Sunday 9 March 2008

We Became Soldiers - [Beyond 1988— Reflections]

By AUNG NAING OO
March 8, 2008


October 11, 1988: The novelty of finding ourselves in a new place with new people had hardly worn off when we began our new military life. It happened the day after our arrival at Thay Baw Boe, before we had even explored the area.

We were student-rebels who had traveled to the border to fight the Burmese military, and it was time to prepare for battle. But first, we had to become soldiers.

Our first day at the training camp began with breakfast, served to hundreds of new arrivals who were crammed into a small makeshift, open-air enclosure with bamboo tables set next to the Karen customs office.

By the time we arrived, there was a long queue. There were complaints, grumbles and impatient grunts; after a long wait, it turned out that the breakfast was badly prepared.

Full Article at: www.irrawaddy.org

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