Transcript: Episode #322: Welcome to the Jungle

Below is the complete transcript for this podcast episode. This transcript was generated using an AI transcription service and has not been reviewed by a human editor. As a result, certain words in the text may not accurately reflect the speaker's actual words. This is especially noticeable when speakers have strong accents, as AI transcription may introduce more errors in interpreting and transcribing their speech. Therefore, it is advisable not to reference this transcript in any article or document without cross-referencing the timestamp to ensure the accuracy of the guest's precise words.


Host  00:43 

I would like to caution listeners that the upcoming interview touches upon various topics that some may find upsetting. In an effort to tell the real story of what is now happening in Myanmar, we encourage our guests to share as they feel comfortable doing, affirming that this platform can bear the weight of their stories. As traumatic as the events have obviously been for our guests, they can affect even some of us who are listening from a distance as well. Every member of our team has shed a tear at some point or another in the process of bringing these interviews to you, and you might similarly find yourself affected by this story. So if you feel some of this content may be upsetting, may be considered listening in stages or in whatever way that works, but Please listen to bear witness To this GUEST Story, music, 

 

Host  02:51 

Welcome to this episode of Insight, Myanmar podcast. We are joined by two guests. One is a doctor and the other is a medical student, and for the last three years, they have been operating in extremely difficult conditions, based mostly in demo so in Karenni state, one can only imagine, and one has heard, and we'll hear more about how difficult the medical conditions are with which they operate, and yet, they have been doing so courageously with such limited supplies and helping a beleaguered population for the last three years, and we're going to hear more about their backgrounds and their experiences, and also about Karani state in addition. And so I'm very pleased to welcome both of these guests to share, and I would like to know if, first you can, you can introduce yourselves, your names and your background. 

 

Dr. Paung  03:47 

Yes, I'm Dr palm. And before COVID, I am, I own my cleaning. And after COVID, I close my clinic and I'm came to the kin estate in June 2021 now I'm working as a medical Superintendent of Luke revolution Hospital in Kyaw state for three years. Yes. Nice to meet you all. 

 

Hector  04:16 

Hello. My name is Hector. I was 10 years medical student before the coup and after the coup, I came along with Dr Pang to Karen ing for to cure comrades and refugees 

 

Dr. Paung  04:36 

before the coup, and our country is suffering from the COVID 19. So we were volunteering in the COVID 19, efficient outbreak. And with the aim I have, I would like to study public health. In Thailand after coup, I became Tao Te Aung. 

 

Hector  05:13 

Was the same university with him, yes, the same with him in COVID 19 outbreak rack, and I was volunteering with him too at the fever clinic, yes. And then we and then the coup happened, and we came together here, 

 

Host 05:36 

Right? So the military coup happens in 2021 this is a shock to everyone in the country, and this is the moment you have to make a decision. What are you going to do with your life? Are you going to keep your head down and try to be safe? Are you going to try to leave the country? In your case, you both make the decision that you're going to help the people where it's needed most, in a place of great danger and great discomfort to yourself. So how do you make a decision like this? 

 

Dr. Paung  06:18 

I don't want to head down to do sec so, and I have no idea to leave my country at all. So what can I do? I take him, I I can do. I can do and I can give medical service to the injured people and the civilian who need the Medicare service. So I decided. I decided on my revolution way by, by my medical knowledge, to give the Medicare service to our people as much as I can. So firstly, I am the volunteer Medicare target in the B School protesters, and if the junta the Cgn movement is successful in our country. So all the hospital is shut down in 2021 so I'm working as a general doctor for the prepared who, but who actively participated in peaceful protest. And also I'm the General for the delivery order woman in Township and 

 

Hector  07:48 

secretly after the coup, we are not agree with the SEC Right, and so we we join protests and the despite WE ARE WE peaceful, we protest peacefully. But the kill, the shot at our friends. And I've lost friends too, and also in, you know, linear and linear and should be done. Yes, and both doctors city, I've lost friends and Yes, everyone knows this is not, not fair. This is, this is about what government do, right? So, for the district, for the democracy, we decided to join the revolutionary forces, persistent forces, and we are here as far 

 

Host  08:51 

this is not a light decision. You know you've lost friends, and you know that you're risking your own life further by being in greater danger by taking one more step into the revolution and helping those people, that those civilians that are being harmed in terrible ways by the military. Did how did you make that decision? Did you hesitate? Were you worried? How do you make a decision to risk your life? And to that degree, it 

 

Hector  09:21 

was a clear decision. I didn't hesitate to join resistance forces and yes, to help people civilians, actually, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  09:33 

me too, without worry and without hesitating. Yes, it is a clear decision. But 

 

Hector  09:41 

to be honest, we have to worry about our families who were back there, left, at the control sec, right, our families were under the control. As you see, we are worried about them. So we. We don't how to say in public. We don't use our real name, or we don't use popularity. Yes, we just in hidden how to say. We in hidden identity, right? No profile. Yes, you prefer someone. 

 

Host  10:26 

I mean, you're speaking with so much humility about really your heroes, and the decision that you make is so courageous. You're you're you're bringing a modesty and humility, but I want to underscore it to listeners just how tremendous these decisions have been. And for three years you you have been on these front lines. And so you make the decision to go to Karenni after the coup. Why Karen? Why did you choose to go there? Of all the other places you could have gone? 

 

Hector  10:57 

And there, both he and me, we give medical training to the first training to the medical sorry to the medic in resisting forces first. And then we came back to our houses and and we it at this time there were a clash Khin, right? No, no other places has has been suffered from war at the time. So in khinin, there has been war, and also refugees, and as well as new resistant forces are founding there. And so is, is we are. So we want to join them, right? Yes, this was an opportunity for us to join the resistance forces, and then we came there. That's why. 

 

Host  12:06 

So you decided to go to Karenni. You come from one of you comes from a BA Mar background, the other mixed ba Mar Rakhine, and you're going to an ethnic state. Have you ever been to khrani before, or had contact with members of the Karenni community. And how were you welcomed in when, when you first came and started to be in kni? People? No, 

 

Dr. Paung  12:29 

we have never been to Kyi. And also we have no relation in Kyaw state at the time, we are not safe. We have no safety in the city. The angle and my Medicare license is taken by was taken by the sec, sec, so we have to leave the city. And this is also, he said, this is also our opportunity. At the time the first battle was occurred in since my team also maybe on maybe or 16 June. So I, I had that I have, they need Medicaid, how tab and San prepare are hiding in the jacket with so many injury and no Medicare supply at the time, the bed is built in progress in in Chin State. So most of the Myanmar people are interested in Chin State at the time, but not in kni. So I think knipp me, so we have to plan to go to the khinin state. Yes, 

 

Host  13:55 

right? And so then when you go to khinin state, for the first time in your life, you've never been there on vacation, on work, on travel, on anything, what you're meeting an ethnic group that you've never come in contact with before, and you're going to a region that you've never been to before. So what was that experience like? 

