Journey of a Burmese Rebel

This is a photo diary of my life as a Burmese rebel. The story began on 8.8.88. On 8.8.88, millions of Burmese took the street to demonstrate against the military dictatorship. Thousands were killed on the street, thousands were jailed and thousands left their home.

I am one of the lucky one who survived the killing on the city streets and fighting in the jungle. Along the way I met many new friends and lost many comrades in battles. This blog is also meant to tell the story my friends, "freedom fighters" who died in the Burmese jungle for the struggle for freedom in Burma. Burmese people can remember them and appreciate the sacrifices they made.

Now, I am fighting breast cancer as a mammographer (a radiologist sub-specialized in breast imaging) in Fredericksburg, Virginia. At the same time, my struggle for freedom in Burma continues.

I put the photos in order at the top "Tabs", so it will be easy for you to follow the story.

Revisiting friends

My friends from All Burma Students Front (102) camp. Two of them (Super and Zaw Min Htin) in the picture were not with us anymore.
That was our dinner. No, I did not shoot it.
Afternoon tea time, relaxing with my friends. Two or three people live in this hut. Roof from palm leaves. Floor and walls from bamboo.
These pictures were taken during my trip in 1996. I was a first year medical student (for a second time) at Medical College of Virginia. This was our 4th camp after Nat Ein Daung camp was taken over by Burmese army.

Early days in the US

Above pictures were taken at George Leaky's (misspell?) house in Philadelphia. We were there for non-violent training.
We were staging a demonstration in front of the Burmese embassy in Washington DC.
My first visit to New York city.

Early day in the US

My first visit to New York city.
My friend C-vit. He was a crazy driver. He finished master in engineering and now works for United Technologies.



Photo opportunity with Jess Jackson during a visit to Washington DC. This picture was taken in front of the White House.

Party at Michael's house. I believe we were back from a demonstration.

Kwai River Christian Hospital (acting internship)

We took this picture the day before we left the hospital. We were there almost a month as acting interns. It is a great place for the US M4 students to do an acting internship. Dr. Phil (far right-back row) was great. We had lunch at his house almost everyday. He is a local legend around that area and did a lot of good things for the people there. I remember sending patients to his hospital when I was in my jungle ABSDF clinic, about 10 years earlier. Dr. Phil came back to the US after 23 years as a missionary doctor and now practices in Portland, Oregon.

You can find more information about Dr. Phil here.

http://www.twogypsies.com/html/jungle_hospital.html

http://southtabor.com/About/Providers/McDaniel.html

Hospital market (at the back of hospital)


My friend Fitz, with his patient. I believe he had a motorcycle accident and broke his femur.

Graduation from transitional year (Internship) at Riverside hospital

I was the one not facing the camera. The lady in the center is Cindy who helped me a lot during my internship year.

8.8.88 Uprising

Those pictures were taking during 8.8.88 nationwide uprising. Demonstrations were held throughout the country from 8.8.88 until 9.18.88 against the one party rule and military dictatorship. Military responded by killing approximately 6000 people and jailing thousands of activists. I was shot at near the US embassy in downtown Rangoon. Hundreds were killed on that day alone.

Colleges and Universities were closed for 3 years. The same regime is still in power. Now, there are over 2000 political prisoners in jails. In September, 2007 Burmese monks protested against the regime ( Saffron revolution). Again the regime responded by killing over 100 people. Monasteries were raided by soldiers and thousands of monks were defrocked and jailed.

My immigration paper

Those are my travel documents. I did not have a passport since I fled Burma. The mug shot picture was taken at the Bangkok Immigration Detention Center. Thai government sentenced me for an illegal entry to the country. I believe I was fined for that (the sponsor NGO paid the fine, I guess.) and ordered to leave Thailand. At the same time, the US immigration issued a one way entry parole visa (based on humanitarian ground). Welcome to America!

