Looking Beyond Barbed Wire: The Journey of Empowerment Across Continents
Eh Nay Thaw's path to activism was forged from the profound challenges he faced as a refugee, something he discussed with us in a recent podcast conversation. The camps, which were a far cry from a true home, instilled in him a deep longing to return to his motherland — to live freely, not necessarily as an educated professional, but as a farmer living a simple life, much like those he admired for their genuine happiness. This contrasted starkly with the life he observed in developed countries, where even the well-established did not seem to possess the contentment of the minimalistic farmers he met back home. The transition to the United States was not a planned one; it emerged as an alternative when returning to his homeland was not a safe option, and staying in the camps meant living without the basic human rights one would otherwise take for granted. In America, he encountered a new hope and a space to practice freedoms previously denied. The more he lived in the U.S., the more his desire to return home grew, driving him towards intellectual curiosity about minimalism and simplicity, and ultimately, shaping his activist journey. His experience highlights the stark reality of refugees who must reinvent the concept of home and adapt to new environments while preserving the essence of their native lands and customs.
“I chose to be a soldier in the resistance movement, fighting against the Burmese military regime. My motivation was to make things difficult for the Burmese military who are doing as they wish to the Karen people.”
In class, the teacher asked “Who do you want to be when you grow up?”. With limited potential careers for refugee children, it was both an easy and difficult question to ponder. Regardless of what you choose, you’re going to end up living in a refugee camp, not to live up to your potential but live just to survive. Popular career choices were teachers, basic medical professions (nurses and doctors), and soccer players. In my case, I chose to be a soldier in the resistance movement, fighting against the Burmese military regime. My motivation was to make things difficult for the Burmese military who are doing as they wish to the Karen people – burning Karen villages and torturing ethnic minorities. I was inspired by the stories from Karen comrades about those who have served before us, the resilience of protectors and resistance fighters in confronting the Burmese military. I wanted to be someone who challenge the authority because it was the most meaningful occupation in my mind.
Around 2006, my life took a drastic turn. I took part in the United Nations resettlement program into the United States and still hoped to become a soldier, I worked very hard in high school and prepared to enlist in the US army. While I was exploring that journey, my community and youth leaders encouraged me to continue my tertiary education instead of join the military after high school. On the other hand, I was dead set on becoming a US solider with plans to return to Kaw Thoo Lei (i.e, Karen state in Myanmar) and share my refugee experiences with fellow Karen soldiers.
Suddenly in 2010, following the release of Aung San Suu Kyi, the politics of Myanmar began to transform from a secluded country into a more globalized nation, facing towards democracy. It was a time of excitement for democratic activists and resistance fighters. Consequently, this era ensued me to reevaluate my career plan as a military soldier and from my reflections, I found that I wanted to participate in other non-violent resistance activities. Now, I finally had fully agency over my life and my choices so I did not take it for granted. Hence, I enrolled into a decent college in the US and later on, joined advocacy works related to Karen communities and democratic movements in Burma. Not only do I get to advocate in the US, I also got to return to Kaw Thoo Lei and join environmental groups like KESAN (Karen Environmental and Social Action Network) which enabled me to work with grassroots social workers who are doing crucial work in upholding international laws and human rights. From these actions I took over the years, helping people in Myanmar and having a voice, I started feeling more empowered and uplifted.