 

Hector  14:14 

It was like, yes, we've been strangers, right? And they they hate Burma for years. You know? They have worse. They have. They have a town they call soldier. Put soldiers and bomber as Japan. Yes, they have. We have a town called them the same town as soldier. So it's bomber, yes. That's why we when we wish there we a bummer, right? Some of them don't, didn't trust us because we are bummer, and they didn't even trust as doctors. Yes, actually, yes, we don't look like doctors. Back then we didn't look like we. How do we say that we we look so normal, right? As they have seen. We are not like doctors they have seen in movies. Yes, that's why, at first, the communication between the between them and us, it's difficult. What's difficult? Yes, we have to build trust. We have to build the trust slowly, step by step, right, to make them believe us. Yes, we have to do our job properly. We Yes, we had to do our jobs. We opened a clinic right first, at first we we opened a clinic, and then clinics Yes, in the village, right then, then we went clinics. And also we raise fund for comrades, yes and step and step, yes, they trust us, and they give us a place at the hospital, right? Yes. Government hospital, yes. And then we started hospital setting. After that, the SEC boomed us, air strike right and air strike us, but we it didn't hit us. It near. It hit near the near us, but it didn't hit any of the buildings or people. But we have to remove right. We have to move. That's why we moved to the jungle in 2022 right? 

 

Host 16:43 

That's horrendous. Your your hospital is bombed by the military of its own the own country. One's own country's military is bombing their hospitals. We know this, but this is, this is just so infuriating and shocking and terrible. What was the experience like, what has the experience been like of surviving air strikes and seeing the air strikes come? 

 

Hector  17:05 

Yes, during the air strike, we are so tired doing hospital walks. You know, I was sleeping, some of them are resting at at their places. Also, most patients and staff all were sleeping. I mean, they booked at 1am 

 

Dr. Paung  17:30 

1am like on 27 February, 

 

Hector  17:33 

it's, it's already, is a place. It's already in Google Map, right? Government hospital means it's on the hill, and it's a clear, honestly, clear target. So 

 

Host  17:46 

this was intentional. They wanted to bomb the hospital. 

 

Hector  17:49 

Yes, yes, yes. We hear the jet, jet fighter coming, and then immediately the shot, the release the missile. We heard that, then, boom, 500 

 

Dr. Paung  18:06 

pound. Two times, yes, 500 pound. 

 

Hector  18:08 

How do you say missile? Missile, 

 

Dr. Paung  18:11 

yes. 

 

Hector  18:14 

At the time I was sleeping in my room, the ceiling broke. The scene broke and it fell on me. So I woke him, and the shock wave is, is like, how do you see a quick yes? Earthquake, earthquake, earthquake, 

 

Dr. Paung  18:34 

yes, strong, like, 

 

Hector  18:36 

as strong as a quick so I woke up and I realized, wow, now we attack when we were under attack, and then we but then we didn't have bomb shelter. I we think we thought they won't us. They won't boom hospital. I think so that's why we didn't have a bomb shutter for at the hospital back then, we have to run. But no bomb shut, right? I was we have to hide. We had to hide in how do you say this? Small gutter group? Getter, yes, we have to hide this. It even suit our bodies. It's really small, yes, but we have no choice. We have no choice otherwise, if we ran on the, you know, on the field, they were the blessed world came to hit us. So we have to hide in the gather, and then we listen, if the jet fighter came back, really second time? Yes, it really came back, and boom again. We saw this at night, but we saw the hungry Swedish and. Flame result without the missile camp and hit his head again, but not us, not on the hospital. And after this, after this, we are so worried about the patient, right? Patience means every patient, some were comrades with trauma injuries. And some were all people, all people with medical chronic disease, chronic diseases, and this is so terrifying, right? They will be. We were worried that they had heart attack or something like that. They were dying, worrying. I think also there were new needs, right? Yes, new baby too. They were all scared at this time, so we have to close the hospital after after the day. 

 

Host  20:57 

So this hospital they bombed were, was where the patients civilians? Were they also armed fighters and soldiers? Or were they just civilians, 

 

Hector  21:06 

different, different backgrounds, many, many people. We don't, yes, we didn't have security for those people, and then maybe San people who support sec, but we didn't know that we accept all. We accept we treat or treat them all during the hospital setting, right? We outpatient. Our patient visits were so high and in a day, about 400 out per day. Yes, 200 to 400 per day. 

 

Host  21:41 

And how many doctors at the time? 

 

Dr. Paung  21:43 

242, generous, one general surgeon and one auto video surgeon and three Medicare officers and five Medicare students at the time. 

 

Host  21:57 

So you have less than 10 medical professionals treating upwards of 400 people a day coming. Yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  22:04 

the all are outpatients, but there is also inpatient. Is about maybe 50 bedded, just about 50 inpatient, including both Camry and civilian like Medicaid disease and wall related injury, and also the delivery cases, and also the newborn babies. 

 

Host  22:28 

And, you know, we'll talk in a moment about how you then relocate to the jungle, but I'm just thinking of issues of medical resources and supplies, as well as electricity and equipment, and I can only imagine how hard it would be for the hospital in demo so town, let alone the jungle. And so talk about the challenges you faced in these areas.  

 

Dr. Paung  22:54 

Yes, we can rent our hospital behind the head of the nuke pipe without them, I we can do anything. They are very welcome and very helpful for us. So we have to, we have to find some bit generated, and also the How to say, General, General volunteer. So the local use, local youth are participating in building the hospital. They are, they are helpful, inviting the big generator, and also they work as the general worker or general volunteer for the hospital, right? 

 

Host  23:42 

Okay, so then you the hospital bombed in February 27 2022 and you realized there was no security. So yes, you have to leave the town and go about setting up some kind of medical facility in the jungle. So tell us about that process. 

 

Dr. Paung  24:02 

Yes, after sec attack, we have to find San city place for our Medicare revolution journey. So I we have to request. We have to ask the local government, local government, local governments. So we have to see the each and every village, maybe just about five Village to give the place for hospital, most of them disagree with that, because they are worrying about the next time Jack by sec. So they I we understand, and they are worrying about so we are searching for the safe one new place. Luckily. A we met, and commonly from the kndf, BA, he give, he give a place or place to bid the loopholes we did. So I have to, we go to the hidden place with the big tree, and which is So, I, I like this place, and we have to claim this place. And started at Le 

 

Host 25:30 

COVID. So did you actually have to construct a building? Yes, tell what kind of building. How did that happen? 

 

Hector  25:39 

Building, we have operation we have to build operation theater, right? For a hospital setting, it has to, there has to be operation theater, right? So for the operation theater and and laboratory room and as well as history room, right, they are all built like one building, one big building. And what and for for us, we we have to build the operation theater is built with bricks, bricks and San big walls. But we live at first. We live with how we say bamboo, right, and bamboo, build with bamboo houses and so. And then we try using some booths, and we live at the house within houses, and also the what the word was at first, build with bamboo, and then a bamboo, Is this safe? Is this good? Isn't it? It wasn't good for patients. You know, bamboo has some dust that does come from bamboo, is this is it wasn't good for wounds, right? That's why we establish that. Then we remove bamboos, and we use Replace with rules, yes, we replace. And then, now it's wood, wood, yes. And then, now, in 2023, we then we could upgrade, upgrade this building with bricks. And also, how do this ceramic tanks for the disinfection, right? Yes, the ones are now like this step is that we have to build for the how do we see this disinfection process? Yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  27:41 

to be honest, it is good for having the separate building for each and every facility, like the separate building for X ray imaging and a separate building for the laboratory and a separate building for the operation theory. That is good, and it is standard, but at the time, we have very limited funding supported by the individual, Myanmar people, so we have to, we have to think about our financial problem, so we just get with our odd members. Is about 11 at the time. So we, we are not engineer, and we have no experience in drawing design, but we we making a drug of the operation the data, including a straight room, and also the laboratory run and also the post operated Bishop room. Has included. It is bit, but just one, one bit beaten at first, and vision what, what for the patient is made by the bamboo, he explained it now it is 

 

Hector  28:59 

upgraded to bridge and ceramic time during this efficient Yes, during 

 

Dr. Paung  29:03 

three years, yes.  

