldhavediedinprison.Manyotherssufferedsomuchlossontheoutsideandthendied.”

Thenextday,Saturday,September27,2008,wasthedayThihafearedmightnevercome.Hewenttohiswife’sparentshometomeetthedaughterwhohadgrownupwithouthim.

Herecalledittookhimmorethantwohourstofindthehouse.Again,hegotlostonthewaybecausethecityhadchangedsomuchduringtheyearshewasinprison.

Whenhefinallyarrived,hismother‐in‐law,DawShweYu,wassweepingleavesinsidethefamilycompound.

no easy road • 71

“Finally,Thihaishere!”sheexclaimedwhenshesawhim.“Comeandseewhoishere,”shecalledtohisdaughter.ToneTonecameandstoodinthedoorway.“Sheaskedme,‘AreyouDad?’”herememberedvividly.“Isaidnothing.Ihadnostrengthtospeak.Ihadnowords.”Hismother‐in‐lawcametohimandhuggedhimtightly.ThenhewalkedtowhereToneTonewasstillstandinginthedoor‐

way.“ItouchedherhairandItouchedherface,justlikemyMomhad

donetome,thenightbefore.Irememberthinking,‘Sheislovely,justalovelyyounggirl’.

Hetriedtohugher.“Shewascold,”hesaid.“Shehadgottenusedtonothavingmeinherlife.”Heknewthen,itwouldtaketimeforhertoacceptthefactthathe

wasalive.“Iwasdisappointed,butIalsounderstoodherreaction.Iwasvery

confusedinmymind.ButIwasjusthappyseemydaughter.”Intime,Thihatriedtoexplainhisactionsinlightofthepolitical

situationinBurmatohisdaugther.“Butshewasnotinterested,”hesaid.“‘BecauseofthisIhadnofatherduringmychildhood.Becauseof

thisyouwereimprisonedforsolong.HowcanyouunderstandhowIfeelaboutitall?’”sheasked.

“Buteventuallywebegantounderstandeachother’sfeelingsalit‐tlemore,”Thihasaid,lookingback.

Thestruggletounderstandothersandtobeunderstoodhasbe‐comeanissueinmostofThiha’srelationshipssincehisrelease.Hesaidthesurvivalinstinctsthatkepthimaliveinprisonmakeitdifficulttotrustpeopleandcommunicateoutside.

“Ifelt like—andstill feel like—Icamefromanotherplanet.Thisplanetisnotmyhome,”hesaid,withfrustration.

72 • no easy road

chapter thirteen

life on

another planet

“Theworld,asIknewit,nolongerexists.”

no easy road • 73

“It’slikeadifferentplanetnow.Theworld,asIknewit,nolongerexists,”hesaid.

“It’sdifficultforus,myfamily,tounderstandeachother.Itisverydifficulttocommunicate.Idon’tknowwhy.

“Iaskmyself,‘Areyoucrazy.Areyoumad?’“Thereissomethingwronginmyrelationshipswithotherpeople.

NobodycanunderstandmeandIcan’tunderstandthem.I’moversen‐sitive.Ifindithardtorelaxandtrustpeople,totrusttheirmotives.Aretheymakingfunofme,laughingatme,beingsarcastic?”

Healsosaidhefeelspeopledistrusthismotivesbecauseheisanex‐prisoner.

Evenstill,sincehisreleasehehasnotbeenquietabouthisstrongfeelingsregardingthecontinuationofthearmedstruggleforfreedominsideBurma.

“Thearmedstrugglehasnotbeensuccessful,butwehavetimetochangethings.Wecan’twinagainstthemilitarygovernmentbecausewecan’tdefendourselves.

“Armedstruggle,aswellaspoliticalandeconomicpressure,willforcethegeneralstonegotiatepeace.Organizedarmedstruggleisane‐cessity,alongwithotherdiplomatic,political,andeconomicmeans.”

HesaidheseesadeclineinsupportfortheBurmesepro‐democ‐racymovementsinceSeptember11,2001,andhecallsontheinterna‐tionalcommunitytosupplythe“toolsforanarmedstruggle”,suchastechnologyandweapons.

