Interview
Border News Agency
Maungdaw,April 29.

In a quiet village disrupted by conflict, 75-year-old Ma Shwe Phyu shares her struggle after the ULA/AA took her husband, grandson, and other relatives for military service.

With no one left to support her and only a small shop run by her daughter, she faces growing hardship and pleads for her husband’s return.

Q: What is your name?
A: My name is Ma Shwe Phyu.
Q: How old are you?
A: My age? I am 75 years old.
Q: Was your husband taken by the ULA/AA for military service?
A: Yes, my husband — the grandfather — was taken.
If he’s not at home, where will I get support from?
He was the one who looked after and fed me.
It’s been about five days since the grandfather left.
Now that my husband is gone, I’m facing difficulties.
One of my daughters runs a shop,
But it’s not a big shop, so she only earns a small amount.
It’s not enough to feed the whole family.
Q: What is your husband’s name?
A: My husband’s name is Htun Sein Oo.
He was taken by the AA since Sunday. Today is Thursday.
Q: What would you like to say to the ULA/AA?
A: What is there to say? What can I say?
It would be good if they released my husband.
Q: Doesn’t the AA provide any support to elderly people like you?
A: If the AA gave even a little bit of support money,
I’d feel like calling them “BIG Brother” or “Father.”
Q: Besides your husband, who else has been taken by the AA?
A: My grandson, born to my eldest daughter, was also taken by the AA.

They’re taking everyone both grandfathers and grandchildren.

Three people in total:

Kyaw Maung Tha, my eldest daughter’s husband, and my eldest daughter’s son — they were all taken.

Even in the past, two other relatives of mine were taken by the AA.

Now, everyone is gone.

There’s no one left to support me anymore.