Coming to America

We were holding bags from IOM. IOM stands for International Organization for Migration(http://www.iom.int/jahia/jsp/index.jsp).
I remember going for medical check up at IOM office. 4-5 of us (all guys) were lined up against the wall. The doctor told us to drop our pants and cough. ( We were in the 20s and 30s.) Now, I am a physician myself, I am not sure what conclusion to draw regarding the conduct of that physician. I guess he was just trying to be efficient in processing as many refugees as possible in an allotted time. We did not really feel offended but were embarassed a bit.

Clinical Laboratory Science graduation

Mrs. Lindsey ( Program Chair), me and Mr. Karselis at graduation reception
This is the first graduation of my life. I went to a medical school in Burma. In 8.8.88, I joined the resistance movement as a final year medical student. After fighting in the jungle as a freedom fighter against the Burmese military regime and got shot twice, I came to the US as a refugee. Here I had a chance to continue my education. I met a lot of friends at CLS program and still keep in touch with some of them. All of my professors were very nice and felt like a family to me. I went back and visited the department many times after I graduated.

Jesse, Edith, me and Abdul

Graduations

This is my graduation from radiology residency.
My fellowship graduation luncheon at Ellen Shaw de Paredes Institute for Women's Imaging.

www.ellensoffice.com

Life at SUNY-Buffalo

Life at SUNY-Buffalo. I got there in August, 1992, just in time for Buffalo winter. I have never seen snow before. The first night, we got about 8 inches of snow. I spent one semester there taking only ESL classes.

ESL graduating ceremony

This was taken at ESL (English as a Second Language) graduating ceremony at SUNY-Buffalo. ( I was second from left, wearing a white jacket.) I spent my first 4 months in the US studying English only.

http://wings.buffalo.edu/eli/eli_history.htm

London trip

This was taken during London trip in 2000. It was a graduation present from Edith.

Life in Richmond

We were young. This picture was taken at the end of my residency. Edith was still going to law school.

My kids

This is my oldest daughter (Esther).
My boys, Elliott (left) and Andrew (right). Andrew is 1 min older than Elliott.

ICW team (Haloween)

ICW Haloween (Dr. Warren, Shelby and me)

All Burma Students Democratic Front (Three Pagoda Pass)

My friends Ba Tha (resettled in Canada, Ko Myo (running a restaurant in Columbia, SC) and Ko Htee (independent contractor with Roto Rooter plumbing in Baltimore, MD). This picture was taken at ABSDF 102 camp at Three Pagoda Pass.

I walked about 3-4 weeks to get to Three Padoda Pass after I left home on 09/19/1988. This area is controlled by ethnic Mon freedom fighters (Mon National Liberation Army). They allowed us to set up two camps in their area (ABSDF 101 and ABSDF102).

In February, 1990 the area was overrun by Burmese army. We moved to a new place, Krain Kan. ABSDF 102 camp moved 4 different camps when I was there (from 1988 to 1992). They moved 2 more times after I left.

The following is a collection of photos which tell the journey of ABSDF 102. Some of them are stories of our fallen friends.

This is taken during 8.8.88 uprising in Rangoon. . Estimated 6000 people were killed. However, there is no official record. People simply disappeared.

This is the beginning of my journey as a rebel. I was a student activist. I was shot at on September 19, 1988 near the US embassy in downtown Rangoon. I left my home the following day and have not been back since then. I took a bus, then a train and about 4 weeks walk through jungle to the Thai-Burma border. There I joined All Burma Students Front (Burmese Students Army).

Engagement

This is our engagement photo in Freelance Star newspaper.

Our ABSDF 102 Battalion hospital

This is our hospital. We had the clear the jungle and built this hospital. Our battalion medical team included a hospital chief (me), about 4 medics, and a team to cook food for patients. We had to abandon this camp when Three Pagoda Pass was occupied by Burmese army in 1991. The man sitting in the front is one of our medical team, Ko Myo Aye. He resettles in Australia now and working as an IT specialist.