An interview with CDM doctor Daw Thinzar Aye
Among those who have participated in the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM) against the recent military coup in Myanmar are medical doctors. One of them is Daw Thinzar Aye, a medical doctor. After joining the CDM, she began providing medical treatment and support to IDPs in Chin State and is currently offering her services to IDPs in Karenni State. Daw Thinzar Aye was interviewed to learn more about the difficulties she encountered after joining CDM, the challenges she faced in providing medical care in conflict areas, the physical and psychological aspects of IDPs on the ground, and the military regime’s targeted attacks on civilians.
Q: How did you come to Karenni (Kayah) State after participating in CDM, and what are you currently doing?
A: I came to Karenni State in June after the military coup last year. The main reason was to help our blood relatives in this area with what I’m good at. Before that, I had continuoulsy participated in the strikes. Later, I also participated in the flash mob strikes. When the military council started making more and more arrests and the situation became very difficult for the youths, some of them went to the liberated areas to receive military training and take up arms. I thought about it. What can I do for the revolution? First of all, what can I do with my knowledge to help with the events that are happening here? How much can I commit myself to this revolution? After thinking about this, I first went to Chin State. In May 2021, I started donating food to internally displaced people in Chin State and providing them with medical care. In June,clashes started to occur here. They needed medics at that time, so I came to Karenni in June.
I provided health care to IDP camps, villages hosting IDPs, and other villages far from hospitals. When I arrived there, it was the rainy season. So it happened that I helped the IDPs, our blood relatives, with the necessary roof and food. Since the government schools were closed and the children’s education was interrupted, I tried to give them the necessary knowledge so that they’d not be too disconnected from education.
Q: Can you tell us about the ongoing clashes and difficulties caused by the artillery shelling of the military council in Karenni State?
A: Since we arrived there, we have faced constant armed clashes. I myself had situations where I had to flee because of artillery fire while I was giving medical aid. And artillery shells also hit near our house at night. There were times when we had to run with our car lights off. A few days ago, I was in an IDP camp for medical treatment. There are three camps for IDPs. I was requested to come for medical treatment. About half an hour later, I heard the sound the clock from above. When I looked out, there were jet fighters up there. Normally, I often saw planes hovering over my head. But that day they were flying very low. They were flying so low that we could shoot back if we had guns. But we didn’t have anything. We were in a panic. I wondered if the first plane was a reconnaissance plane. But I didn’t think it was a reconnaissance plane because it was flying so low. But when the plane came back to us the second time, we panicked and lost our composure. We were pretty panicked.
Near the IDP camp, there was a self-help school where children were studying. A local man told us to run because he knew from his experience that the plane was about to drop bombs. Some children ran out of the building with their books in hand. We witnessed children fleeing, and there were also many sick people in the IDP camps. Elderly patients, people and children were forced to huddle in the bunkers first so they’d be safe from the bombing. That’s what we did. All patients and children were safe that day. Fortunately, when I looked up, the plane circled twice upside down and then flew away. Later we found out that they wanted to demonstrate their power all over Karenni State that day.
Only reconnaissance planes came that day. These days there are clashes in the east. Our comrades have taken some areas after fighting with them. Fighter jets and reconnaissance planes are constantly flying overhead. At night, the situation is even worse. They’re shelling us with artillery. The next day after the reconnaissance flight, an IDP camp was hit by heavy shells. They keep firing artillery at night. The area where we live is closer to the fighting in the east. Artillery shells even made houses shake. We have experienced such things.
Q: The military regime has also been attacking schools and civilian homes recently. What would you like to say about this?
A: The military council hasn’t only attacked schools and houses, but also hospitals and clinics. Last year they shelled two hospitals with heavy weapons. One shell landed on the side of one hospital. They have carried out targeted attacks on all hospitals. We, the people, have no weapons. These ethnic people are very innocent and live peacefully. They earn their living by working on the farms in the mountains. Even when these people are fleeing in the forest and have left their homes and property behind, the military regime still threatens these people to cling to power. I think they’re harassing people with weapons.
Q – How do you stay strong and move forward in the midst of these difficulties?
A: The main thing is that our revolution is a long journey. We’re facing many difficulties here. Because of the ongoing fighting, we can’t transport medical supplies through the normal routes. We have to transport them through detours and longer distances. There were times when we were checked by military dogs [junta soldiers] and our medical supplies were confiscated. They threatened those who transported the materials. Many medical supplies disappeared before they reached us. We’re having difficulty transporting medical supplies to provide medical care. It has become very difficult to get medical supplies in this area. It’s even more difficult than last year. Even more roads have been closed. These are our difficulties. This is how I overcome my hardship here. Our blood relatives here no longer have their houses to return to. Our house has been sealed off. But if the revolution is successful, we still have a home to return to. But the houses of these ethnic people have been burned down. They have been reduced to ashes. They have no place to return to. If we compare our suffering with that of the political leaders and youth who sacrificed their lives, we can still pull ourselves together. If we stop here, there is nothing more we can do for those who lost their homes and those who gave their lives for the revolution. We still have a lot to do for them. We need to gather more strength. I go on with the conviction that if one falls, we must work twice as hard.
Q: What are the problems faced by the IDPs in Kayah State in terms of their health, education, and physical and mental condition?
A: Especially the elderly and children are more or less psychologically affected by the war. Some children are moping around. They’re easily frightened. These children are psychologically affected disproportionately to their age. Another point is that the children have been cut off from education for a long time. When the self-help schools reopened this year in August, the children were happy to go to school. They were happy to learn. As they were happily learning, the planes flew and they all got quite a fright. One of the children got so scared that he had to be taken to the hospital. They’re happy to learn because they were disconnected from education for so long. But I noticed that their drawings reflect the current situation. They draw pictures of guns and weapons. When they play, they often play gunfights. Not only the boys, but also the girls play gunfights. To be honest, it makes me feel bad. This mentality has become ingrained in the minds of young children. They don’t play normal games; they play shooting games. They play shooting games with bamboo sticks and draw pictures of guns. We noticed this often when we donated to the schools in the IDP camps. The children have become familiar with things they shouldn’t be familiar with and accepted what they shouldn’t. Each of them has their own traumas.
Q: What else would you like to add?
A: The main thing is that our revolution will succeed quickly if all people participate. There may be people who have left the revolution because they were instilled with fear. But I’d like to appeal to these people from here: If we give in to injustice, it can knock on your door at any time, like Ko Min Ko Naing put it. So please support the revolution as much as you can, whether you fight at the front or support from behind. We’ll only be able to accelerate this revolution and successfully beat back gross injustice if people participate. Wherever you’re, I’d like to ask you to help us carry out the revolution as quickly as possible.
Sent by Than Lwin Times.
