Transcript


Soundbite May Li Aung  (in Kachin language)
"The day before I was born, my mother had to flee the fighting The Burmese soldiers attacked our village and she had to escape quickly. She gave birth to me while she was hiding in the jungle."

Soundbite May Li Aung
"One day after I was born, my mom had to carry me and be on the run again from the enemy."


Narration
The Kachin Independence Army, or KIA, began fighting here more than five decades ago, first for full independence, more recently for autonomy within a federal state.    
A ceasefire, signed in 1994, broke down in June 2011. Amid the renewed fighting, human rights groups accuse both the KIA and government forces of committing abuses.

Slate:
Pakatong camp
Northern Kachin state


Narration
There are now more than 100 camps housing some 72,000 internally displaced people, or IDPs, in Kachin State, and nine sites for the 6-7,000 refugees who have crossed into China's Yunnan province.
International relief supplies are slowly trickling into KIA strongholds. But because foreign aid workers have less access here than in government held areas, groups like Wingpawn Ninghtoi - a network of local aid agencies working with displaced civilians on both sides of the border -  handle most of the distribution.


Soundbite May Li Aung, Director of Wingpawn Ninghtoi (in Kachin language)
"The UN have limited travel access to our areas and many restrictions on their travel. The Burmese are making it very difficult for them to reach us. That's why they cannot deliver the urgent needs fast enough."
"Most of the people in the IDP camps that our organization assists are children and the elderly."
"They have no money to buy vegetables and other food to cook. They make just enough money building huts in the IDP camps to buy a few extra vegetables in the market, living day by day."
"Many people suffer from colds and fever when they live in the camp. And many also develop bad diarrhea."


Narration
And it's not just basic health issues that are affecting the Kachin population.
An alarming rise in land-mine casualties has put a strain on medical workers as soldiers on both sides of the conflict lose track of where they've planted explosives during heated battles in dense jungle terrain.  
In the region's main hospitals, there is a long waiting list of victims, anxious for new limbs.
Added to the suffering is the troubling fact that many of the victims have been wounded by landmines laid by their own forces.

Soundbite Ton Goon, KIA soldier  (in Burmese language)
"In my mind, I recalled a bad dream I had the night before. I dreamt that my left shoe was floating in the river."
"After the explosion I couldn't move."
"Some of the victims have been hurt  and lost both legs. Some have serious stomach wounds and we don't have enough equipment so we have to send them to Chinese hospital."
 "If our military hospital has enough meds and supplies some of the patients wouldn't need to have their limbs amputated."

Narration
As the casualties mount, fresh medical grads are often filling positions with little or no work experience.

Soundbite Lahtaw Ji Grawn, Kachin Nurse (in Kachin language)
"Most of the victims are injured by shrapnel from landmines.. Some from the Burmese soldiers and some from the Kachin."
"We have a problem because we don't have enough medicine. The other big problem is the surgery room is too small. When we have more patients lined up , we don't have enough room for them."

Soundbite Grandmother Sa Bo Roiji  (in Kachin language)
"Tonight our children are missing  their homes and being with their families. With our faith we come to pray for God. We have been running from the war up until today."
"This war was caused by the Burmese soldiers fighting with the Kachin soldiers. They are using bombs and guns to kill each other. I wish it to end."  The people in Burma and outside the country pray for us. I want God to hear their prayers."

Narration
But for now, despite political reforms at the national level, and sporadic talks with KIA leaders, lasting peace here remains elusive.


ENDS.


Music credits:    

Purchased by filmmaker for the film
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- Silent Mourning by Peter MCISAAC MUSIC
- Go in Peace by AK Studio