TEXT: Fear and Hope: Responding to Burma's Internally Displaced
NARRATOR: Over fifty years of civil war have left Burma one of the poorest countries in the world.
NARRATOR: The military dictatorship attacks its own people. Killing thousands and leaving millions displaced.
NARRATOR: Despite well documented human rights abuses and international pressure, the military dictatorship continues its grip on power. These
three women were gang raped by soldiers of the Burma Army.
WOMAN, SUBTITLES: I was bringing food to my husband in the rice field. As I was walking the Burma Army soldiers came and raped me. The Burmese soldiers
raped me.
NARRATOR: Pro-democracy Burmese and ethnic groups try to protect their people and resist the attacks of the Burma army. The leader of the democracy
movement, Nobel Peace Price recipient Aung San Suu Kyi, is repeatedly put under arrest. Thousands remain political prisoners, and there has been no meaningful change.
NARRATOR: People are living in fear of attacks by the Burma Army. They are forced to leave their homes, many are in hiding, and if found sometimes
killed.
MAN, SUBTITLES: We worry that they will put land mines. Can we say land mine? They put the land mine. And maybe they will leave something that will hit
us. So we dare not come back.
NARRATOR: Mortars and land mines are evidence that the Burma Army was here.
NARRATOR: This seventeen year old boy stepped on a land mine laid by the Burma Army.
SINGING, SUBTITLES: "Let us try to find the miracles the Lord showed us in the past." "There are many fields of life before you."
NARRATOR: The Free Burma Rangers work with other organizations to help the oppressed of Burma. They are dedicated to spiritual and physical freedom for
the people of Burma. They train and lead relief missions inside Burma. The teams believe that the dictators of Burma cannot stop people from loving and serving each other.
NARRATOR: Teams travel into Burma to give medical care and supplies to internally displaced peoples. They help people of all faiths and ethnicities.
They also bring educational supplies, Bibles, hymnals, tapes, tape players, solar panels, clothing and toys. In addition they bring hope and faith through sharing God's love.
NARRATOR: Leadership and relief training is conducted by the Free Burma Rangers for other teams who desire to help their people. The teams are given
medical training, including surgery and delivery. They are trained in other needed skills, such as mountaineering and river crossing, caring for their people, reporting human rights abuses, and
more.
NARRATOR: Relief missions go to areas like Karen, Karenni, Shan, and Arakan States inside Burma, where villagers have been left with the ashes of their
homes and rice barns. This was once a church.
MAN, SUBTITLES: Three months ago I came here with the Free Burma Ranger team. We brought presents for the children donated by American children,
English children, and Canadian children. But this time all the children are gone.
NARRATOR: The Burma Army tortured these men before killing them. The dead porters are given a burial service. This man describes losing his
children. They were burned alive by the Burma Army.
MAN, SUBTITLES: I don't understand why they killed my children. They didn't even know their right hand from their left hand.
NARRATOR: Villagers are forced to flee their homes. They would rather stay in their villages, but it is impossible to stay. Relief teams
continue to bring help, hope and love into the war zones of Burma.
TEXT: If you would like to help please contact: freeburmarangers@pobox.com www.freeburmarangers.org Or Karen: kidpc@cscoms.com Karenni
justice7@cscoms.com Shan: shrf@cm.ksc.co.th
Fear and Hope: Responding to Burma's Internally Displaced
Abstract:
[Contains Graphic Content] A short documentary that provides a look at the history of the conflict in Burma and the plight of internally displaced people in the country. Includes personal accounts from IDPs and an overview of what the Free Burma Rangers are doing to help.
Sequence:
1 of 1
Creators:
Free Burma RangersRole: Creator
Front FilmsRole: Producer
Publishers:
Free Burma Rangers
University of Texas Libraries
Date Created:
// - //
Topics:
advocacy, activism, and responses to persecution--aid and relief organizations
advocacy, activism, and responses to persecution--eyewitness documentation
advocacy, activism, and responses to persecution--non-governmental organizations
armed conflict and persecution--internally displaced persons
armed conflict and persecution—-sexual violence
armed conflict and persecution--weapons--landmines
economic, social, and cultural rights--economic and labor rights--forced labor
economic, social, and cultural rights--health and healthcare
economic, social, and cultural rights--social and cultural rights--ethnic identity
Languages:
eng
Geographic Focuses:
Asia--Burma
Asia--Myanmar
Southeast Asia
Asia--Burma--Karen State
Asia--Myanmar--Kayin State
Geographic Base:
Asia--Burma
Type of Resource:
Moving image
Genre:
videorecording
Identifier:
fbrx0004
Rights:
This electronic resource is made available by the University of Texas Libraries solely for the purposes of research, teaching and private study. All intellectual property rights are retained by the legal copyright holders. The University of Texas does not hold the copyright to the content of this file. Formal permission to reuse or republish this content must be obtained from the copyright holder.
