In the morning, the window opened slowly from the small house. The fresh wind around the small house waved like the princesses. Suddenly the blue sky cried after the thunderbolt’s anger. The birds took shelter from the rain. At the same time a baby was born at the small house. The baby was a boy. That baby was called TuHkawng Saga. That baby was me and today I am known as Yaw Yaw Hpaga and this is my story.
I was born in Northern Kachinland which is between India and China in the Union of Burma. When I was growing up Kachinland was in control by the Burmese Government (Military Junta). The Kachin populations were less than the Burmese population so we were considered the minority. The Burmese people are mostly Buddhists while the Kachin are mostly Christian. The Burmese government hated us for practicing a different religion. I was also hated in school because of my different religion. I was not free to talk about independence from the government. When I was growing up I questioned why I couldn’t speak freely in school. I decided to do something about my situation in school. In 2005 begin talking to fellow students about equal rights for the Kachin people. I started fighting for the freedom for Kachin people.
I was warned to stop speaking about freedom from the Burmese Police Department. I was told I was too young to talk about politics the police said. I refused to listen to the police and continued to speak out. Not too long after the police incident a Buddhist student attacked me for what I said. I was expelled from school because of this but still vowed that I wouldn’t stop doing what I felt I had to do.
After the by the Buddhist student, I did not spread propaganda to anyone but was still put in prison for three months. While in prison, I believed that one day I would be free from the Junta government. I needed to be free because the Burmese Government wanted to end the ethnic minority in Burma. They destroyed villages, raped, shot, beat, rob, stole and killed innocent people including babies. They also burned down Christian churches. They made us live like slaves. I understood that there was no more slavery in the world. I was wrong. This problem shocked my heart but I never gave up. I vowed to one day say I am free.
I was forced to join military after I was released from prison without my parents knowing. My parents looked for me everywhere but I was nowhere to be found. I wanted more than anything to escape! When I was at the Burmese Military Training camp no one expected to be free. I planned differently. I organized the others in the camp to make our escape before the soldiers knew we were gone. We started to run at midnight before the soldiers could cross the river. We didn’t eat for two or three day because the smoke from the fire would enable the soldiers to find us easily. I knew they were looking for us but I knew how to hide from the Burmese soldiers. We knew we were in extreme danger but God protected us at all times. After four days we arrived home by foot. I saw my mother’s face, a face so unhappy until she saw me approach her. She cried and told me she was very happy to see me but that I wasn’t safe staying at home because the soldiers were looking for me. She told me I had to go to my uncle’s house for safety. When I arrived at my uncle’s house he told me I had to go to Malaysia to ensure my safety. I didn’t want to go because I was never very far from my mother but I had no choice. I could no longer stay in Burma.
I went to Malaysia to become a refugee. I had a dream to come to America so I applied to become a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) member. I received an UNHCR card from the KACHIN REFUGEE COMMUNITY that granted me permission to stay in Malaysia. I was so excited when they gave me the UNHCR card. I felt relieved that they chose me.
In July of 2008 my phone rang. I answered the call and found out the call was from a woman form the United States Migration Office. She told me I was being granted permission to go to the United States! I never imagined I could really go to the United States. In August of 2008 I left Malaysia for the United States. I now live in Worcester, Massachusetts. I was able to go to school where I was put in the ninth grade. I dropped out of school when I was in the eleventh grade because I needed to save some money for my parents and my future. I soon regretted my decision to leave school. I found out information on the Job Corps program and applied for entry. I was accepted into the program and working on my high school diploma through the Penn Foster Career High School Diploma program as well as the Facilities maintenance trade. That I believed education can help me to get free, free In The Call of the Wild, the bond between Buck and Thornton is best explained by observing my own Kachin peoples.
Now my life is safe in America and I am a free man. I am free to speak my mind and not be afraid that I will be put in prison for it; or worse, killed. I hope that one day there is no need for anyone to escape from the Union of Burma. God bless to whoever is trying to escape today.
By: Yawyaw
By: Yawyaw
