When the Covid-19 pandemic and the political conflict happened in Myanmar, formerly Burma, many people suffered economically, physically, mentally and emotionally. Among the most affected were the young people who wanted to finish their education to get a highly-paid job. However, the pandemic and political conflict did not permit them to do what they wanted to do. They had to stop going to school when all the schools were closed as mandated by the government.
Many of these young people lost their hopes and dreams because they could not continue to study. One of them was Henry. I knew him when I was assigned to Banmaw, Kachin State back in 2019. Henry was a very friendly guy. He was an English student of one of my companions. He was also my language interchange student when I was studying the Kachin language.
When I first met Henry, he had already graduated from secondary school and was preparing for the matriculation exam. Although he was a smart guy, Henry failed the examination and could not proceed to college to take his desired course. He had to wait for another year to retake the exam.
Having a lot of dreams for his future, Henry enrolled himself in a short medical course in Yangon. He did not want to be bored by doing nothing and planned to wait for the time when he could retake the college entrance exam. At the time, the government policy was so strict because of the various rallies and demonstrations staged by the local people. Even the gathering of a few people was not allowed, and those who gathered could be detained. Henry was living in a shelter where the medical course was offered. Those living in the shelter had to be really careful because during that time some injured people came to the shelter to seek help and asked for medication. There was the risk the government would harass them if they were caught helping those who participated in the rally.
On one occasion the shelter experienced a surprise check by the military. Luckily, those living in the shelter managed it well. A few months after completing the medical course Henry did his “on-the-job” training in some rural areas. These were not ordinary places.
In these places, there were many conflicts between the local civil group and the government armed group. Henry usually encountered conflicts between the two groups and there were times when bombs exploded near where the medical team had their tents. He helped not only the local people but, during the night, also those soldiers from the civil armed group who were wounded.
He was like many young people in Myanmar who did not stop dreaming of living peacefully and simply, despite the greed of those in authority who unjustly took away the best part of their lives.
During his stay in some villages, Henry met people working for various non-government organizations (NGOs) who also helped in providing medical support to the people. He made friends with them, and some of them encouraged him to go abroad. Because of that, he got the courage to take the risk of going out of Myanmar illegally by crossing the border. He eventually reached Thailand to seek asylum and stayed in one of the migrant centers there. He waited for more than two months, but nothing happened about his request for asylum because he did not have all the required documents. He was asked to go back to Myanmar to get the necessary papers. He could not do anything but return to his country of origin. He hesitated to return to his hometown because he was afraid he might get caught by the authorities because of his work. However, he decided to go back to his family and quietly tried to live his life as a normal young man.
When I learned that Henry had returned to Myanmar, I contacted him and asked him if I could write his story. He told me he was happy for me to share it. He even sent me some of his “action photos.” Even now, I still find it hard to accept that that would be my last conversation with him. In March 2024, I got the shock of my life with the sad news that Henry passed away due to a complicated illness. He died in the hospital in Banmaw, along with his dream of living happily in a peaceful country. Sadly, he could never taste the freedom that he longed for.
As a son, a brother, a friend, a servant and a young hero, for me, Henry is a great model. He was like many young people in Myanmar who did not stop dreaming of living peacefully and simply, despite the greed of those in authority who unjustly took away the best part of their lives. Indeed, Henry fought a good fight without resorting to violence. He did it well in his own quiet and humble way. May his soul rest in peace.
At the moment, most of the young people in Myanmar are living in fear because recently the situation is becoming worse and worse every day. They are afraid that they might be taken forcefully to become either a government military soldier or a member of one of the local armed groups. We keep praying for the peace of the Risen Christ to reign in Myanmar soon.
Columban lay missionary Michael Javier lives and works in Myanmar.