 

Host  29:06 

And how about the security? 

 

Dr. Paung  29:11 

Security like kately and we are safe for how to say hi, we messy, yeah, 

 

Hector  29:17 

yes. Language missiles, we are safe from this, because we live between in a valley, right in a valley, so in the forest, in the forest in a valley, and longrich Messiah can reach us. And also there is big trees. There are so many big trees covering us. And we also cover the hospital, San Yeah, some places with honey, discover with Nest net next black next, yes, that's why they can reach us, and they couldn't find us. But then in 2023 They search with drones. Yes, every day, drones and San civilian. How do you see the civilian drones? Italy? Yes, yes, the sizes, but I think they didn't. They couldn't find us finance and yes, but then there were so many comrades, individual comrades at a hospital, yes. So if they find us, and one comrade even said, One day when they fight the military and and that soldier has, we has a people written that near the other village, we were near the village, right near the village in the jungle, yes, did that village name and there is a hospital. He has written, yes. We read, yes, yes, yes, Congress even mentioned that they knew we exist, but they couldn't find us. 

 

Host 31:08 

So they're looking for you. They're trying to destroy you. 

 

Dr. Paung  31:10 

Yes, every day, every day scouting by drone, and also every day, every day scouting and finding us. It is sure that they were destroyed as when they financed, as well as the finance, they were destroyed as 

 

Hector  31:30 

right? Yes, we have security gate in entrance, entrance of the hospital. That that security gate filter the comrades and people, and yes, at first, before they came to the hospital, right and before they came to the hospital, they filter the comrades and civilian who are from training or who are from SEC first. So for the security is important, right? We have to sup it for sure. So yes, we can 

 

Dr. Paung  32:10 

do on ground security, but we can not do on Yes, 

 

Hector  32:17 

yes, Sky Scouting is we cannot do learn from lesson, yes, before, before this hospital in general, we live in a carbon hospital. Right back then we didn't filter people like based on their background, right? So there may be those who suppose I say right, and before the boom and Sam, I don't know who San ban the how do you say down, down. Sometimes the dam with castling and we have to burn it down. How is it? Put out. Put out the fire. Yes, the fire means the one, the job fighter camp, and when they see the fire, it's a clear target, right? We have to put out the fire, right? Now, we didn't know who, who make this? Who burn this? Yes, this may be someone who supports sac BA, yes, learn from this and that. Yes, we have to put a security gate for the hospital. Yes, right. 

 

Host  33:32 

So you talked about the capacity in the town Hospital in di Mo. So how about what kind of capacity are you seen at this jungle hospital? How many medical professionals do you have and how many patients are coming in daily 

 

Hector  33:46 

for now, now, now we medical professional. There are a lot we have to welcome, right? Those who wants to join us. We welcome those who want to join us. And we also San pay. There was lost, right for the medical officer and as well as sergeants and Og OG means of Obstetrics and largest right? So we have to welcome them. We have three general surgeon, right? Yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  34:20 

we three general surgeons and also three anesthesiologists, and also two orthopedic surgeon and one chest surgeon and one also and gynecologist and one preparation and eight Medicaid officers and eight medical student and two senior nurses and 12 train nurses. 

 

Host  34:47 

Wow. And how many patients, roughly, are coming per day now we 

 

Dr. Paung  34:52 

bind the security alert. We cannot give our patient service. To our people. So we we make a limit, limited our vision, but we welcome all, all the patients who need to admit to hospital. So it's about 20 to 25 sometimes it is about tank admission, patient party, 

 

Host  35:22 

25 per day. 

 

Dr. Paung  35:25 

Yes, to try is the messy man party, but the average range is, is about 10 to 20 years every day in patient who need to admit hospital.  

 

Host 35:37 

So if that, if you're doing the numbers, if you were talking about 400 per day in demo so and maximum 25 per day at this hospital you're looking at, you know, less than 10% of the patients you can serve before, what happens to those large number of patients who need medical care somewhere? Is there? Somewhere else they could go? 

 

Dr. Paung  35:56 

Yes, there are so many other clinics in the stake. And we have, we have open at outpatient clinic, name that we knew in in december 2024 now, so for the patient who need the outpatient care. And also, there is also other, so many clinic in the stake, you run, buying Medicare, professions 

 

Host  36:23 

and how about electricity? Is ran by generators? 

 

Dr. Paung  36:26 

Yes, no electricity at Aung. Sync to 2022. 

 

Hector  36:35 

in 2021, no electricity at all. Yes, it's all it's a stick produce electricity. You know, lobby there, right 

 

Dr. Paung  36:44 

Yes, for the whole country, where we we, they cut off electricity since 2021 maybe on April, and 

 

Hector  36:55 

where, where we are right now, near the hospital there, near the near hospital, there was village, right? There were these villages. Got a little city in 2020, 2021, right? Yeah, 2020 just one year later, and the coup happened, and they cut out electricity. 

 

Host 37:19 

So you're saying they got electricity for the first time, first time in their lives, in 2020 and then the next year, they waited their whole lives to have electricity, and then the military cut off the electricity that the civilian government provided them. 

 

Hector  37:31 

Yes, yes, despite being the state that was electricity, yeah, they didn't get electricity. Yeah. 

 

Host  37:38 

Well, that's what the military does. I mean you look at like kitchen state with all the wealth that's produced by the Jade and the rare earth, and of course, the there's no benefit of any of that wealth to the education or civil services. The state that produces all the electricity is the state that doesn't receive any of that electricity. That's, that's, that's the standard. And so And how about the medicine, the equipment, the resources. How do you have sufficient supplies? How do you get them? How is that? 

 

Dr. Paung  38:11 

We have to plan to get the medicine and other Medicare, instrument and machine in so many way sans are from UK, and sans are from the national international. But the big issue is, from international. There is a way in, locate, you know, there is a way in, okay, but we cannot get any supply from international San Myanmar people or San people from the International they want to donate, or they want to give some broken machine, or use machine they want to give. These machines are used left in their country, but they are very useful for us. They want to get bad. You know how to say gas 10, don't allow to do bring it across the border. So it is very difficult for us. We need urgently, like a ventilator and defeat mission, and also the cell laboratory measure, like a black guest analyzer. It is the blood test for the Indonesian but we have no so I request, and I asked to subscribe this to me, San Bari from the International one, to donate, and want to give this. But it is very difficult to cross the Bora, and it is very difficult to cross the gas stem. So it is very difficult, 

 

Host 39:47 

I see and how about data and phone services? Do you have any access of communication, 

 

Hector  39:52 

internet? 2023 right. We got Sterling in. Is before this, we have to go to a place where internet is accessible. We have to go about one hour from our house, from our hospital. We have to use transportation like yes, we have to take times for the internet, but now we have sterling for Internet, and still there's no phone services we can call. But internet is sensible, no phone services. Yes, yes, the SEC cut down all phone services in kraya is a for the langol line, Goenka, where this is right. DF, cut down, or yes, in 2021 