“Therehasbeenreluctancebytheinternationalcommunitytoget

74 • no easy road

involvedinthearmedstruggleinBurma,despitetheobviousinjus‐tices.”

Hebristlesattheaccusationthatheandhisfellowinsurgentsareterrorists.

“Terroristsandfreedomfightersarequitedifferent!Wearefree‐dom fighters.Wedo not harm innocent civilians.We are fightingagainsttherealterrorists—themilitaryleaders.Wefightfordemoc‐racy,humanrights,andjusticeinBurma.”

Thihaiscriticaloflargernations,likeChina,witheconomicin‐terestsinBurma.

“It is like they feedthepoisonoussnake,”hesaid. “Andthe in‐ternationalcommunityandtheUnitedNationshaveallallowedtheSPDC(theBurmeseStatePeaceandDevelopmentCouncil)totightenitsholdonthecountry.

“Wehave triedmanymeans toend injustice inBurma.Armedstruggleisacontinuationofthat.It’snotfairtobrandusasterroristsbecausewecontinuetofightwithguns.

“Weareontherevolutionaryway.Inanycountrywhenpeopleat‐tackdictators,therewillbebloodshed.Wecan’tavoidthat.Wechosemilitarygovernmenttargets,notciviliantargets.

“Wehavetocreaterevolutiontogetridoftheunjustmilitarydic‐tators.

“Iamnotakiller.IstillwishIhadaguitarinsteadofmypistol.Ididn’twanttokillanybody.Ihadanorderfrommyheadquarters.Wewereinabattle,fightingfordemocracyandhumanrights.”

DuringoneinterviewheusedtheanalogyoftheAmericanuseofnuclearweaponstobringanendtothewarwithJapan.

“Theimportantthingistowin.Inthebattlethereisnotjusticeorinjustice.Wehavetobringchange,bringfreedomanddemocracyourselves.Weareatwar!Theyareverycunning.Armedstruggle isnecessaryforus.Thereisnofairorunfairinwar.”

Withina fewdaysofhis release,Thihawasapproachedbyhis

no easy road • 75

oldenemies,representativersofthemilitaryauthorities,whosoughttotakeadvantageofhismoneyproblems.HesaidhewasofferedajobwiththeSPDCpropagandawingandhewasofferedmoneytobeanSPDCpolitician.

“Theyofferedmemoneydailyfortwoweeks.Myfamilymemberswereafraid.”

Hesaidhewasalsofollowedandwasattackedbymembersofthepro‐governmentUSDA(UnionSolidarityandDevelopmentAssocia‐tionParty).

“That’swhenIfledtoThailand,”hesaid.

ButlifeinThailandhasnotbeenwithoutbattleseither.OnDecember3,2008,ThihacrossedtheMoeiRiver illegallyby

boat, atMyawaddy,Karen State, enteringThailandatMae Sot,TakProvince.

OnFebruary 1,2009,hewasdetainedbyThaipoliceandforcedtopay4,000baht (Thaicurrency,approximately$125US), tobuyhisfreedom.

“It’sdifficulttosurviveinThailandwithoutlegaldocuments,”hesaid.

HewastoldbytheUNHCR(UnitedNationsHighCommissionerforRefugees)andseveralNGOs(non‐governmentalorganizationsas‐sistingrefugees)togotoarefugeecamp.So,inFebruary2009,hewenttoUmphiemMaiRefugeeCamp,nearMaeSot.

“AtfirstIthoughtIwasfreeinThailand,andtheUNHCRwouldprotectmefromThaipolice,andIwouldbeinvitedtoberesettledinathirdcountry.But,nohelpfromtheUNHCR.Theyappeartodonicework.Butnoaction.”

Soon,hemovedbacktoMaeSotwherehenowlives.Itisknownbymanyas“TheCityofExiles”asthestreetsandshophousesarefilledwithmigrantsandthosewhohavefledpoorconditionsinBurma.

