Issue Briefing No. 72

Testimony for Resilience:
Perspectives of a Karenni Youthon Oppression, Humanitarian Aid,and Diaspora Activism
Interviewer and writer: Hnin Htet Htet Aung
（Master’s student, School of International and Public Policy, HitotsubashiUniversity）
June 24, 2024

* This paper was written based on an interview conducted on March 14, 2024.

Moe Htet Yan, a member of the Milk Tea Alliance Japan, belongs tothe Karenni ethnic group and originates from Pekon Township in Southern
Shan State, Myanmar. The Institute forGlobalGovernanceResearch(GGR)

conducted an interview with Moe. He
shedlightonthemultifaceted

experiences of minority ethnic groups
within Myanmar and its diaspora inJapan, providing valuable insights into
theirstruggles,aspirations.

This

resilience,
endeavorand
isparticularly crucial given the ongoing
andsystematic

persecution

andsuppression of minority rights by themilitary

regimeinMyanmar,

characterized by widespread human rights abuses and discrimination, a1

Testimony for ResilienceIssue Briefing No. 72
situation that has persisted since before 2021.
“I was awarded scholarships through newspaper delivery, which
saved me from paying school fees,” Moe said. In 2019, Moe came to Japan tojoin a Japanese language school. After completing his language studies, hepursued a two-year program at Yomiuri College of Science, Technology, andMedical Welfare, specializing in cross media. Moe describes his struggle
adapting to the weather in Japan. “It wasn't easy to get accustomed to theweather in Japan, especially during the very early mornings, particularly inwinter. Sometimes, I only had around four hours of sleep because I neededto prepare for work and studying.” It is evident how Moe has struggled tosurvive in a foreign country, studying a foreign language, finding money forhimself and his family back home.
Moe then recounts a significant moment: “One morning, I received
the distressing news from Myanmar that the military had staged a coup andousted the elected government.” Motivated by this experience, he beganparticipating in protests and fundraising events to ensure his voice was
heard

not

onlybytheJapanese government andpeople but also by theinternationalcommunity.

Despite the challenges ofmanaging
deliveringhisschedule

newspapers,attending language school,
and working another parttime

job,

heremainedcommitted to supporting
his people in Myanmar who are fighting for democracy and human rights
against the military junta regime.
As Moe belongs to a minority ethnic group, he has firsthandexperience witnessing the brutality and human rights violation inflicted by
the military junta on minority communities even before the 2021 coup. “Whenthe troops of the military junta passed through our villages to fight against
ethnic armed organizations (EAO), some of our villagers were arrested andbeaten to death if there were suspicions of their connections with EAOs. At
that time, we were unable to be saved, and our situation couldn't becommunicated to the international community.” Moe’s account stands ascompelling oral evidence, vividly illustrating how he and the Karenni
community have borne witness to the brutality inflicted by the military junta.

2

Testimony for ResilienceIssue Briefing No. 72
For the time being, Moe's family members are also internallydisplaced people, as their houses, properties, and fields have been
destroyedbythemilitary

junta

afterthecoup.

Inparticular,

hisgrandmother's house was hit by an artillery shell fired by the junta. “I wasnot able to contact my family while they were in hiding from the military
junta’s soldiers. The junta imposed an internet shutdown, cutting off
Myanmar people's connection to the international community in order toconceal their actions.” Moe recounted the difficulties his family encountered
while attempting to escape from the junta's soldiers. His narrative powerfully
underscores the imperative for the international community to address thesevere humanitarian crises and arbitrary actions of military regimes.
During the interview, he expressed his gratitude for the humanitarianassistance provided by the Japanese government to Myanmar. On the otherhand, he also stated, "While the Japanese government has increased
humanitarian assistance funds for Myanmar, I urge them to analyze whether
this aid is effectively reaching those in need.” At the same time, herecommended to provide humanitarian assistance funds not only throughnon-governmental organizations and international organizations such as theUnited Nations High Commissioner for Refugees on the Human Environment,
the United Nations Children's Fund, the World Food Programme, and theASEAN Coordinating Centre for Humanitarian Assistance on disastermanagement, but also directly to the National Unity Government (NUG) andtheKarenniInterim

State

Executive

Moe recommends providing humanitarianCouncil (IEC). Moe's

assistance funds directly to the NUG and therecommendation

Karenni State IEC. His recommendation serves as aserves as a reminder

reminder to both the Japanese government and theto both the Japaneseinternational community to reassess the channels

government and thethrough which humanitarian assistance funds areinternationalprovided, aiming to better support people in crisis.

community

toreassess the channels through which humanitarian assistance funds areprovided, aiming to better support people in crisis.
Catalyzed by a profound shift in perspective, Moe has stepped
forward to extend a helping hand to youth navigating the complex challenges
on the ground. In this passionate endeavor he finds himself immersed in thevibrant tapestry of the Kayan International Network. “Within this dynamic
collective,” Moe reflects, “we bring together spirited Kayan youth fromacross the globe; Japan, Australia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Israel, the3Testimony for ResilienceIssue Briefing No. 72
United States, and Norway.” As part of this lively community, Moe actively
orchestrates

meetings,

joins

in

monthlygatherings,

makes

fervent

contributions, and embraces a multitude of enriching activities.
In our interview withMoe, the harrowing reality of
Myanmar'sminority

ethnicgroups enduring systematic
oppression at the hands ofthemilitary

beforetheregime
2021

even

coupisstarkly illuminated. Despite
their persistent efforts tosecure

humanitarian

aid,their hopes are frequently
dashed, as funds from theJapanese

governmentandthe international community
inadvertently bolster the military junta's resources. However, amidst thisturmoil, a beacon of hope emerges in the form of the Myanmar diaspora,
exemplified by individuals like Moe. Through tireless activism and advocacy
efforts, members of the Myanmar diaspora are striving to safeguard
democracy and human rights, both within the country and on the global stage.
Moe's involvement in mobilizing support networks and amplifying the voicesof the oppressed underscores the vital role played by the diaspora ingalvanizing international solidarity and support for the restoration ofdemocracy in Myanmar. As the struggle for freedom and justice continues,
Moe's dedication serves as a testament to the resilience and determinationof the Myanmar people in their quest for a brighter, more democratic future.

4Testimony for ResilienceIssue Briefing No. 72

Moe Htet Yan’s profile
Moe Htet Yan is a software engineer, working with a Japanese softwaredeveloper company. He has been in Japan since 2019. Soon after the military
coup in 2021, he became involved in the revolutionary movement in Japan asa Karenni youth. He has been actively participating in implementing
campaigns for Myanmar people, including Karenni people and internallydisplaced people from his homeland, which is an important region for themilitary junta since it is strategically located between resistance strongholds
in the dry zone and the southeast of Myanmar. While he was in Myanmar, hestudied history at Taunggyi University.

5Testimony for Resilience