 

Dr. Paung  40:43 

we work our activity, our daily activity in the morning, and we have to go somewhere to get the internet, internet in the evening. It is daily routine, process, yes. And in 2023 we we got to study right 

 

Host  41:04 

now, I want to ask you about the experience of the kind of medical procedures and work that you do. You're, you're both trained doctors and medical professionals, and so coming from that background, you're, you're not a stranger to dealing with trauma and difficulty and and your training provides you to be able to work with the work in difficult situations, traumatic situations, as doctors do anywhere, anywhere in the world, any situation. And yet, I'm sure that when you're going to Karenni, you're seeing a different level of trauma. You're seeing a different level of of horrifying injuries and and things that as far as you were trained in normal medical procedures, this is above and beyond what you were dealing with before. So talk about that transition, and if that was difficult for you to adjust to a different level of trauma, on terror, yes, 

 

Hector  42:04 

yes. For me, I'm a student, right? He is a doctor before. He is already a doctor, so he has experienced this before. For us, medical student, there were more, many more. They all have experienced this trauma for the first time in their life? Yes, some traumas are so horrifying. No, when, when they step on the limb, line and they have both autoimmune addicted legs, foot, legs, autoimmune data, sometimes civilians, sometimes pregnant woman, they have lost their legs. Yes. Lua, who lower part of the body, yeah, sometimes they even lost the whole part of the body, yes, sometimes. So some head injuries, right? Head injuries are also terrifying. So, so terrifying. Ah, yes. Sometimes we have to lost people, right? We comrades, are so young. Some comrades, even they are 18 or like 20, yes, not old. Yes. Do is they are so young. And they have friends, family, right at the hospital. And the one they see their friends suffering, their son or something like suffering, and they cry. They feel. Suu, how do you see the Devastator, right? Yes, we all feel that too, because comrades, right? We are all comrades, yes, for you, yes, we are all to be all the same, yes, we are the same. We have the same feeling with your family, with your friends, we have to make them How do you say that life like normal people, right? But we it's beyond our limits, right? We have to, sometimes, we have to watch them suffering, and watch let them die pass away, less than let them pass away, right? Is it's a hard feeling to assert, hard feeling so hard. It's so hard. Yes, it's also so traumatizing. Yeah, someday we couldn't sleep thinking about them. Right? Yes, it is. Now we have to, yes, adjust just and we have to continue walking, right? We have to adjust and keep walking to save the rest. We have to forget about the past and to save the rest. So we have to move on to save the rest. So yes, and 

 

Host  44:33 

you've been God, and you've been experiencing this for three years, day after day, 

 

Hector  44:38 

yes, yes. Day of the Day. Yes, 

 

Host  44:43 

are there particular moments or procedures or individuals that have stuck with you or stood out and that you can't get out of your mind? 

 

Hector  44:54 

Yes, now I quit clinical things and I work at the office. I. Before that. Yes, every night I dream about, like, doing a CPR, right? CP, doing a CPR, every every night, I think sometimes I even dream about them walking to me and seeing things to me, but they already direct. Yes, I can get out of some people, some, some Coronavirus. I think they have been cured. They are almost normal people, right? But for some reason, they have some underlying diseases, and they die and suddenly, right? And they pass away suddenly. So it make us more it make us more hard. Yes, yes, back then, yes, I was, I dream about them every day, every day, every day I'm in duty and on night shift. Every day I dream about them. I see them and I sometimes, sometimes, how do we say this hallucination, right? So sometimes even see hallucination? Yes. So 

 

Dr. Paung  46:17 

he could, he could the Medicare work, and now he is doing 

 

Host  46:23 

right? So you're saying that there are cases of particular individuals who died traumatically that you were trying to save, and these specific individuals are coming back to you in dreams and in day life hallucinations, that they're coming to talk to you that they're they've somehow survived. Are these the the individuals that are coming to you? Are they? Are they many, many patients who are passing away, or are they specific, individual patients that keep coming many times, 

 

Hector  47:00 

specific patient, yes, yes. Can you everyone? 

 

Host  47:04 

If you're comfortable, can you share who those patients are? Comrades? 

 

Hector  47:08 

Yes, the comrades and and during one day we're alive. I How do you say dress? Dressing. I teach dressing for their wounds, and I have good connection with them, and I talk a lot to them. And yes, when they die, yes, it's so devastated. So they were your friends. Yes, friends before. I don't know them, but when they hospitalized in the hospital, yes, we became friends. We are comrades, right? We're all together. So, and I'm 24 years old. They and me about the same age. Yes, some are younger than me, and yes, 

 

Host  47:56 

so I mean, you're describing you're in your early 20s. They're in their early 20s, they're trying to protect their communities against a regime that's trying to kill them all. You're trying to to to heal those that are being that have been attacked and are trying to survive. You're all in your early 20s, and none of you are coming from any background of of military or conflict, conflict, medical work, or any kind of background in in what it's like to be in a conflict zone. And then suddenly you're thrown into seeing horrific landmine injuries, of limbs that have been severed, of people that are dead, dying and in the process and hovering between life and death that you're, you're, trying to save, despite these horrific injuries to civilians, pregnant women, mothers, elderly, young children, monks, you know all kinds of people that are staying in your mind. And so how do you you know you've been at this for three years, and it's, I'm sure that every time, it's just as horrific and shocking, but you have to keep doing it. It's your job. You have to wake up to do another day. So how, how do you do that? How do you find a way to be able to deal with the situation, but to to not be emotionally devastated and shocked and traumatized every time. Yes, 

 

Hector  49:26 

I have, I thought, I have to be used to this, right? It's during the revolution I have to lost people. Yes, we have to lost people. We have to sometimes we have to say goodbye. Sometimes we can afford, yes, we can afford to let them live, right? We have to accept that. Yes, acceptance heals me. Yes, yes. That's why I have to work together to save another life. I have to forget the past. Yes, that's what revolution taught me. 

 

Host  49:57 

Yes, you have to accept death. 

 

Dr. Paung  49:59 

Accept that. Even as we can die. Yes, we get any time 

 

Host  50:04 

your own you have to accept your own death as well. Yes, you're saying we 

 

Dr. Paung  50:08 

can die anytime with any cause. Yes. 

 

Host  50:11 

Did you have, did you have that approach to life before the revolution, that you were accepting of other death and your death? No idea 

 

Dr. Paung  50:20 

about this, before COVID, before revolution, new idea about deck, but now we accept any tie anywhere we can die. 

 

Host 50:34 

That's heavy. 

 

Dr. Paung  50:36 

Yeah, it's bad. Is this accepted make good for us, so 

 

Hector  50:42 

you can move on, right, yes, and keep on doing the revolution means, right? 

