Name: Lahpoi Ja Seng

Age: 36

Ethnicity: Kachin

Family: Married with 5 children

Before sunrise at 4am on June 10, 2011 Lahpai fled her home in a nearby Kachin village with her 5 children.  They were not forced or asked to leave.  They fled from fear of arrest, kidnap and potential violence.  Her husband stayed at home to look after their house and farm.  They walked through the jungle with several other families from her village.  They walked for 11 hours, stopping only briefly to rest, eat leftover rice and drink water.  They carried a few extra sets of clothes, some prepared food and around 5,000 kyat (US $64).  They brought no cooking pots or bedding material.   They arrived at an IDP hide site at 5pm that evening.  Her children suffered from headache, fatigue and diarrhea.  Many other families were staying at that hide site in temporary shelters constructed by the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO).   Lahpai and her children were led to a barren stall in a vacated, outdoor market where around 160 other people were staying.  They were given a 12’ by 12’ area to sleep and store their belongings.  They were also provided food, blanket, sleeping mat and mosquito net.  A medical clinic and temporary school is also available to them there.  Every 3 days Lahpai’s husband comes to visit and play with the children. 

Before she left her home, Lahpai heard gunshots and bombs near her house but did not see any soldiers.  She has never suffered any past abuse from the Burma army.  She and her family are Christian and her village is made up of Baptists and Catholics.  Her church congregation is around 20 members.  Lahpai spends her days sitting around with other displaced families and looking after the children.  She hopes to go back to her village soon and she worries for her husband, her home and her farm.

“I want independence and equal rights.” 

 “I am thankful I have never suffered from SPDC before, I know God protects me.” 

“The government is not fair and they do not treat us with equal rights.  Please pray for freedom and equal rights.”

(Names and exact locations changed or withheld for security)

A man carries a bag with rice and clothes in Dooplaya District, Karen State, Burma on December 12, 2010 . This man, along with over 200 others are living internally displaced as of earlier this month, leaving behind their homes and everything they own that could not be swiftly carried. Seen in the background are the temporary shelters they will call home for who knows how long, constructed of only green bamboo and a single tarp. (Names and exact locations withheld for security)