Burma – Preparing for the worst
On a dusty and bumpy road we cross the border into Burma.
We are on our way to meet colonel Nerdah Mya and his soldiers.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
We are inside Burma. Right now are trying to build a new military basecamp.
And we are also not so very far from the enemy. So when we are here we always have to be on alert and do patrolling all the time.
The enemy Nerdah is talking about is the powerful
Burmese army. And the government soldiers have orders to shoot anything
that moves in this area. That’s why Nerdah and his men are always on the alert.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
At night when the do surprise attacks we can jump in the hole. We can be safe, then you can hold on.
This is homemade claymore. We do it ourselves. This is also homemade. Homemade RPG-2.
When they are not fighting the enemy, the guerrilla soldiers are fighting each other.
Soundbite (KAREN) Soldier: Not so tight. We are just fighting for fun.
On first impressions Nerdah does not come across as a as a typical guerrilla leader.
And this was never a part of his plan either. The leadership is his inheritance from his father,
the long time Karen-leader Bo Mya.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
I studied in the states, in America. In 1994 I came back to visit my dad. I thought I would continue my education. I had just finished my BA degree, so I wanted to continue my MA or PHD.
My dad had to face much criticism and many problems. So since then I decided to work for the Karen people.
Soundbite (Karen) Soldier 2: You have to clean these weapons
Similar to other ethnic minority groups, the Karen people are fighting against the military regime who are ruling Burma.
Soundbite (English) Isaac, Soldier, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA):
I fight for my Karen country, and especially the Karen people.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
We want freedom, we want self-determination and an autonomous state controlled by the Karen people.
But the fight for freedom comes at a price.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
The Burmese are executing genocide against the Karen people. When they come to the Karen villages they kill, they rape, they take away everything.
Nerdah wants to show us what he is talking about.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
We are going to see the old village that was burned down by the SPDC (Burmese army).
At the same time as the Burmese regime is promising free and democratic ‘elections this year, they have increased this reign of terror upon the Karen-people.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
They burned our clinic that we had set up for the people, they burned the school, they burned these houses and also the banana plantation. They have a policy called the: Scorched earth policy. They would burn the place, they would destroy the livestock and plantation. And then they put the landmines, so that the Karen people will not dare to come back anymore.
These are the people who have fled from the villages. And now they are stuck between the frontlines.
Soundbite (English) Dr. Rodolfo Turano, Popoli :
They refuged in the jungle when the Burmese army came and destroyed the old village.
Father can you ask them if they have any medical problems.
The Italian doctor Rodolfo Turano works for the Italian aid organisation Popoli.
Soundbite (English) Father Joseph : She has. . . How do you call it? Worm?
Soundbite (English) Dr. Rodolfo Turano, Popoli : Worm inside?
When they have worm the most part of the pain is on the left side of the abdominal.
Earlier he could help these people in one of the health stations Popoli had built in this region. Recently these tree stations where burned to the ground.
Soundbite (English) Dr. Rodolfo Turano, Popoli :
Our clinics where destroyed by the Burmese army.
It is not just war that is claiming lives here. Diarrhoea, malnutrition and malaria kill many as well.
Soundbite (English) Medic, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA):
She had two children, but now …..
Soundbite (English) Dr. Rodolfo Turano, Popoli : Died? Both? Oh!
I think that she is anemic. It looks like anemia. Then we must remember, we must help the people with ferrocen and vitamin B.
The situation makes it too dangerous for Aid workers to move around in this area.
That is why Rodolfo is training these guerrilla soldiers.
Soundbite (English) Dr. Rodolfo Turano, Popoli : We must use only one tablet! Only one tablet of Albendazole. These persons who help me, they are at the same time doctor, nurse and military.
The soldiers bring us deeper into the jungle. A family member who lives in this house is ill.
Soundbite (English) Reporter: Can you ask him how he feels?
Soundbite (Karen) Bawah, Medic, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) : How do you feel?
Soundbite (Karen) Patient : I felt better this morning.
Soundbite (English) Bawah, Medic, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
He got high fever this morning. We got a lot of malaria in this area.
The medicine and training the soldiers have had may have saved this man.
He is one of the few who has been lucky enough to receive help.
There are still thousands of people who are hiding in the jungle.
But even the guerrilla soldiers cannot get to them.
Soundbite (English) Dr. Rodolfo Turano, Popoli : It is a fluid situation. Because now we stay here, and in perhaps two or three days the Burmese army could come occupy this area. The villagers will have to go into the forest or to the refugee camps.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
We slept here and now we are here.
Nerdah and his men are trying to find a place where they build a new village.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
We are trying to rebuild our community, to develop our society and also to develop our economy. If the economy is good the people can support our struggle. If the economy is bad…. That is why we have to help each other. By helping the community, the community can help our struggle, revolution.
The Karen guerrilla leader is certain that the fight for freedom will go on for a long time. He does not believe that the elections planned by the military regime will change anything.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
They have their own plan, just to hold on to their power. They will try to trick the international community, so that the international community will say: “They are changing. They are having free and fair elections.” But, actually they do not change at all. They will continue to do the same thing, just to hold on to their power.
Soundbite (English) Colonel Nerdah Mya, Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) :
We are preparing for the worst, hoping for the best.
CAMERA / EDITING: Paal S. Schaathun
REPORTER / NARRATOR: Bent Skjaerstad