PREVIEW

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Headline: Chinese-Burmese In Taiwan Stands With Burmese Protesters

Caption: “When the respirator is on, I can feel how exhausting, suffocating the protesters in Myanmar have been in recent months, even though I am in Taiwan.”, says Aye Thu Mon Han, a Chinese-Burmese who has been inspired by pro democracy activist, Nobel Peace Prize awardee Aung San Sui Kyi to open a community service centre supporting for Burmese fleeing to and staying in Taiwan, in New Taipei, Taiwan, 25 April 2021. The centre offering community supports for overseas-Chinese Burmese has seen an downward shift of escapists and travellers from Myanmar due to lockdowns for the Covid-19 pandemic and the ongoing deadly coup in the country. According to Mon Han, they usuallypay for a stay at their rooms to avoid political suppression, With a significant downturn in revenue, she has been taking part time jobs together with her husband for covering expenses of the community centre. Weeping whispery whilst speaking, she said she “wants the world to feel the same pain through her emotions. “It’s just a 20 year old kid who took part in the protest and he was killed. They (the military) were cruel ”, said Aye Thu Mon Han as she recalled the military brutality. She has been overwhelmed by footage of the military conducting arbitrary murders, arrests of across Myanmar. Speaking of eduction, Aye Thu Mon Han has learnt a lot about democracy and the confidence to do things without fear from Aung San Suu Kyi. Aye Thu Mon Han established her marriage with her Taiwanese husbands many years ago and decided to help accommodate new Burmese to Taiwan in terms of languages, culture and daily needs. For now, Aye Thu Mon Han has grown to be courageous in organising assemblies, protests against the military coup as well as fundraising events for the Burmese community.

Keywords: portrait, story, photo story

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