But Thiha’s dream of a new life through resettlement has notdied.

76 • no easy road

“Resettlementwillhelpmeobtainalegalidentityandfinancialstability,”hesaid.“AndIcanhelporganizeBurmeseandhelpthecausefromanothercountrybytellingtheBurmesestory,andmystory.”

no easy road • 77

chapter fourteen

free burma!

“IwilldowhateverIcantocontinuemyfight

fordemocracyandhumanrights.”

78 • no easy road

ThedecisionmadebyThihaYarzar,theyounghistorystudentatRangoonUniversity,topursueanddefendthecauseofdemocracyinBurmabecauseitisthebetterway,andhiswillingnesstopaythesteeppricetosecure it,hasnotwaivereddespite longyearsof imprison‐mentandtortureandsufferingtohimandhisfamily.

“IdidmydutyandIwillcontinuetodomyduty.EveryBurmesehasaresponsibility tostruggle fordemocracyandhumanrights inBurma,”hesaid.

“I’m free,and I’mgettingstrength fromthe fact that I’ma freeman.IwilldowhateverIcantocontinuemyfightfordemocracyandhumanrights.”

AsthecrowdpressedthegateattheUNHCRcompoundinMaeSot inMay2009,demanding thereleaseofAungSanSuuKyiandallpoliticalprisonersinBurma,Thihashowedhiswordsarenotjustactivistbravado.

Whensomeonewasneededtoleadthewaybyspeakingupforfreedom despite concerns of retaliation from Thai authorities, hesteppedtothefrontwithfireinhiseyes,litbytheflamesofthefireinhisbelly,hisclenchedfistpunching thesky,andshouted, “FreeBurma!”.

80 • no easy road

appendix i

timeline

of modern burmese history

with events from the life

of thiha yarzar

19July1947GeneralAungSan,leaderofthecolonialindependencemovement,andfatherofAungSanSuuKyi,isassassinatedalongwithmanymembersofhiscabinet.

4January1948BurmaachievesindependencefromBritishcolonialruleandUNubecomesthefirstdemocraticallyelectedprimeminister.

2March1962GeneralNeWinleadsBurmesearmytroopsinasuccessfulcoup,overthrowingthegovernmentofPrimeMinisterUNu.Manygov‐ernmentleadersarearrestedorforcedintoexile.

3March1962NeWindissolvesthe1947constitution,whichguaranteeddemocra‐cyandlimitedfederalismforanindependentBurma,andannouncesthatheandhisrevolutionarycouncil,madeupofseniormilitaryofficers,arenowrulingthecountry.

July1962TheBurmaSocialistProgrammeParty(BSPP)isestablishedbythemilitary,withanagendacalledthe“BurmeseWaytoSocialism”.NeWin’sideologyleadstoBurmabecomingapolicestate.

7July1962Followingstudentprotests,themilitarydestroystheheadquartersoftheAllBurmaFederationStudentUnionatRangoonUniversity,andbrutallyputsdownfurtherstudentdemonstrationsbykilling,wound‐ing,andarrestingmany.

August1962Thegovernmentbeginscensoringthemediathroughthenewlyestab‐lishedPressScrutinyBoard.

23February1963Thegovernmentnationalizestheprivatesector.Everythingisownedandregulatedbythemilitary.

4March1964Allpoliticalpartiesarebanned,exceptthegovernment‐runBurmaSocialistProgrammeParty.

25December1965ThihaYarzarisborninRangoon.

11–12December1974Martiallawisimposedandschoolsareclosedafterstudentsandmonksdemonstrateagainstthegovernment’slackofrespectforBur‐mesehero,UNGeneralSecretaryUThant,onthedayofhisfuneral.

1October1976Studentleadersarearrestedandsentencedtodeathafterpublicdem‐onstrationsagainstthegovernment.

1986ThihagraduatesfromRangoonUniversitywithaBAinhistory.He

beginsstudyingforhisMaster’sdegreeinHistory.

no easy road • 81

82 • no easy road

5September1987Morestudentsarearrestedafterprotestingagainstthegovernment’smovetodemonetizealllargebanknotes.DuringSeptember,Thiha,nowastudentactivist,isarrestedforthe

firsttimeandisimprisonedfornearlyfivemonths.

