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[Interview carried out by Raluca Enescu] 

Harn Yawnghwe is the youngest son of Sao Shwe Thaike, the last ruler of the ancient kingdom of Yawnghwe.

Harn escaped to Thailand in 1963 at the age of fifteen, after the Burmese military seized power, killed his brother and arrested his father, who died in prison. He was granted political asylum in Canada in 1969. He has served at the highest level in Burma’s exiled democracy movement.

From 1991-2002 he was special advisor to Dr Sein Win, Burma’s Prime Minister in exile, and for the last 4 years has been a senior advisor to the leadership of Burma’s many ethnic nationalities. He is also Director of the Euro-Burma Office in Brussels, which promotes democratic development in Burma.

Although he has faced oppression and prosecution, although he has seen suffering right in front of his eyes and has lived it, Harn Yawnghwe remains positive. Impressing a whole world with his conviction, his wisdom, good sense and optimism, he is and will always remain an inspirational figure for all those who are hoping and fighting for democracy in Burma.

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Burma Digest: So much time has gone by since February 7 1947...A lot of changes have occurred, and many of them have been very painful and unfair.  What are your thoughts and impression over all these years?

Sao Harn: What are my thoughts?  I feel that the leaders of Burma from Prime Minister U Nu in 1948, to General Ne Win in 1962, to General Than Shwe (now), have missed the opportunity to build a peaceful and prosperous nation based on mutual respect, understanding, and cooperation. As a result, the people of Burma are suffering unnecessarily.

Burma Digest: In which way the image of your father, Sao Shwe Thaike, has influenced you and your actions concerning freedom for Burma?

Sao Harn: My father put the interest of Burma, and the Shan State, before his personal interest. It is an example for me to put the interest of others before my own interests.

Burma Digest: You and your family, you have suffered enormously for the only fault of being who you are and hoping for freedom...Trough all these years, how did you manage to remain strong and keep on following the struggle for freedom, pursuing democratic and non-violent political solutions?

Sao Harn: I am a follower of Jesus Christ. Knowing that God is ultimately in control, has helped me to continue working and doing when I believe to be right, even when everything else is in darkness.

Burma Digest: I know that from 1991-2002 you've been special advisor to Dr Sein Win, Burma's Prime Minister in exile. What are your thoughts, feelings and memories about this period of your life?

Sao Harn: I did the best I could to help the NCGUB to be an effective organization.  There were some successes and many failures. But I have no regrets. We have to continue in whatever way we can until change comes to Burma.

Burma Digest: How do you feel about the struggle for democracy in Burma? Is getting involved, for you, a moral duty? A destiny?

Sao Harn: I feel that I am very privileged compared to the people of Burma who are suffering. I feel it is a duty and a moral obligation to help those less fortunate than me.

Burma Digest: What comes into your mind when you think about the future of Burma? What do you think the country will be like in, let's say, twenty years from now?

Sao Harn: It is not too late. If we can bring about change now, in twenty years, Burma can still be a peaceful and prosperous country.

Burma Digest: What can we, citizens of the world, do in order to help Burmese and Shan's people struggle for freedom, democracy and rights?

Sao Harn: What you are doing is what people can do. The more people know about what is happening, the more pressure can be brought on the military regime. They need to know that the rest of the world will not tolerate their behaviour.

Burma Digest: Is there anything you would like to say to the readers of the article?

Sao Harn: Thank you for your interest, and as Aung San Suu Kyi said, please use your freedom to promote the freedom of the people of Burma.