INDONESIA

Former Political Prisoners in Burma Struggle to Find Jobs

Former Political Prisoners in Burma Struggle to Find Jobs

Since Myanmar’s President Thein Sein came to power in 2011, over nine hundred political prisoners have been released.

But many who have been freed are struggling to fit back into society.

Win Zaw Naing still remembers his first night in prison.

“It was evening when I entered the jail. I had no meal at all Butt wasn’t. and when a plate of rice was put in front of me, I though it was a fried rice. But it wasn’t. The rice was a red color because it was totally cold and dry.”

After joining the 2007 monk-led uprising against the government he went into hiding.

But two years later he was captured by government spies and sentenced to 15 years in prison.  He was released last year in a presidential amnesty.

“I decided that I would not belong to any political party when I was released. I taught myself journalism. I read some books, and studied from some senior journalists in prison.”

But after being released it was difficult to find work.

“It was really hard to get a job. I had to wait for a year. Some journals didn’t want to employ me because I was a political prisoner. I was not a graduate.”

Employers often don’t want to be associated with former political prisoners as they fear reprisals from the government.

Hlaing Win Swe had a similar experience.  He was jailed for taking part in the anti-government student movement of 1998.  He spent 14 years in jail before being released last year.

“When I was released, I was already nearly forty years old. It was not easy to find a job.”

Most political prisoners were students when they were jailed.

And years in prison, often being beaten and kept in solitary confinement have taken their toll on their mental health.

“Our problem is we have no capacity. And our brains are not good enough to learn new skills.”

Many suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder.

With no rehabilitation programme, many former prisoners end up on the streets, homeless and jobless.

Win Zaw Naing and Hlaing Win Swe are among the relatively lucky ones. After sometime they have been able to find work.

Win Zaw Naing is now a journalist for the Venus News Journal.

“At the moment, I report on events. I need more experience to write opinion pieces using my own perspective.”

And Hlaing Win Swe has plans to become a taxi driver.

“For my next step, I am thinking of taking a driving course. If I can drive, I can make a relatively good income.”

The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners is a group that helps former political prisoners get back on their feet.

“Their thinking, their intelligence was internally killed,” says Bo Kyi, the Assistant General Secretary for the Association.

“When they were freed, they had no knowledge or expertise at all. Their rights are not granted. And they are still under the eyes of spies, and government guys, some employers do not employ them because they are under pressure not to do so.”

The group provides vocational training to former political prisoners.

“Some are learning a new skills in repairing mobile phones. And some choose to be trishaw operators, some are starting small businesses, and some are now in agriculture and animal husbandry. We are helping them as much as we can.”

Since coming to power President Thein Sein has released hundreds of political prisoners. But two hundred still remain behind bars.

Many feel they are being used as political tools – only released at times of diplomatic or state visits....and once released they are given no help from the government.

“The government should recognise the existence of this serious problem. Secondly, parliament should recognize it. After that the parliament should allocate the budget for this project. And the effort will be more effective.

Without proper help, the people who were imprisoned for speaking out against injustice and oppression are left jobless and vulnerable.




  • Burma political prisoners
  • life outside prison

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