Since the Army is not for generating employment, it is a challenge for the survival of the soldier’s wives and children. Mi Pein Say said her daughter only 16 years of age has gone to Thailand to earn for the family because they are living as refugees and have nothing to do to eke out a living.
According to Mi Pein Say the poverty of her family is a lot different from others because her husband, is a soldier with the Mon National Liberation Army. He cannot take care of them and is always away on duty.
“My daughter got only five grades and she had to quit school. There is little I can do, given my family’s difficulties” she says.
Mi Pein Say, who has been living in Pla Don Phide refugee camp on the Thai- Burma border with five daughters, said there is no leisure or holiday for her because she has to work in the vegetable yard at the back of her house everyday to meet her daily expenditure. With support from the Mon Relief and Development Committee one can get a can of rice for one person each month helping her to feed her daughters.
At age 40, Mi Pein Say looks much older and her eyes turn red with emotion begining to wet with tears when she talks of being a wife of a soldier. “Our meal usually does not include any meat. My daughters sometimes finish a meal of salt and rice”.
However, they can eat better when her husband gets some money by ration from the New Mon State Party, she said. Many soldiers’ wives face much the same thing that Mi Pein does.
Mi Win lives in Pla Don Phide refugee camp with her three year old daughter in a house with a width of 10 lengths (eighteen inches is one length) around which she has used palm leaf flaps for roofing. She said that her life is full of problems because her husband could not support her with his ration.
“My job is not stable. I do anything people ask me such as harvesting, looking for bamboo shoots. It is seasonal work”.
In the summer usually, she takes her daughter into the forest to find broom plants because there is no one to take care of her.
“I carry the broom plants on my back and carry my daughter in the front. I have to climb mountains to get the plants”.
Even though her life is hard, Mi Win has never argued with her husband because he cannot meet household expenses. “As my husband has decided to serve the Mon people, I want him to continue his duty until he gets a suitable position in the Army”.
Mon National Liberation Army soldier, Seik Lyeh Done said for unmarried soldiers it is not a major problem but those who are married face difficulties in supporting the family. It is a lot of trouble for the soldiers’ wives who have no education and skills for business.
A soldier’s wife, Mi Than Aye has been living in Sandkhlaburi, Thailand. She said that their life is a little easier after the New Mon State Party had a cease-fire agreement with the State Peace and Development Council.
“I am sad and feel sorry for my sons when I see other families celebrate the traditional festival together. My husband cannot come home because he is usually on duty,” she heaved a sigh. Tears welling up she said, “I feel better when I think my husband is working for the entire Mon nationality”.
Mhen Jhon Htaw, a soldier’s son aged 20 years said he lost the chance to study because he has to sell vegetable and take care of his brother and help his mother. He said, “I am very proud of my mother because she can take the suffering caused by my father’s occupation. I am proud of my father as well because he is enthusiastic to save Mon people from the military rulers.”
He said he feels sad at the same time because his family -- mother, father and brothers have not yet got a chance to live together and affectionately like other families.
Mi Pein Say said she has borne eleven babies and only five of them were born with their father around. Since he is always away from home the children are not familiar with him.
“I can tell him to quit the army but I do not because I am proud because he works for the Mon people”.