March1988Riotpolicekilltwouniversitystudentsduringaprotest.Thenextweek,200studentsarekilledduringclasheswithpolice.Unrestcontinues.

17March1988Thihaisarrestedforthesecondtimewith140otherstudentsandis

imprisonedformorethanthreemonths.

April1988Inordertocareforherailingmother,AungSanSuuKyireturnstoBurmaafterlivinginEuropeformanyyearswithherhusbandandtwosons.

23July1988GeneralSeinLwin,knownasthe“ButcherofBurma”followinghisroleinthebrutalkillingofstudentprotesters,takespowerafterNeWinresignsinanefforttoquellunrest.

August1988Thihaiswoundedwhileleadingdemonstratorsfromhistownship

nearRangooninanationwideuprisingknownas“8888”.

Morethan3,000peacefulprotestorsarekilledbygovernmenttroopsoverfourdays.Manyothersarewoundedandarrested.Inanattempttocalmthenation,GeneralSeinLwinresignsafteronlyeighteendaysinpower,toappointamoderatecivilian,Dr.MaungMaung,aspresident.

no easy road • 83

26August1988SeveralhundredthousandpeopleattendAungSanSuuKyi’sfirstpublicspeechatShwedagonPagodainRangoon.

18September1988Themilitary,ledbyGeneralSawMaung,respondstocontinuedcivil‐ianprotestsbybrutallycrackingdownondemonstrators.MartialLawisimposedandtheStateLawandOrderRestorationCouncil(SLORC)isestablishedtorunthecountry.

20September1988ThihameetswithhisfamilybeforefleeingtoThailand.

23September1988ThihaleavesBurmaforthefirsttimeinhislife.

24September1988AungSanSuuKyihelpsfoundtheNationalLeagueforDemocracy(NLD).ThemilitarygovernmentarrestspeopleattendingNLDeventsthroughtheimpositionofabanprohibitingpoliticalgatheringsofmorethanfourpeople.

December1988ThihabeginsfourmonthsofmilitaryofficertraininginThailandwith

thenewlyformedAllBurmaStudentDemocraticFront(ABSDF)and

theDemocraticAllianceofBurma(DAB).

27May1989ThemilitaryregimeunilaterallychangesthenameofthecountrytotheUnionofMyanmar,andalsochangesthenamesofmanycitiesanddivisions.

20July1989AungSanSuuKyiisputunderhousearrestforthefirsttimefordefy‐

84 • no easy road

ingthebanagainstgivingspeechestolargeaudiences.

September1989ThihareturnstoBurmaonamissionfortheDABtophotographmili‐

tarytargetsinRangoon.

25December1989Thihamarries19year‐oldHtwayHtwayOo,onhis24thbirthday,whileonamissioninsideBurma.

January1990ThihaleadsarocketattackagainstamilitarybarracksinRangoon.

ElevenBurmeseArmysoldiersarekilled.

27May1990Whilesheisunderhousearrest,AungSanSuuKyi’sNLDpartywins392outofthe485seatsintheGeneralAssemblyinanoverwhelm‐ingelectionvictory.Thejuntarespondsbynullifyingtheelectionresults,disallowingatransitionofpowertothenewlyelectedNLDandarrestingmanyoftheparty’sleaders.

1October1990Thiha’sdaughterToneToneisborn.

17January1991ThihaiscapturedbyMilitaryIntelligenceofficersinRangoon.

20January1991PrisonandMilitaryIntelligenceauthoritiesbegintotortureThihafor

severalweeks.

7March1991ThihaissentencedtodeathforHighTreasonandimprisonedon

DeathRowinInseinPrison.Heis25yearsold.

no easy road • 85

10December1991StudentsarearrestedanduniversitiesclosedasstudentsdemonstratetofreeAungSanSuuKyiaftersheisawardedtheNobelPeacePrize.

