|
|
|
Richard Humpheries (Black and White) Jason Miller Shwe Koako, Karen State Sylvia Murcfeld Photographs Jean de La Tour Richard Humphries _______________ Version Date June 2004 12/01/2005 Website: Designed, Built and written by Paul Keenan |
Name
Pe Ler Kaw
Age
67 years
Sex
Female
Religion
Christian
Occupation
Teacher Place of Birth Beloh
Could you explain about your family please?
My husband was a Karen soldier and he is one of the people who worked with the Karen National Union. fighting for freedom. but in 1976 the Burma military arrested him and killed him. so I can't do any thing for my family. And I went back to my village in Htee Pah Doh Hta village. But the SPDC military didn't let us to go anywhere, only we mush stay in the village they didn't beat or hurt us, they were a little polite and kind. We had enough food, after thatthey wanted us to move to another place far away from the village. Some of my friends told me it was very dangerous for me to move to another place or village and the SPDC troops would arrest me in Ka Hton Htee village. They told me you must go back on the path. I came back to my cousin's house and stayed with their family in Pa Pu. village. And after this time one of the SPDC big trucks picked me up to send back to my village, But I said, I don't want to go anywhere. In that time I have to move to a friend to take care of me. so I have to go back in my village and join with our Karen revolution. And them I stayed in Ka Pe Hta as a school teacher in Htee Nar Day village. The villager over there was very nice to me. after three years I got married with another man in Lah Kue village and I was teaching there. At that time the SPDC troops were coming into our village and they killed our animals such as pigs, chickens, cows, and they also took our vegetables, we didn't get any payment from SPDC. they are very bad like evil, their troops went to the front line they forced villagers, they punched, beat, in any way they wanted. Do you plan to go back home inside Karen State? Of course, I think about this , if one day our Karen people would have freedom, I plan to go back, but if we didn't get freedom I don't want to go back to Burma. we will be fighting for our Karen people's freedom until we have got democracy in Burma. we want peace, love and unity. How did you help your mother? After my father died, my mother worked in the market, she cooked curry, she fed pigs, chickens, and ducks and I helped my mother as mush as I could alsoI help my her cooking, to carry water, and washing clothes. What is your hobby when you still as child? My hobby was, usually, jumping and races.
How do you make a living?
Because I'm a school teacher and I get money from an NGO, who
supports school teachers.
Has the teaching level changed?
The teaching level is high and developing.
Before you came to the refugee camp, where do
you get the money?
I got 300 Kyat for teaching in per year.
What do you do in your daily routine?
Now, I have a holiday in summer time so I stay at home and
reading. practice myself for teaching.
How do you make your wedding ceremony?
Usually, we make our wedding as our Karen culture, Karen
traditional, or a Christian wedding.
Do you stay with your family or do you live
separatley?
Certainly, I stayed with my family in per-year until built a
new house to live separately with my family.
Where did you give
birth in
hospital, jungle, on with a midwife? My oldest child was born in hospital and other children were born in the jungle.
Are you afraid living in a refugee camp?
I was afraid that the enemy will come and burn our refugee
camp.
How did you celebrate Karen New year?
In our village in Karen state we celebrate by giving
respect to our Karen flag and many soldiers have training ceremony. but now in
refugee camp we can do our Karen dancing, Karen culture and traditions.
|
