Naw Yi Aye grew up in a remote village in Karen State as the third of five children. She remembers happy times in her childhood singing and playing in the village with her friends. Her parents passed away when she was four years old, and she was heartbroken when her youngest sister was adopted by another family.
She and her other siblings went to live with her grandparents. There was fighting in the area, and other villages were set on fire. This made it too difficult for Naw Yi to attend school as the nearest school was in another distant village. Instead, Naw Yi grew up helping around the house, raising the cows and buffalo. She got married when she was 20 years old and treasures it as a happy moment. She has three children.
Naw Yi’s husband, a Karen soldier, was killed in the 1990s during the conflict with the Myanmar army. After his death, Naw Yi and her family struggled to survive. Naw Yi was elected to be Village Head. She led village women to act as security guards for the village and acted as the chief liaison with soldiers passing through.
When the Myanmar army came to her village, they demanded rations – chickens, pigs, and even cows. Naw Yi and the other women had to carry them to the local army base. At other times, the Myanmar army soldiers questioned Naw Yi and villagers about Karen soldiers. If they refused to provide information, they were beaten. Army soldiers shot and killed Naw Yi’s nephew. Naw Yi acknowledges that she has overcome many struggles and is happy to have survived.
The scars on Naw Yi’s head and left thumb are evidence of the beatings she received from the Myanmar army while Village Head. Her body also carries the scars and markings of a lifetime spent working on the farm, and of tumours that developed and were removed in her later years. She finds joy in her bird and peacock tattoos, which she got to beautify herself.
“I am a tree because I am protecting and supporting my children, my grandchildren, and my community.”
Naw Yi hopes to have her own house one day, and a school in her community – dreams which she has drawn in detail on her body map. She wishes for peace in her country.