June1994ThihaistransferredfromInseinprisontoTaungooPrison,PeguDivi‐

sion.

July1995ThejuntareleasesAungSanSuuKyifromhousearrest,butimposestoughrestrictionsonhermovementandbarsherfrompoliticalac‐tivities.

July1997BurmabecomesamemberoftheAssociationofSouthEastAsianNa‐tions(ASEAN).

16November1997SLORCisrenamedtheStatePeaceandDevelopmentCouncil(SPDC)upontherecommendationofanAmericanpublicrelationsfirmhiredtoimprovetheregime’simageinternationally.

May1988ThihaistransferredtoKalayPrison,neartheIndianborder.

June2000InternationalLaborOrganization(ILO)decidestotakepunitiveactionagainsttheBurmesejuntaforthewidespreaduseofforcedlabour.

21September2000AungSanSuuKyiissentencedtoasecondtermofhousearrest.TheSPDCsaysitisforherownprotection,todefendherfrombeingused

86 • no easy road

by‘criminalandterroristelements’.

June2002Aftera21‐dayhungerstrikeThihaistransferredtoMaiSatPrison,

ShanState,whereheisplacedinsolitaryconfinementforsixyears.

6May2002AungSanSuuKyiisreleasedfromthesecondtermofherhousear‐rest.

30May2003WhiletravelingtomeetsupportersinMandalayDivision,AungSanSuuKyi’smotorcadeandentouragearebrutallyattacked.Nearly100NLDmembersandsupportersareslaughteredinwhatwillbecomeknownasthe“DepayinMassacre”.AungSanSuuKyiisplacedunderhousearrestforthethirdtime.TheofficialreasongivenbytheSPDCisonceagainthatthedetentionisforherownprotection.

August–September2007PoliticallyactiveBurmesemonksleadanationaluprisingknownasthe“SaffronRevolution”toproteststeepincreasesinfuelpricesandtocallfordemocracy.Again,themilitaryregimereactswithbruteforce.Thousandsofmonksanddemonstratorsarebeaten,arrested,andimprisoned.Othersaremurderedordisappear.Manymonksfleethecountry.

2May2008CycloneNargismakeslandfallintheIrrawaddyDelta,leavingatleast138,000deadorunaccountedfor,andmorethan2.3millionaffectedinitswake.

10–24May2008Whiledecliningoffersofinternationalassistanceforthevictimsofthecyclone,theregimeschoosestogoaheadwithaplannedrefer‐

no easy road • 87

endumonanewconstitutionwhichguaranteesex‐militaryofficers25%oftheseatsandvetopowerinbothparliaments,regardlessofanyfutureelectionresults.

27May2008AungSanSuuKyi’sthirdperiodofhousearrestisextendedforan‐otheryear,whichisillegalunderbothinternationallawandBurma’sownlaws.

23September2008ThihaisreleasedfromMaiSatPrisonafterservingseventeenyears,six

monthsandsixteendaysasapoliticalprisoner.

26September2008Thihaseeshismotherforthefirsttimeinnearly20years.

27September2008Heseeshisdaughter,ToneTone,forthefirsttimesinceshewasa

newborn.

3December2008AsaresultofunrelentingharassmentfromBurmeseauthorities,Thiha

fleestoThailand.

1February2009ThihaisdetainedbyThaiPoliceinMaeSot,Thailand,becauseheisin

thecountryillegally.

10February2009ThihamovestoUmpiemMaiRefugeeCamp.

20April2009ThihamovesbacktoMaeSotasanillegalmigrant.Heisgivensome

aidfromtheAssistanceAssociationforPoliticalPrisoners(AAPP).

88 • no easy road

3May2009AmericanJohnYettawswimsacrossInyaLaketomakeanuninvitedvisittoAungSanSuuKyi.

13May2009AungSanSuuKyiisarrestedforviolatingthetermsofherhousearrestbecauseshehadallowedYettaw,whopleadedpoorhealthandexhaustion,tostayinherhousefortwodays.

