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34 Hkawn Shawng Kachin Hkawn Shawng is a wise woman who has experienced much in her life. She was shot and wounded when Burmese soldiers attacked a camp where she had taken refuge with other villagers. Her 22-year-old granddaughter was captured, along with her 3-year-old great-granddaughter, and another woman and her baby. It is believed that both women were raped several times before being killed. Escaping for her life and badly injured, Grandmother Hkawn Shawng managed to stay on the run for several nights. Eventually she reached safety and was able to treat her wounds with herbs. She met some friends who shared some rice, salt, and blankets with her.
However within a week or so, Hkawn Shawng’s wound was beginning to fester. When she finally reached the government hospital in Ba Maw, a doctor refused to perform surgery on the wound. Eventually she received effective treatment at the clinic in an IDP camp. Her son told us that due to Kachin taboos surrounding sexual assault, he feels very ashamed about what happened to his daughter. In his community there are those who say things about her that are both unkind and untrue. I feel inspired and have gained the strength to survive my difficulties. Using information from a shopkeeper who overheard two Burmese soldiers bragging about raping a woman, Hkawn Shawng’s son was able to locate the location where the army had buried his daughter in a makeshift grave in the forest. We wanted to know for sure whether the body was a woman or a man so we dug it up. We could only see the bones, some hair. The clothes that she wore that night. The army tried to tell us they did not touch her, but the clothes were just thrown on her chest, she was not even wearing them. They just put a red blanket over her body. The burial place was also not that deep. Hkawn Shawng’s son asked for help from a number of people, but received little assistance. Eventually he was able to borrow some money to retrieve and rebury the body. They held a ceremony for his daughter in the village where she died. 35 The perpetrators’ military base is known by the community. However it has been very difficult to establish their precise identity. Fortunately Hkawn Shawng’s toddler great-granddaughter was rescued. She remembers her mother being shot in the legs and crying all night. Later on she was adopted by relatives and no longer speaks of the incident. In the IDP camp where she lives, Hkawn Shawng takes care of her grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Her granddaughter’s sarong is her most treasured possession. She told us: I just gain strength from thinking that other people also suffer the same as me. I believe that when my children get older, everything will be better. I don’t have anything now. I don’t have any hopes for my property now. Although Hkawn Shawng is worried about the future, and feels very isolated in the IDP camp. She gained much from meeting other survivors to tell her story. Women’s <strong>Experiences</strong> of War, Peace, and Impunity in Myanmar
Page 1: a Women’s Experiences of War, Pea
Page 4 and 5: Opening the Box: Women’s Experien
Page 6 and 7: Our Women Survivors 1 Kachin Ah Nan
Page 8 and 9: Myanmar’s Women Survivors: Invisi
Page 10 and 11: 04. Body Mapping Borrowing from the
Page 12 and 13: At the beginning of the workshops,
Page 14 and 15: Key Findings The following are find
Page 16 and 17: Key Finding 2: Women in Myanmar exp
Page 18 and 19: Key Finding 3: Conflict-related dis
Page 20 and 21: Key Finding 4: Women victims strugg
Page 22 and 23: Key Finding 5: Women victims are no
Page 24 and 25: Key Finding 6: Women take actions f
Page 26 and 27: Opening the Box: Women’s Stories
Page 28 and 29: 26 Cho Cho Aye detained as a politi
Page 30 and 31: 28 Dashi Tawm Kachin Smart, educate
Page 32 and 33: 30 Doi Ra Kachin
Page 34 and 35: 32 Hkawn Lum Kachin
Page 38 and 39: 36 Hnin Hnin Hmway former political
Page 40 and 41: 38 Htay Htay Karen
Page 42 and 43: 40 Htoo Htoo Karen
Page 44 and 45: 42 Htu Bu Kachin Htu Bu used to liv
Page 46 and 47: 44 Khin Mi Mi Khine former politica
Page 48 and 49: 46 Mar Mar Oo former political pris
Page 50 and 51: 48 Mu Dah Karen
Page 52 and 53: 50 Ni Moe Hlaing former political p
Page 54 and 55: 52 Nu Tawng Kachin Nu Tawng comes a
Page 56 and 57: 54 It has become a problem for our
Page 58 and 59: 56 Nyar Eh Khu Karen
Page 60 and 61: 58 Nyar Hto Tue Karen
Page 62 and 63: Nyar Si Karen Nyar Si has been forc
Page 64 and 65: 62 Ohmar former political prisoner
Page 66 and 67: 64 Paw Poe Karen Paw Poe lives with
Page 68 and 69: 66 Pi Pi Karen
Page 70 and 71: 68 Roi Bu Kachin Roi Bu has survive
Page 72 and 73: 70 San San Maw former political pri
Page 74 and 75: 72 Tar Thue Karen
Page 76 and 77: 74 Ma Thandar former political pris
Page 78 and 79: 76 Thet Thet Aung former political
Page 80 and 81: 78 Tin Tin Cho former political pri
Page 82 and 83: 80 Yaw Myaw Kachin Yaw Myaw is a mo
Page 84 and 85: Recommendations 82 Based on our in-
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