 

Dr. Paung  50:45 

This is the true in our revolution, and this is the way we choose, 

 

Host 50:52 

yeah. And so how about yourself? We talked about your your your friend shared a story about about what it was like going from a medical training in an urban area to a warfare in a conflict zone and the kind of trauma that seemed What was that transition like for you 

 

Dr. Paung  51:11 

is hot even in it is very difficult for him. He is just a medical student, even though I'm graduated Medicaid, but I I had very limited, limit, limitation to give the Medicare service to prepare, because no training, no action. So at first, we have no Senior Sergeant. I am, I am the boss of the team. So I can do, I can do just the dressing and San an addition. And can do only with the low K anesthesia, but by the head of the our senior specialists like general surgeon and also anesthesis anesthesiologist, we can do now, even though major operation at first, I remember the patient who mentioned had who had had a mission. This wine is 20 years old. He lost both leg boot led by the land mine. Blessed are not patterned out, because of no blood in his body, just free out and we give IV, intravenous blood transfusion at the time the blood is slowly, slowly spread out. It is so terrible for me to see him. He he is no How to say, no questions at all. At the time of the admission, no question at all. And we give the treatment for him, and we give the mass blood transfusion we SF, he were tying within 24 hours. Ba, by the god, he became fully conscious at midnight, 2am He say, I'm so thirsty. Please, please let me drink some please give me some water. Oh, we are very heavy for him. We don't, we don't, hope that. So, no, no mean for him is the best. But we, we know he will, he will go. So we give a cut of water. So he drink eagerly, and he talk, he talked about Moe is about his near duty and about his family. It is very straight for us. But after that, he fought asleep and he time of at 5am it is very hard for us. So yeah, yes, 

 

Host  54:26 

you talk about landmines. You've referenced the number of landmine victims that come how. And I should say we've spoken with landmine experts, and we've talked about landmines on this podcast before, with past guests, as you're living in the ground in a place that's contaminated by landmines, and you know you have the landmines from below, the airstrikes from above. Danger is so severe sometimes soldiers on the ground. But how serious is the risk of contamination of landmines in the region that you're in? 

 

Dr. Paung  55:02 

Is very serious. Sec made the land mine, even though in the public pipe compound recently and when Larry, who misses her home, come back to her home and got land mine injury, and I Haw, so maybe every land mine is everywhere in this take. But we, we, we have to walk under the supervision of Tamara, you know. So it is very serious. Back you know, in 2021 2022 is land mine. Land Mine and aircraft. Air Attack is the missile, the lash, sorry, the biggest wall related injury now, as this is used the suicide drone. Now is suicide drone is the biggest oil related injury. It can make human into pieces, like the attack and so now is landmine is decreasing the war related injury, the most well related injury is attack and the suicide drone. 

 

Host  56:28 

And have you seen the consequences of the suicide drone? 

 

Dr. Paung  56:35 

Yes. Now our hospital is recently. We did chess. We did chess patient which, who got into what, buying the suicide draw. He lost his his hand and his one leg. He got one he got hit, right hand, right hand and and left left loss. Right at the time, he said his friend is kind of at the same by suicide drone, by SEC horrific, 

 

Host  57:15 

yes. Now we've spoken about the the physical trauma and strain that's that you're involved with as doctors, yes, and I want to talk a bit about the mental side of it and the emotional side. I know that you're you're not coming from a background of psychology or mental health, yeah, coming more from physical but from your own, your own personal experiences, those of your colleagues, as well as what you're seeing among the Karenni population. How, how would you describe how people are doing mentally? What kind of mental issues is the population now suffering under? 

 

Dr. Paung  57:54 

Most of the people are suffering from the PTSD mandate, mandate, how to say mental illness, even though, as like, sometimes, we are suffering from depression, we have no hope. And, you know, we went to we went to go our home, and we, we want to see our mother themselves. So this is so terrifying for us. And had feelings, even though I make into my I make it, but I don't want to go in Thailand. I just want to go back home. So every day, every day, and also we, met into our patient. So this is also we have so many mental illness, and also even every body, like the our comrade, and also the their parents, and also that they are cousin with this. And you know, this is the net RAM, and this is the big impact of the Revolution by digital ship. This is the big impact to our prepare. So there is a way of solution. Sam coated with the negative code thing like San smoking. Sam, coping. What kind of coping? Like meditation? Yes, coping like meditation and listening sounds and walking through the walking through the forest and climbing mountain and drawing and for us, we do self care exercise to notice our mind, how I how. Feeling today is sad, I'm sad, or I'm happy, or I'm angry, something, blah, blah, blah. So we have to notice our mind. What is happening in my mind. So we give more time for our method, for our self care time, like same time, we are dancing in the disco light. There's a disco in the jungle, just one, just one in our house. Video, we like on the disco night, and we play the music with the blue dots and dance. What kind of music, like DJs have they? 

 

Host 1:00:42 

I mean, Burmese music or Western music. I donation of music. But so like, what? What songs do you dance to? 

 

Hector  1:00:49 

Any song that that look, that sounds so honestly, right? 

 

Host 1:00:55 

Yes. Do you have a favorite? 

 

Dr. Paung  1:00:59 

Now we don't have a favorite now we are dances with the Apache, with the what? 

 

Host  1:01:09 

Collaborate this song, yeah, so that's, that's your hospital dance song, yes, 

 

Hector  1:01:15 

for now, but now then we dance with Nicky, Minnesota. Yes, 

 

Host  1:01:25 

I did not expect that 

 

Hector  1:01:28 

we, we have light, but Right? Like, but we replaced it with the just like a good tire. Yes, it's cheap, right? It's like, honestly, five, 5000 check, right? Yes, we replace it with this one. And yeah, we close all the lights so it's like a disco room, right? 

 

Host 1:01:47 

And it's just, who is it? Doctors, patients, or everyone drawing, everyone you can drive. How often do you do this? 

 

Hector  1:01:58 

You don't usually do this, yes, but some San vocation, like the danger, right, like Christmas and some birthdays, right? Some birthdays like his, when his birthday, on my birthday, yes, we also sing with guitar, right guitar, their guitarist and their pianist and their balanis, and they play the instruments, and we sing. And then when we got too drunk, yes, we dance all together, 10 of the like, we replace the like 

 

Dr. Paung  1:02:41 

at that time, even though we are enjoying with the DJ news is one side is we are worrying about drone 

 

Hector  1:02:51 

because we can hear right? Can we can hear one we can't hear anything. Wow, 

 

Host  1:02:59 

we are dances, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:03:00 

but what did other side our mind is listening to the 

 

Host  1:03:06 

scouting? Yeah, 

 

Hector  1:03:08 

yes, there's some people who don't join us, like older people they worry about. They can hear the Jafar right. They also, they always how to say they blame us for being so loud, 

 

Host  1:03:25 

and do you practice meditation and self care as well? 

 

Dr. Paung  1:03:29 

Sometimes, sometimes it's really. Meditation is really but we do individually and not. We don't do all together. I We keep our mind positively, buying their own individual we San do their yoga, and San do so climbing. And sometimes we need to isolate from the patient and from our camera. So San die we we do not walk any thing. We stay alone in the house. We see our My home is going on, so we give the isolation time for me, 

 

Host  1:04:25 

right? And so in looking at the mental difficulties that the wider population is facing and the signs of trauma, like how they're acting, how would you describe among the civilian population? We're not talking about the combatants, the comrades. We're talking about just civilians. They must have PTSD as well from the trauma that they face. So how, what? What signs are you seeing in terms of the way that they're acting that that's giving you indication as to what kind of mental difficulties they're having? 