27May2009ThihaleadsademonstrationattheUNHCRcompoundinMaeSot,

callingforthereleaseofAungSanSuuKyiandallpoliticalprisoners

inBurma.

11August2009Afterputtingherontrialforviolatingthetermsofherhousearrest,thejuntaextendsAungSanSuuKyi’scurrentperiodofhousearrestforanadditionalthreeyears,whichisimmediatelyreducedto18monthsbySPDCSeniorGeneralThanShwe,ontheconditionofhershowing“goodbehavior”.

7November2010Thefirstelectionsin20yearsarescheduledtobeheldwithouttheparticipationofAungSanSuuKyiortheNationalLeagueforDe‐mocracy,thewinnersofthepreviouselection.Approximately2,100politicalprisonersremainjailed.

Atthistime,Thihaisworkingtowardsresettlementandasylumina

thirdcountry,whilecontinuinghisstrugglefordemocracyinBurma.

no easy road • 89

TimelinecompiledbyPaulPickrem,GarrettKostin,andAndreaValentin

TimelineSources:•SoeMyint,BurmaFile:AQuestionofDemocracy,2002•ZoyaPhan,LittleDaughter:AMemoirofSurvivalinBurmaandthe

West,2009•WhitneyStewart,AungSanSuuKyi:FearlessVoiceofBurma,Sec‐ondEdition,2008•JustinWintle,PerfectHostage:AungSanSuuKyi,Burmaandthe

Generals,2007

90 • no easy road

Insein

Mai Sat

Kalay

appendix ii

Map of Burmese Prisons

showing 44 prisons, including five

that held thiha yarzar

no easy road • 91

appendix iii

20 recommended books

for a deeper understanding of

modern burmese history and

issues confronting burma today

AungSanSuuKyi,FreedomFromFear,1995essays:history,culture,politics

AungSanSuuKyiwithAlanClements,TheVoiceofHope,1996interviews:modernhistory,politics,spirituality

Charney,Michael,AHistoryofModernBurma,2009colonial/WWIIhistory,modernhistory,currentevents

Connelly,Karen,TheLizardCage,2005fiction,politics,politicalprisoners

Fink,Christina,LivingSilenceinBurma,2009(secondedition)colonial/WWIIhistory,modernhistory,politics

Ganz,Nicholas,andElenaJotow,Burma:TheAlternativeGuide,2009modernhistory,politics,travelinformation

KhooThwe,Pascal,FromtheLandofGreenGhosts,2002autobiography,modernhistory,ethnicminorities,migrants

92 • no easy road

KoehlerJohnson,Bernice,TheShan:RefugeesWithoutaCamp,2009memoir,ethnicminorities,migrants,travelogue

Koetsawang,Pim,InSearchofSunglight:BurmeseMigrantWorkersinThailand,2001refugees/migrants,essays

Larkin,Emma,FindingGeorgeOrwellinBurma/SecretHistories,2004colonialhistory,modernhistory,travelogue

Larkin,Emma,EverythingisBroken,2010CycloneNargis,SaffronRevolution,Naypyidaw

Lintner,Bertril,LandofJade,1996modernhistory,politics,ethnicinsurgencies,travelogue

Marshall,Andrew,TheTrouserPeople,2002colonial/WWIIhistory,modernhistory,ethnicminorities,travelogue

Mawdsley,James,TheIronRoad/TheHeartMustBreak,2001memoir,activism,ethnicminorities,politicalprisoners

McClelland,Mac,ForUsSurrenderIsOutoftheQuestion,2010memoir,politics/activism,ethnicminorities,refugees/migrants

Mirante,Edith,BurmeseLookingGlass,1993ethnicminorities/insurgencies,travelogue

Phan,Zoya,LittleDaughter:AMemoirofSurvivalinBurmaandtheWest,2009autobiography,ethnicminorities/insurgencies,refugees,politics/

activism

no easy road • 93

ThantMyint‐U,TheRiverofLostFootsteps,2006autobiography,colonial/WWIIhistory,modernhistory

Thornton,Phil,RestlessSouls:Rebels,Refugees,MedicsandMisfitsontheThai‐BurmaBorder,2006ethnicinsurgencies,refugees/migrants,travelogue

Wintle,Justin,PerfectHostage:AungSanSuuKyi,Burma,andTheGenerals,2007biography,colonial/WWIIhistory,modernhistory,politics

94 • no easy road

appendix iv

recommended

burma-related websites

get involved/get informed!

