Interview
Q. What did you hear about your husband after bieng taken by ULA/AA?
“We’re hopeful that he’ll be released. Since he’s already old, if they no longer need him, he might be let go.”
Q. “What challenges have you and your family been going through since your husband was taken by the ULA/AA?”
It became difficult for us to meet our basic needs like food, clothing, and shelter. We’re currently staying in Laungchaung, and because I’m with my children, it’s been hard to get by.
Someone from the village we’re in has let us stay at their place, which we’re grateful for.
But we have no money, so we can’t eat what we want we just eat whatever is available. We’ve been living as internally displaced people due to the conflict.
We did receive some aid there, but it hasn’t been enough because prices are so high now.
When I got sick and went to see a doctor, they told me I needed to go to Kulachuang.
They said I needed treatment because I was malnourished.
After getting treatment there, I started to feel a bit better.
The doctor told me not to let my condition worsen again. Even now, I’m not fully recovered.
I have neck muscle cramps, dizziness, and whenever I exert myself, I need to massage my arms and hands to relieve the strain.
Just last day, I went to the clinic again.
The doctor advised me to eat more nutritious food. I simply replied, “I’ll try my best to eat what I can.”
Q. “How do you view the ULA/AA’s recruitment of individuals for military service?”
Young people have to join the Arakan Army.
I am also a Rakhine person, and I have the Rakhine spirit within me.
Q. How do you feel about the ULA/AA recruiting your husband, despite him being over 50 years old?
If I had children who were old enough, and the ULA/AA came to recruit them, I would let them go.
One of my children is still an infant, barely out of the cradle.
I understand that we all are Rahine people.
If I had children who were old enough, and the ULA/AA came to recruit them, I would let them go.
It breaks my heart to see how much my children are suffering right now.
I kept it all inside without saying anything.
I couldn’t hold it in any longer, so I’m speaking out in this interview. I hope you understand.
I sincerely hope no one else has to experience the pain and struggles I’ve been through.
It makes a big difference whether you have an adult child or not.
If my child were old enough, I wouldn’t hesitate to let him join the Arakan Army.
But my children are not yet old enough to join military service.
If we’re able to give them food, they eat. If not, they have to endure hunger. They are just children.
These children sometimes wish for something special to eat, but they endure it—because their father is not here.
they hold back their desire and return home quietly, with sadness in their eyes
Sometimes they look at me and ask, ‘Where’s Daddy? When will he come home?’—and I don’t know how to answer.
Q. Could you please tell us the ages of your children?
my eldest daughter is 10.
My second kid is 7.
Another one is 4
The baby in the cradle is only 10 months old.
Q. Can you tell us about the difficulties you’re currently facing?
The difficulties I’m facing right now are things like not being able to afford fish or curry, or to give my children money for snacks and school fees.
I’m simply not in a position to provide.
We do have rice at home so in the mornings, if there’s leftover rice, I just fry it and feed the kids with that.
When their father was around, he took care of everything.
He used to work at a motorcycle workshop.
But now, even that kind of work is no longer possible.
he also looked after me because I’m not in good health.
“I don’t have any family or siblings around to support me.
There’s no one I can turn to for help or even to borrow a little money from.
All I wish for is to see my children grow up well-educated.
“I am someone who always holds deep respect for Rakhine and the Arakan Army.”
Even though my children are still young, they have learned to respect the Arakan Army.
At a time like this, being taken away like that has left us in a very difficult situation we honestly don’t even know what to do anymore.
Q. What is the current situation of education like right now?
Due to the war, many teachers have become unemployed.
They are still trying to continue teaching the children despite everything.
That’s why I feel grateful and happy.
Since the teachers are continuing to teach like this,
we should also show our gratitude and give back to them.
As the end of the month approaches, I’m starting to worry about how to pay the school fees for the children.
With my husband no longer at home like this, I can’t do anything for the children
Q. Finally, what would you like to say to the Arakan Army?
I don’t want to see households that don’t have children of military age being forced to send one person from each home to serve in the military.
Please apply the one-person-per-household military conscription system only to families that have children who are old enogh for military service.
