Author: Emily Fishbein

In the midst of the political turmoil in Myanmar, Brang, a university student from Kachin State, found himself caught in a web of human trafficking. Deceived by a friend, he was lured into a scamming company in Laukkai, where he was forced to work long hours targeting vulnerable women on Chinese social media. Beaten and humiliated by his bosses for failing to meet their demands, Brang eventually became a reluctant bodyguard for the same individuals who held him captive. The experience left him resentful and traumatized, prompting his escape to Malaysia where he now lives in fear of deportation and…

The renewed fighting in Rakhine State since November has left young people like Thura Maung and Zubair struggling for survival. Thura Maung, an ethnic Rakhine, fled his home in Myebon multiple times to escape the military and AA clashes, while Zubair, an ethnic Rohingya, faced threats of conscription and violence. With the military crackdown on Rohingya men and escalating violence in the region, both Thura Maung and Zubair had to leave Rakhine State in search of safety. Thura Maung found himself arrested by the military upon his return to the state, while Zubair sought refuge in a camp in Bangladesh.…