CAMPAIGNSandRESOURCES

BurmaPartnershipwww.burmapartnership.org

U.S.CampaignforBurmawww.uscampaignforburma.org

BurmaCampaign‐UKwww.burmacampaign.org.uk

BurmaCampaignAustraliawww.aucampaignforburma.org

CanadianFriendsofBurmawww.cfob.org

ThaiFriendsofBurmahttp://fobcm.wordpress.com

BurmaGateway‐AustralianBurmeseNetworkwww.burmagateway.org

BurmaActionIrelandwww.burmaactionireland.org

no easy road • 95

Women’sLeagueofBurmawww.womenouurma.org

OpenSocietyInstituteBurmaProjectwww.soros.org/initiatives/bpsai

NEWSandINFORMATION

TheIrrawaddywww.irrawaddy.org

MizzimaNewswww.mizzima.com

DemocraticVoiceofBurma(DVB)www.dvb.no

BurmaNewsInternationalwww.bnionline.net

BurmaNetNewswww.burmanet.org/news

ALTSEAN‐Burmawww.altsean.org

TheBestFriendLibrarywww.thebestfriend.org

BurmaDailywww.burmadaily.com

BurmaDigesthttp://burmadigest.info

96 • no easy road

OnlineBurmaLibrarywww.burmalibrary.org

KachinNewsGroupwww.kachinnews.com

IndependentMonNewsAgencyhttp://monnews.org

ShanHeraldAgencyforNews(SHAN)www.shanland.org

HUMANRIGHTS

AssistanceAssociationforPoliticalPrisoners‐Burmawww.aappb.org

AmnestyInternationalwww.amnesty.org

ExPP‐ACThttp://borderlinereport.blogspot.com/

NetworkforHumanRightsDocumentation‐Burmawww.nd‐burma.org

BurmaLawyers’Councilwww.blc‐burma.org

BurmaMediaAssociation(BMA)www.bma.co.cc

BurmaVoiceswww.burmavoices.com

no easy road • 97

BurmeseAmericanDemocraticAlliancewww.badasf.org

HumanRightsWatch:Burmawww.hrw.org/asia/burma

FreeBurmaRangerswww.freeburmarangers.org

MAP(MigrantAssistanceProject)Foundationwww.mapfoundationcm.org

ArakanRohingyaNationalOrganisationwww.rohingya.org

ChinHumanRightsOrganizationwww.chro.ca

KarenHumanRightsGroupwww.khrg.org

KarenWomen’sOrganizationwww.karenwomen.com

HumanRightsFoundationofMonlandhttp://rehmonnya.org

ShanHumanRightsFoundationwww.shanhumanrights.org

ShanWomen’sActionNetworkwww.shanwomen.org

98 • no easy road

ENVIRONMENTALISSUES

SalweenWatchwww.salweenwatch.org

EarthRightsInternationalwww.earthrights.org/burma

BurmaRiversNetworkwww.burmariversnetwork.org

ArakanOilWatchwww.arakanoilwatch.org

ArakanRiversNetworkwww.arakanrivers.net

ProjectMajewww.projectmage.org

no easy road • 99

Canadian Friends of Burma (CFOB) is a federally incorporated non-governmental organization working for democracy and human rights in Burma. Established in 1991 by a network of concerned Canadians and civil society organizations, CFOB has tirelessly raised awareness among Canadians on the situations in Burma, successfully launched campaigns and educational outreaches, and constantly encouraged the Govern-ment of Canada to support the Burmese Democracy Movement and the ethnic struggles in Burma.