 

Hector  1:04:58 

Indications? Ba. Of PTSD, they mostly depression and simplest night right 

 

Dr. Paung  1:05:04 

sleep. Most a complaint of the sleepless, yes, yes, they are not severe, not severe as because they have to say they live with hope one day we we were go back home, and one day we were winning. So the best medicine is this. It is not we given. It is it is drive from their own individual mind. So they hope and they believe. So this is the best meditate medicines for them. Everybody. Live with them. One day we will go back our home. 

 

Hector  1:05:58 

That what inspires us, we expand by the hope of returning home? Yeah, 

 

Host  1:06:03 

well, that's extraordinary. And, you know, we've had guests on the podcast that have said, and I think when, when we're thinking about this beleaguered population that has been facing so much conflict, so much violence, so much loss, I think as outsiders, we we think we might have this pity or this we might feel the sense of victimization, of hopelessness, of loss, yes, and, and I'm sure, I'm sure that that's there, part of that, that loss and that pain, that trauma, is there. But consistently, the guests that we've had on this podcast have said the thing that the media is not picking up on is the joy and the hope and the optimism and the unity and the looking forward. And I think that's that's something that is so inspiring, as you speak about this karaini population, that we know how severe the violence has been in khurrani state that you were describing, in the way that they're dealing with their mental trauma, that they do have this hope and this optimism that they are going to win and they're going to have the life that they've wanted for generations. So that's tremendous. Yes, 

 

Hector  1:07:07 

yes. Also civilians, yeah. They have some refugees, right? They have to left their home. Sometimes in sec, ban their home, down the whole village, sometimes the whole village. They burn all the houses they lost their home. And then how to say this? Yes, they wants to. They want their home back, right? They want to go there. Please, his own pleases, right? Yes, yes. Sometimes they feel depressed about this, yes, also the traumas they have faced, right? 

 

Dr. Paung  1:07:44 

Sometimes they ask me Saya, ba, Emily, sometimes the SBE, when 

 

Host  1:07:51 

can I go home? The most frequent question is, When can I go home? They're asking you like you have the answer, yes.  

 

Hector  1:08:00 

We say, if I hope right, we say, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:08:04 

we all are together. You are very lucky. You are in your state, but we are not in our state. Yeah, so it is more easy for you to go back home. It is hard for me so Biden together, and we will stay together. So one thing is I found in Kinney state is about religion. And so how to say fathers and sisters care their 

 

Hector  1:08:33 

people? Yes, yes. So it 

 

Dr. Paung  1:08:37 

is the good for the Kinney people. I see, I think the 

 

Host  1:08:44 

Christian religion, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:08:47 

I have Buddhism that I saw. I see their relationship. They are born in with God. So it's so peaceful for the people. This is the good, best medicine for handling with mandate anus, yes, mandator trauma. So you mentioned about violence, you mentioned about so many title violence and so many title crisis. They are self found, but they can handle it with this, with with God, I think, and I'm seated every day, the old ladies and the old man are praying to God at the check, even though this check is broken By the attack, even though they are praying and and in front of the yes, this is the good for people. And we have to say thank you. We have to say thank for the father and sister who care the people. It is the. Good ply, I think, 

 

Host  1:10:02 

right? And you've, you know, it's interesting because you talk about being Ba Mar, Rakhine, in your case, being Buddhist, coming to a Christian, Karenni, ethnic state. You've never been. You mentioned how the Karenni word for, well, the Karenni, the Karenni word for ba Mar, a soldier. It's a synonym. The you say soldier means ba Mar. There's no distinguishing. So there's this mistrust at the start. And you have been on this journey where, where as a BA Mar, Buddhist, Rakhine, ba Mar, Buddhist coming to Karenni, Christian territory. You, on a personal, grassroots level, you've made a connection and a bond with that community that will not go away. And this is something that has been lacking in Myanmar's history for so many generations, this inter ethnic, inter religious, inter regional connection and ability to work with each other and build that solidarity. And it strikes me that, as we're hearing from kind of the top levels of, you know, federal democracy in Myanmar, how are these people going to come together? How are they going to not fight after the military and and join and we're hearing a story at the bottom, grassroots of how this, this is actually, this is already happening. This has been happening. And there must be many stories like this that we're not hearing and not knowing of as these people at the top are having their own, you know, theories and fears and concerns. You're telling us things from the ground that are actually happening and working, right? Yes, 

 

1:11:34 

this 

 

Dr. Paung  1:11:35 

is the good results of our revolution, even though we we do not win now this is the good recess of our revolution. I think 

 

Hector  1:11:47 

there's no reason, or there's no discrimination that religions, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:11:51 

right. There is no discrimination at all in in this revolution. But we have facing some discrimination, but we understand this is the lower education of made by sec. You know, our country is how to say by our country is run by the old and the digital. It's good just about five years. 2052 2020 we teach it about the good things, but so now we have been facing some discrimination, but we understand and we overturn this, right? 

 

Host  1:12:39 

And so as you've been in Karenni states so long, have you on a personal level, have you made friendships with with Karenni families? Have you learned any Karani language? Have you do you have favorite Karenni food that you've never tried before? Talk about that? 

 

Dr. Paung  1:12:58 

Pork sausage. Yeah, traditional. 

 

Hector  1:13:02 

Pork interesting. They put grind meat in bed. How do we feed it? Sausage, sausage, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:13:10 

pork, sausage. Kyaw, Kyaw, Kyaw, traditional. And the best thing is about the low can make alcohol, yes, fragment with the fermented, with fermented, honestly, 

 

1:13:28 

the corn, corn, fermented 

 

Host  1:13:31 

alcohol. How does it taste? It 

 

Hector  1:13:33 

is so it smells so nice. It is good, although we don't know how much equal percent it is enjoyed. It also we have a knowledge that, yes, they like to drink. So even they were some trying. How do you see this, their liver, their livers are, how to say cirrhosis, right? Sources of liver they have. Even some women have services or liver. They drink that much when we visit their home and they treat with yes, that, that thing that permanent drink. Yes, we like it. We do like yes, then what about the language we only know about? Like we know Saudi cup or later. Yes, we can. We just We only know yes, that greeting thing, goodbye, that's all 

 

Host 1:14:45 

yes, right, so I thank you so much for this great conversation you've shared so much about your life there. And I think it's so important for listeners to have this, this grassroots ground understanding of what's actually been taking place. It's such a source of hope. On so many levels. And the last question I'd like to ask you is your own personal transformation. I'm just curious to what degree have has this? Has this been a transformative process for you? How have you changed? How have you grown? How have you developed into a different person than you were a few years ago? 

 

Hector  1:15:19 

And during these years, yes, is, you know, it's not like before, right? Is doing before the coup. We have a life. Our life is so how to say so convenient. I'm a student. Yes, I don't have to walk a lot, a lot, and I don't have to deal with a lot of people, and I am a student. I do student things, and he's a doctor, he's doing Doctor things. But after the coup, we have to move to a place where we have never been before, and we have to build community, and we have to treat with other community. We have to already see that accept some familiar foods before i i only eat chicken. I don't eat other meat. Yes, I'm almost a vegetarian. I almost every day I eat vegetables, but in kerani, and they have so much how to say beef, right? But I have to eat this because chickens are so rare, that's why I have to eat beef. I have to change my habits, right? Habits, daily habits, too. They also, they are also the weather. The weather is not like in Yangon, right? The weather is so cold there. And sometimes when it's rainy season, it rain too much, and in cold season, it's really cool, right? We don't quite angle that. We don't even bring our one closes, yes, we didn't expect that. We have to adapt to several things, yes and yes. When we build, when we establish a hospital, hospital setting, we have to do a lot of things, like, now I'm office, like administrative things, right? Yes. When a hospital start, there were no, there were no human resources for like generator management, like fuel management or water. Yeah, it's water. Is really rare. There water. So Suu Scott, no, underwater, yes, no. In this state we they can use underwater this Suu Ray. We have to connection. We have to connect from the water source. We have to do a lot of things for the water supply, fuel supply, and also placements for volunteers as also, yes, generator things and also transportation. A lot of things we have to do a lot of things we cannot like before we are not like I am. I was a student, but I I, I was no longer a student. Right now I'm no longer a student. I have to do a lot of these administrative things. Also, now I'm in the office. I have to do office work and sometimes clinical work when it needs me. Yes, lot of, how do you say this? I have to grow right, grow and adapt to mature. Yes, I have to be mature. I'm no longer young. 

