Pray Reh: His Journey to EMBARC

By: Nayelie Valenzuela

We continue to share the people’s journey in our Myanmar (Burma) community. Today we highlight one of our community members, Pray Reh.

Pray Reh uses our Access Clinic regularly, noting that EMBARC has helped with many situations Reh was in.

When asked about his experience of his journey as a refugee, Reh shared with us that he fled Myanmar around 1996. Reh lived with his family in a village where farmers resided. The village and his family’s barn were burned down in a deliberate attack by the Burmese military. To put things into perspective, burning villages and towns were considered “minor attacks,” with larger attacks that were inhumane and atrocious to share.

According to Human Rights Watch and the Karen Human Rights Group, the Burmese military would consistently create dangerous conditions that can constitute war crimes. The country’s leading military would, and still to this day, convict and hold prisoners – sentencing them to serve as porters, or wan hsawn, at the front lines of their practice against ethnic minority populations, using them as “human-shields” to transport supplies, enter first as the possible risk of ambush or landmines, risking their lives without any form of compensation – usually leading the porters to try to escape or face death.

“I can’t live in my family’s village anymore because the enemies [Burmese military] catch the porter, and they caught me three times. That’s why I choose to move to Thailand. I lived in Thailand refugee camp for 13 years.”

It wasn’t until July 6, 2009, that Reh and his family were resettled to the state of Washington. Although it was different than the camp he resided in, there were still many challenges. In 2014, Reh was resettled to Des Moines, Iowa – still facing challenges with which he came to EMBARC for assistance.

“When I came to America, I had a lot of issues because I don’t speak English. I had no car, issues for my basic needs, and I usually stayed in my apartment. I can’t work because of my health, and I am old.”

Reh shared how EMBARC has helped him care for his needs for himself and his family. He regularly visits our walk-in Access Center for any questions or help that he may have. The Access Center is a free, walk-in clinic where volunteers and staff members assist the Burma community in many ways, whether helping fill out applications, calling and settling questions/concerns, or even helping them read and understand their mail and documentation.

“EMBARC can read for me, fill out applications for me, take care of my needs.”

However, there are some things Pray Reh misses from his home country.

“I missed the most are hunting in the forest, fishing and finding wild vegetables while foraging.”

To learn more about our services, check out under the tab “Services” on our website. Translation and interview were provided by Iris Tun and Ruth Fifield, staff of EMBARC.