Recent accomplishments include:

• Government support for a UN ‘Commission of Inquiry’ into human rights abuses in Burma,• Continuous humanitarian and capacity-building support on the borders of Burma,• A ‘toughest’ economic sanction against the repressive Burmese military regime,• Honorary Canadian Citizenship for Burmese democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi,• a historic meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Burmese exiled leader Dr. Sein Win,• divestment campaigns (e.g., Ivanhoe Mines), and• various actions and campaigns, including calling for the release of all political prisoners in Burma

Contact address: Suite 206, 145 Spruce St., Ottawa, K1R 6P1, Canada Tel: 613.237.8056 • Fax: 613.563.001 Email: cfob@cfob.org • Website: www.cfob.org

!

ExPP­ACT:Ex­PoliticalPrisoners­Assistance,CounselingandTrainingisanorganizationfoundedmainlybyformerpoliticalpris‐onersfromBurmanowresidinginThailand.

TheMaeSot‐basedorganisationsupportsformerpoliticalprison‐

erswhohave?ledtoThailandtoescapefurtherpersecutionbythe

Burmesemilitaryjunta.Accordingtoourbudget,weprovidepsycho‐

socialandlegalassistance,shelter,traininginlanguageandcomput‐

erskills,vocationaltraining,andsupportpublicationsonBurma.

ThihaYarzarisExPP‐ACTco‐founderandjointsecretary.

Ifyouwanttocontactuspleasewritetoexppact@gmail.com.

YoucanalsocontactusattheMaeSotof?iceinThailand:

ThihaYarzar,JointSecretary,+66(0)806824274

BoHtwayLwin,ViceSecretary,+66(0)806824274

AyeMinSoe,Spokesperson,+66(0)822259968

andrewsaisai@gmail.com

ortheBerlinof?iceinGermany:

MarkusBaude,Founder,ProjectCoordinator

+49(0)3026376288,+66(0)845315317(Thailand)

Pleasefollowusonourblog:www.borderlinereport.blogspot.com,soon:www.exppact.org.

pm=unfhwkduftzGJ h0ifvSsifpmtkyfrsm;tcrJhiSg;Ekdifonf?t*Fvdyfpm uGefjyLwmoifwef;rsm; tcrJhwufEkdifonf?

ROADROADROADNO EASY

a burmese political

prisoner’s story

by Paul Pickrem

•

THEREISNOEASYROADTOFREEDOMANYWHERE,ANDMANYOFUSWILLHAVETOWALKAGAINANDAGAIN

THROUGHTHEVALLEYOFTHESHADOWOFDEATHBEFOREWEREACHTHEMOUNTAINTOPOFOURDESIRES.

—NelsonMandela

InSeptember1987,twenty‐oneyearoldThihaYarzar,thesonofaBurmeseArmyColonel,wasarrestedinRangoonasoneoftheleadersofagroupofuniversitystudentsprotestingagainstthemilitaryregime’seconomicpolicies.HewasheldatBurma’snotoriousInseinPrisonforalmostfivemonths.

Fouryearslater,followingcontinuedpoliticalactivityandashamone‐daytrial,ThihawassentencedtodeathforHighTreasonandreturnedtoInsein,believinghewoulddiethere.

NoEasyRoad:ABurmesePoliticalPrisoner’sStorychroniclesThihaYarzar’snearly18‐yearjourneyonthelongroadtofreedom,firstasapoliticalprisonerjailedandtorturedinfivedifferentBurmeseprisons,andthenasapoliticalexileinThailand.

Ithoughttomyself,‘I’mgoingtogetadeathsentenceanddieintheend,or,maybetheywillkillmeherewhiletheytortureme.

Iwaschoking.Icouldnotbreathe.AndIswungbackandforthbetweenthetwokickingme,likeIwasinacradle.

Iwantedtoscream.But,Icontrolledmyself.Ididnotwanttoshowthemmyfearandmyrage.Iswallowedmyvoice.Ididnotwantthem

tothinkofmeasacoward.—ThihaYarzar

250

baht

Ex-PAACT

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