Ko Toe, a graduate from Rangoon University, was killed in action in 1990. He was the vice chairman of our camp when he was killed. This photo was taken in 1989. I fought along side with him during 1989 campaigns. He was killed in battle at Arutaung village in Ye township in 1990. Maung Paing (Platoon comander) and Khin Soe was also killed in that fight. They were outnumbered and outgunned.
I felt great sorrow when news of Ko Toe's sacrifice arrived to me at the time when I was at the demo camp, still stuck with that corruprt group called "Da Nya Ta".
ReplyDeleteMemories of Ko Pain (Not Sushi Maung Pain):
ReplyDeleteKo Pain was an ex-soldier from Burmese army, and joined us during the 88 uprising. Always humble, loved friends, considerate of others, selfless, and, above all, a brave fighter.
If my memory is correct, he was named "Kyer Thit Maung Pain" (Leopard Maung Pain) attributing to his agility and quick thinking in action. I heard Ko Pain sacrificed himself in the fight so that other friends could retreat safely.
One distinct memroy is that when we were stuck in Mae Sot back in 1989, Ko Pain decided to work as a waiter at a hotel restaurant to support friends's living expenses. In those days, at least 5-8 of us used to cramp in a bedroom hiding most of the time. Ko Pain would collect left-over foods and whiskey from his work, and kindly provided us with better food and , of course, whiskey. During those days, our diet was mostly rice, cheap veggies and cheap meat from Mae Sot bazaar.
I will never ever forget our "leopard Ko Pain:.
YM
Ko Toe's peaceful face with a big mole would be forever.
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