 

Dr. Paung  1:18:41 

We lost our young. Life. 

 

Hector  1:18:43 

We lost our life. You're still 24 yes, we want to be happy, right? Sometimes, yes, we want to miss our parents, but we have to be we have to adapt to that. We miss our parents. Yes, we can, at least. We have to accept that. At least we can call to our moms, dads and on video call. Yes, we have to. We can still be right. The idea still like, so it's, it's lucky I have to accept, accept that yes, it is how you say this, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:19:19 

yes. Bad for me. My dream is to bake at a hospital for the poor people to have the hair system of the government. So buying the gob. Luckily, I How to say, I do my dream in this revolution. So I My dream is coming to you know, we bid at hospital day and we give the medical service to the people who need. Okay, but we have, you know, we have just only idea, and we have know how to do and how to deal with the problem, especially like the human problem. You know, we all are connected with the local and also we are connected with the seniors and juniors and Medicare professionals. So this is the big issue for me to dealing with the people I have no experience at all. And also, you know, we are, we are using the individual donation of the Myanmar people. We do care about this, the financial problem. So this is so difficult for me to use the individual donation of the Myanmar people who suffering from the most type of the crisis in this state. So this is also difficult for me, but we have to do with header and also the we have with our 10 hospital office team, and also the with the we and and the other thing is, we, we have to Do about data collection and data analyzes. You know, before, before, I have no experience at all about this because I, I am newly doubted so, but I do, I have to do tenant collection and data analysis for the future. This is the bit evidence of the SEC make home. Sec make to people. This is the evidence. So we have to collect each and every data of the patient from since 2021 to 2024 and we are trying to analyze this. The data, or how we do medical service in the future, and how we bid the health system in the future in our country. So so many challenges, but we do solving step by instead, with the head of the specialist and with the concept, with each and every set out of the specialist. 

 

Host  1:22:36 

You know that's, I just have to comment on that. That's tremendous that you're not only are you doctors, but if you've already described, you also have to learn how to be engineers and building a new hospital in in the jungle. You also have to learn about security, because you need to learn how to protect it. You also have to be human rights defenders, because you you have to to document these atrocities for the future. You also have to be fundraisers and know how to and you also have to be Import Export specialists, yes, and know how to do this. And then, on top of all of this, you know, the one part of this that really stood out is that you're, you're talking about the how difficult it is to get those donations, to get those supplies, and to get the kind of resources you need. And, you know, I hear this, and I just feel this kind of boiling rage inside me when I think about the United Nations and the ASEAN and the border, you know, the Thai and Indian borders, and just thinking about how there's these millions and millions of dollars that that these large organizations have, and this has been years and years on in this conflict. And you know, they, they are it, just it, it. It drives me crazy and makes me so angry to think that they have not found a way. They have not found a way to be able to navigate those resources to people like you who need them and and, you know, whatever political or other excuses they have of that, it's just it doesn't hold up. So, you know, I'm kind of suppressing my anger and rage a hearing at thinking about how, how hard it's been for you all to do what you're doing so courageously. And you know what, what these larger organizations, international organizations, could and should be doing to help you, even in the smallest amount, and that they're not so I'm I just, I'm curious. While I have you here, I also want to know to what degree, if any, are you following what these larger international organizations are doing or not doing? Are you? Are you aware that there's the possibility of them supporting you, and they're and it's not happening? So you're, you're and, and you're having to deal with that, or. Are you just accepting that? Okay, we're on our own. We're not even going to think about this. We're just going to, we're going to find a way to be self sufficient. Do you do you have, you know, anger or hurt or rage at this, or is it just kind of off to the side? You're just doing your thing. You're not thinking or caring about it. 

 

Dr. Paung  1:25:17 

We are shouting for her for three years. You know, we are asking to have Nimit people since 2021 where I didn't find their head. I want to say one thing, please don't be trapped and at the policy. Do what you can do urgently and immediately. You You can do so many ways. You can give so many ways. Not only SAC, you have to cooperate and collaborate with the national unity government. Mug, you know now we so many city under the control of the people defense forces. So this is the reason our peoples are getting our previous how to say need. They need so many. Their spaces were so many. They forget it, even though no food security and lack of nutrition, and you know, this could impact is so big, you know, everybody knows, like the communicable disease increasing, and also the no food security, no food and drug insecurity. So the incident of non communicable disease, like hypertension, DN, is so increasing, and also so many recently in our hospital, one baby, nine men is dying of me sick meningitis, and one is dying of rabies. So these are the basin preventable disease. So, you know, head is the human Fatima, right? So, and also head is the peace so huge you you have to do, you have to do as much as you can in so many way. There is so many way, not only just one way. 

 

Hector  1:27:34 

And yes, we need a lot of support, because for long term sustainability, right? It is not easy for hospital to last this long. We have to use a lot of fans for fuels, also supplies. Yes, we have to use a lot of lot of lot of fans, every every man, yes, we need a lot of support. And also about the how to say, volunteers, right? Volunteers, how long can they be, keep doing this, right? They have family, yes, yeah. And also one, and they are doing this, they need some pocket menu, right? We give pocket money, but it's so, so small, small amount. It's about like 1000 ba met is the mess. They can use a lot of lot of money, right? Yes, but they won the life too, right? And when I came here, I saw a lot of people having their life really good, right? You're talking 

 

Host  1:28:39 

about Chiang Mai Yes. 

