Starting Point
She is an activist from Rakhine who is involved in the work of a local ethnic group. She is willing to contribute to any sector that shares her values. Currently, she believes that the country is in decline, and women face discrimination. Having endured unfair treatment, she is motivated to contribute to the country's further development. In carrying out her role, she is inspired by Mother Teresa, whom she highly respects.
Peace Journey
In the peace process, she has undertaken roles as a mediator, a problem solver, and a presenter of solutions to the public. She has also worked to raise awareness on resolving conflicts peacefully and provided capacity-building initiatives.
She recalled that in 2012, the Arakan Liberation Army (ALA), based in Thailand and India, attempted to sign the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) on behalf of Rakhine State. During that time, she actively participated in efforts to unite the people of Rakhine in support of this cause. In 2013, after approximately four years of hard work, the first and largest Arakan National Conference took place in Kyaukphyu. At the conference, she was one of seven members appointed to the steering committee, the highest decision-making body. They united all 18 townships in Rakhine and gathered over 5,000 people at the Kyaukphyu Conference, initiating peace processes in the region.
In performing her tasks, she has always prioritised issues of women and children. The Arakan Women’s Network, which she helped establish, consists of 19 members.
Currently, she is working in conflict-affected areas, such as Kyauktaw and Mrauk-U, supporting women who are caught in the midst of ongoing clashes. She is aware that, regardless of the problem or situation, whether it is ethnic or military, it is always the women and children who suffer the most. Traditional structures still dominate as men continue to be reluctant to accommodate the role of women. This was evident during the peace process when she advocated for 30% women’s representation at the Panglong (Peace Conference).
In recent years, she has also delivered training on gender equality, emphasising the need to move women beyond traditional roles, such as being confined to the kitchen. Furthermore, she has extended support not only for Rakhine women but also for Muslims subjected to violence, focusing on their identity as women, regardless of their ethnicity or religion.
The organisation, remaining anonymous, continues to serve as a voluntary service. At 33, she took to the streets, joining the 1988 demonstrations, fighting for democracy. Despite being a Buddhist, she gets along well with everyone and even managed to persuade and engage conservative Muslim women to learn about women’s rights.
She added that violence against women is rampant. One of the cases she handled involved a woman who was already a grandmother at the age of 34, that happen as a result of her and her daughter had been raped. Before being assisted, they were offered compensation to drop the case. However, the Rakhine Women Activist encourage them to pursue the case. Later, after she successfully had them the arrested, the two rapists which are from the army, eventually sentenced to 22 years imprisonment.
After the Arakan Army (AA) took over her area, Mrauk Oo & Kyauktaw townships, it was not possible for her to fight for rape survivor anymore in the presence of two armies. As the situation deteriorated, it became increasingly complex to hold the perpetrator accountable. One of the cases she handled regarding one soldier who refused to marry the woman he impregnated resulted in the organisation having to take care of the woman and her 2-year-old baby. Another case has to do with a nurse badly beaten by a doctor and his wife. Unfortunately, the doctor and nurse were transferred to two different places without any action being taken against the doctor, as he holds a higher position.
In confronting such cases, she lacked the authority to provide significant assistance, particularly in bringing the offenders to justice. Furthermore, it has been observed that warring factions inflicted harsh punishments, such as meting out retribution to wrongdoers and leaving their corpses to drift.
Success Stories
In 2022, she was honoured for her tireless efforts in the fight for rape victims by the Indian Embassy. Through her journey, she acknowledged that the activism she carried might risk her life. However, she will continue to support women’s rights and justice in the interest of the people and the country of Myanmar. In this context, as men might have different perspectives on this issue, she encouraged them to join her cause so that they can witness the injustice women have to endure.
Her efforts frequently went unrecognised, despite deserving acknowledgement. For instance, her achievement in persuading Switzerland to contribute to her initiative to establish a mortuary for Sittwe Hospital was overlooked by her compatriots.
Regarding the participation of more women in the peace process, she emphasised that, first and foremost, women should adopt a considerate attitude towards one another. She mentioned one moment when, at the end of Daw Aye Nu Sein’s speech at the Panglong (peace conference), no one, not even Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, gave an ovation. This means that women in high positions are not supporting one another. In trying to coax women to participate in the peace process, she first, with much difficulty, has to make them come out of their shells.