Tue, 11/20/2007 - 12:07
On October 18th, Ashin Kovida, 24, secretly crossed the Thai border, escaping Burma by dyeing his hair blond, wearing a crucifix and holding a false identification card. He spent two weeks hiding in a safe house, not taking a shower or anything, just waiting. He says that the people of Burma will never “forgive and forget” the Burmese military regime’s insult to the Buddhist religion.
The Refugees International Board delegation met Ashin Kovida in Mae Sot, a town along the border which is home to Mae La refugee camp with its 44,000 inhabitants and thousands of other Burmese migrant workers. It also boasts the Friendship Bridge that spans the river and connects Burma with Thailand.
He became an activist and chair of the Monks Representative Group after hearing about the warning shots fired at protesting monks in Pakokku on September 5. He began planning marches in Yangon and got in contact with students he knew.
We asked him: What was the critical turning point for the monks? When did they decide to get involved? “The monks have contact with the public,” he told us. “We saw the poverty, especially among the children, who came to the monks for food. Many of the children cannot go to schools. They needed to collect rubbish and sell it. We see the poverty and the situation. The monks also rely on the people for alms. You don’t need to know any more – go see the bowls of the monks. There is nothing in them.
And then there is bloodshed. It is a military insult to religion. People will not forgive and forget. They are waiting for change. Even now, they are impatient.”
Ashin Kovida believes that an estimated 1,000 monks are in detention and that many monks are running and hiding. His adoptive mother was kidnapped by members of the government of Burma, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). He was on the list and SPDC security personnel came into houses looking for him. But, he escaped. On September 26, he went to Mae Li monastery, which is a learning university. There are usually 200 monks there, but he could find only one. The rest, he said, were arrested.
On October 6, there was an article in the newspaper which said that the government raided 18 monasteries because the monks “agitate and destabilize the country.”
About his future, Ashin Kovida tells us, “I cannot return anymore till democracy comes. I did participate as a leader.” He says the authorities have his picture. On October 12, his adoptive family was kidnapped. He is now living in Thailand -- undocumented and in fear for his life.
“I arrived in Thailand October 18. I have to hide. I have been in a new place for two nights. Every day my concern is increasing. I need education. I want to be educated. What should I do for the future? Education. Even if I am educated, I will struggle for the people. I will not forget about my people. My mother was arrested and always taught me to work for the people. I want to fulfill her wish.
I want to ask when will there be democracy in Burma and when will the UN Security Council focus on democracy in Burma and how many people will have to struggle and how much bloodshed before democracy in Burma. When will the Security Council take concrete action?”
Ashin is now waiting for his asylum claim to be processed in Thailand. Meanwhile, Refugees International continues to urge the U.S. to work with the Thai government so that the UN Refugee Agency can facilitate a transparent process that allows Burmese refugees to quickly attain refugee status and receive assistance.
Eileen Shields-West recently completed a 10-day mission to evaluate the situation for Burmese refugees in Thailand along with other members of Refugees International’s Board of Directors.
The Refugees International Board delegation met Ashin Kovida in Mae Sot, a town along the border which is home to Mae La refugee camp with its 44,000 inhabitants and thousands of other Burmese migrant workers. It also boasts the Friendship Bridge that spans the river and connects Burma with Thailand.
He became an activist and chair of the Monks Representative Group after hearing about the warning shots fired at protesting monks in Pakokku on September 5. He began planning marches in Yangon and got in contact with students he knew.
We asked him: What was the critical turning point for the monks? When did they decide to get involved? “The monks have contact with the public,” he told us. “We saw the poverty, especially among the children, who came to the monks for food. Many of the children cannot go to schools. They needed to collect rubbish and sell it. We see the poverty and the situation. The monks also rely on the people for alms. You don’t need to know any more – go see the bowls of the monks. There is nothing in them.
And then there is bloodshed. It is a military insult to religion. People will not forgive and forget. They are waiting for change. Even now, they are impatient.”
Ashin Kovida believes that an estimated 1,000 monks are in detention and that many monks are running and hiding. His adoptive mother was kidnapped by members of the government of Burma, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). He was on the list and SPDC security personnel came into houses looking for him. But, he escaped. On September 26, he went to Mae Li monastery, which is a learning university. There are usually 200 monks there, but he could find only one. The rest, he said, were arrested.
On October 6, there was an article in the newspaper which said that the government raided 18 monasteries because the monks “agitate and destabilize the country.”
About his future, Ashin Kovida tells us, “I cannot return anymore till democracy comes. I did participate as a leader.” He says the authorities have his picture. On October 12, his adoptive family was kidnapped. He is now living in Thailand -- undocumented and in fear for his life.
“I arrived in Thailand October 18. I have to hide. I have been in a new place for two nights. Every day my concern is increasing. I need education. I want to be educated. What should I do for the future? Education. Even if I am educated, I will struggle for the people. I will not forget about my people. My mother was arrested and always taught me to work for the people. I want to fulfill her wish.
I want to ask when will there be democracy in Burma and when will the UN Security Council focus on democracy in Burma and how many people will have to struggle and how much bloodshed before democracy in Burma. When will the Security Council take concrete action?”
Ashin is now waiting for his asylum claim to be processed in Thailand. Meanwhile, Refugees International continues to urge the U.S. to work with the Thai government so that the UN Refugee Agency can facilitate a transparent process that allows Burmese refugees to quickly attain refugee status and receive assistance.
Eileen Shields-West recently completed a 10-day mission to evaluate the situation for Burmese refugees in Thailand along with other members of Refugees International’s Board of Directors.
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