 

Hector  1:28:42 

Talking about Chiang Mai Yes. A lot of people having their life. They live peacefully. They have all, all, how do you see this? Services, right? Even taxi services, easy, internet, easy, food, easy, everything's easy, but, but there in that hospital in Myanmar, everything is not even what that 

 

Dr. Paung  1:29:03 

is so 

 

Hector  1:29:05 

big issue, right? Well, we can hear we can but as much as we can, we can take but, but there we take but, like, once a week, some people are like, like, yes, we have to prioritize for the operation theater, to use water, right, and also the disinfection, right. And that's why people, we have to use water. So. Suu, how do you say that limited you, right? So, so limited. Everything is difficult there. Yes, we need. Yes, we but if we have a proper how do we say this water channel? Big, big pipes, we can assess more water, but we have very limited fans, so we have to use rubber pipes, small pipes. And yes, it takes about a. Day to fill this tank, water tank. Yes, but is, there's a village too, right? The village has this. There are many houses and refugees there. We have to share water too. Yes, everything's difficult there, yes. So yes, we need a lot of supply. And as I mentioned before, the volunteers, they are getting paid. They are not paid. They are all volunteering for three years, right? Yes, they don't have a how do we say the comfort life, the everyday. They have to struggling 

 

Dr. Paung  1:30:35 

with the internet, conflict, conflict with the family and their education, yes, 

 

Hector  1:30:40 

they have left their family in the city, right? And sometimes their mother got sick, their fathers got sick. Hospital, have to hospital life and but we can use, yes, we can do, we all can do it. Just thing, yes, on phone, right? We you call and San advisors, that's all we can give many we can visit them, right? If we visit then we will be arrested by the military, right? So, yes, many issues, yes. Also some volunteer, I think they want to give up the revolution, right? Because it's taking too long, and they have to walk, really much, so so much, even sometimes, yes, they can sleep for three days, like this hospital works, as you know, it's very, very How do you say this busy, right? It's so busy, yes, but they don't get any they are not getting paid, right? They don't get any money, yes. So they are sometimes they feel depressed. They cannot support their family, yes, yes. Most of the volunteer fees, like, right, yes. As the as it taking longer, longer for the revolution. Getting longer the longer the revolution. Yes, the Suu. Suu, how do we say this depressed? They are so depressed, and he wants to go home some event, even leave revolution and have a life started, a life in time, or something like that. They want to give up. Yes. So do we? We have, we are not having a good life, right? We are so busy, even I can continue my education, doing all these office things, hospital administrative things. Yes, I'm a student, right? I have to continue to get a bachelor degree, but I can continue. Yes, we we do a lot of things. We are so busy. Yes, we got no pocket money. And also we are we have so limited friends for the long term sustainability. 

 

Dr. Paung  1:32:59 

Yes, not only many we want and we need education platforms for our continuous medical education. Yes, I want to study public health in Thailand, bad Aung after revelation, I have to study because, you know, you can choose one 

 

1:33:23 

way. So 

 

Dr. Paung  1:33:25 

so many things we need, and we have been facing financial crisis, three time energy, yeah, sometimes we have, we have no money for kitchen, yes, so sometimes we have no money for food of our hospital members. So it is so so suffocating me. Is it so suffocate from getting no idea, I have no idea, and I think, what can I do? So it 

 

1:34:10 

is the biggest issue we've been facing, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:34:12 

for a long time. You know, said about that bad, bad, but we have to do we have to do we. We have to do 

 

1:34:27 

this. 

 

Dr. Paung  1:34:31 

We, we make decision. We made decision. We went to Aung, we go but 

 

Hector  1:34:40 

we win and you will win. We remain committed to our mission, yes, yes, until we win. Yes, although I want to give up, but I will still remain committed to my mission until we win. As you see, yes, this is the visual, clear contribution you can change that. I. As 

 

Dr. Paung  1:35:00 

a human being. Same time we went, get back bad, but no, we have to do 

 

1:35:08 

and then we win. Yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:35:10 

one day we come back to Yangon, see mother. 

 

Host 1:35:17 

Yes, I'll meet you there. Yeah. So 

 

Dr. Paung  1:35:23 

see you in Yangon. Thank you for thank thank you for sharing our feelings and our agbery in this crisis situation in Myanmar after coup. So very thank you to you, and thank you for all the audience of inside Myanmar, and thank you for your time. And this is how Myanmar Gen, how Myanmar, people are struggling in this crisis situation, and so this is I just want to share internationally. I don't want, I don't want. This is not an entertainment. This is real, real life, not entertainment. I mean, you know, this is not entertainment. This is how Myanmar PB, are struggling with the coup and struggling with the digital ship. So I hope, and I think this broadcasting support our revolution. I think I hope this broadcasting support our way back home. Thank you. 

 

Hector  1:37:00 

Okay. Thank you for talking with us. Thank you for listening online English. Sorry for truly apologize for my grammar mistake. Yes, yes to the listeners. I want to apologize for my English. As I mentioned before, yes, all these people in Kenya are doing noble jobs, saving life, but they are not getting paid. They are doing it for free, and they have to risk their life too. They have to leave let they have to leave their parents, families in their city. Yes. So this is, this is the voices i i want to mention my voices were. Did this sentence represent all of them, I think, and thank you, actually, is in we pronounce Luca. Luca means in Ba means in Burmese, Luca, we just trick this name. Luca mean, like means can come and came, and how you say 

 

Dr. Paung  1:38:19 

Cami, inviting. Can cure patients, patients and daughters. 

 

Hector  1:38:24 

Can we invite all patients, all the doctors can cure, can cure and go back. Suu, we tend it back and Luca. Luca, okay, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:38:39 

that's right, we, we don't know about this name in Christian Yes, yes, yes. He is, he is saying yes. And he is also physician in his 

 

1:38:52 

era, yeah. So it's good. It's the same, right? People, yes, 

 

Dr. Paung  1:39:00 

but we don't eat, and this we we are just inviting Chem camp for Good fishes and daughters. So we need medical profession. 

 

Host  1:39:20 

Many listeners know that in addition to running these podcast episodes, we also run a non profit, Better Burma, which carries out humanitarian projects across Myanmar, while we regularly post about current needs and proposals from groups on the ground, we also handle emergency requests, often in matters that are quite literally life or death when. Those urgent requests come in, we have no time to conduct targeted fundraisers, as these funds are often needed within hours. So please consider helping us to maintain this emergency fund. We want to stress that literally any amount you can give allows us to respond more flexibly and effectively when disaster strikes. If you would like to join in our mission to support those in Myanmar who are being impacted by the military coup. We welcome your contribution in any form, currency or transfer method, Your donation will go on to support a wide range of humanitarian and media missions, aiding those local communities who need it most. Donations are directed to such causes as the Civil Disobedience movement. CBM, families of deceased victims, internally displaced person IDP camps, food for impoverished communities, military defection campaigns, undercover journalists, refugee camps, monasteries and nunneries, education initiatives, the purchasing of protective equipment and medical supplies, COVID relief and more. We also make sure that our donation Fund supports a diverse range of religious and ethnic groups across the country. We invite you to visit our website to learn more about past projects as well as upcoming needs. You can give a general donation or earmark your contribution to a specific activity or project you would like to support, perhaps even something you heard about in this very episode. All of this humanitarian work is carried out by our non profit mission, Better Burma. Any donation you give on our Insight Myanmar website is directed towards this fund. Alternatively, you can also visit the Better Burma website, betterburma.org and donate directly there. In either case, your donation goes to the same cause, and both websites accept credit card you can also give via PayPal, by going to paypal.me/betterburma. Additionally, we can take donations through Patreon, Venmo, GoFundMe and Cash App. Simply search Better Burma on each platform, and you'll find our account. You can also visit either website for specific links to these respective accounts, or email us at info, at betterburma.org. That's Better Burma, one word spelled B, E T, T, E R, B, U, R, M, A.org. If you would like to give it another way, please contact us. We also invite you to check out our range of handicrafts that are sourced from vulnerable artisan communities across Myanmar, available at alokacrafts.com we any purchase will not only support these artisan communities, but also our nonprofit wider mission that's a local crafts spelled, A, L, O, K, A, C, R, A, F, T, S, one word, alokacrafts.com Thank You so much for your kind consideration and support. 

Shwe Lan Ga LayComment