Remember a Fallen Friend
Ko Kyaw Khaing never aspired to anything more than being a good father, supporting his local community, and helping out at the local monastery. He knew he was never going to get rich— after all, his livelihood was operating a betel nut stall— but it was an honest living and provided for his family’s basic needs. Plus, being from a small town outside of Monywa called Chaung Oo, nothing really exciting happened here anyway, its only real claim to fame being its award-winning samosa salad. The town was famous for its thousand-year old pagoda ruins, and was known as “Little Bagan,” yet it was far off the tourist map, and so few backpackers ever made their way here.
After the February coup, the residents of humble Chaung Oo began protesting in lockstep with the big cities, yet few expected military to take the trouble to reach their village, at least not anytime soon.
This was soon proven wrong, as soldiers began arriving in a village that even some Burmese couldn’t place on a map.
Ko Kyaw Khaing lived with his 14 year old daughter and 5 year old son in the South Quarter of the village, and one evening last week he decided to attend a candlelight vigil, requesting the military to restore the rightfully elected leaders. For the penalty of going to a night protest, a bullet was propelled directly into one temple, then leaving through the opposite temple with a bigger hole. He collapsed, immediately killed.
Despite the existential struggles now facing this village, residents dropped everything yesterday to host the Seven-Day Donation and Anumodana Ceremony. Equally fed up with the regime, monks gave discourses, chanted suttas, and led the villagers in taking the five precepts. Offerings were made to the monks with merits shared to Ko Kyaw Khaing, and donation was given to his family.
Part of the donation that we are collecting at Better Burma goes towards the families left behind by those murdered in the street by the military. The love, care, and support of a father is gone forever and his children will grow up with trauma to work out over their lives. It is a small contribution, but it is something we can do, even when far away. Please share with those who can support our mission.