Despite the efforts of the international aid agencies and local activists alike, the situation of Rohingya people in Myanmar remains dire. As the UN struggles to achieve justice for Rohingya displaced persons and refugees, oppressed by their own government, the unstoppable 2018 Aurora Prize Laureate quietly continues doing all in his power to ensure a brighter future for his people.
It’s been a year since Kyaw Hla Aung was named the 2018 Aurora Prize Laureate at a sunrise ceremony called “Aurora: Awakening Humanity” that took place outside Yerevan, as close to Mount Ararat as it’s possible to get within Armenia’s borders. As the Laureate, he received a $100,000 grant and the opportunity to continue the cycle of giving by donating the accompanying $1,000,000 award to organizations of his choice. He decided to divide the award among three international charities that provide medical aid and assistance to Rohingya refugees: Médecins Sans Frontières, MERCY Malaysia and International Catholic Migration Commission (ICMC). This sizeable contribution has made a big impact on the life of his community.
“I was able to donate the $1 million to three NGOs doing humanitarian work, which I could not do by myself in the past. My family members also benefited from the $100,000 grant, both in terms of their humanitarian activity and dealing with family issues,” says Kyaw Hla Aung. “When I was recognized as the Aurora Prize Laureate, our people got strength and support at the international level to defend their rights, even though there hasn’t been any great success yet. The situation is still tense. We are still trying to resolve the crisis through non-violent means, but it will take time.”
The biggest issue he’s currently facing is the obstruction of movement for the Rohingya, who are severely restricted by the limitations imposed by the Myanmar authorities. “In February 2019, I attended an event organized by The Center for Diversity and National Harmony (CDNH) and met with some government representatives. I asked the authorities to allow the Muslims to travel with their National Registration Cards without restriction and to vote in elections. I also urged the government to issue birth certificates to newborn children,” explains Kyaw Hla Aung.
He is not as satisfied with the results, mostly because the turmoil in Myanmar’s Rakhine State still obstructs his more ambitious plans. The government keeps promising to close down the IDP camps and help their Rohingya inhabitants return to normal life, but little has actually been done to achieve that. So little, in fact, that the exasperated international community has turned to threats, with the UN claiming that it would withdraw any except for the most crucial aid unless tangible progress is made “on the fundamental issue of freedom of movement,” according to The Guardian.
“I am disappointed because I could not work effectively inside the country, since there are battles in the Rakhine State,” admits Kyaw Hla Aung. “During this year, I could not do much because of the conflict. We have to acknowledge that threat, and because of such problems, we had to minimize our activity this year. It also depends on other donors, and we couldn’t get donors to assist us. Without sufficient funds, humanitarian work cannot be impactful.”
For a Rohingya in Myanmar, as Kyaw is, humanitarian work is not the safest option right now. But Kyaw’s story and his global recognition has proven to be inspirational to his community. Many of his compatriots have joined him in his efforts. “My story has inspired people who are active in different fields and showed them the right way to do their work more effectively. The Aurora Prize has had a meaningful impact. Some of our educational work inside the country is ongoing. In fact, the education program is working well, but we do need to move forward and become more empowered to resolve the problems,” says the activist.
Selflessness obviously runs in the family, as Kyaw’s son now follows in his steps, having dedicated himself to fighting for human rights, security and peace in the region, albeit from outside of the country. “The Aurora Humanitarian Initiative gave strength to me, my sons and our community. My son is now based in Thailand where he can work effectively throughout the Southeast Asia. He has used some of the grant money to support his activities aimed at stopping human trafficking and terrorism prevention. He works there on behalf of me,” beams the proud father. If he’s anything like his dad, there is no doubt he’s doing a great job.