Finally, a family of five can live together…Three years after fleeing Myanmar, refugee Pyo Pyo has arrived in Japan: Tokyo Shimbun TOKYO Web

Pyo Pyo (33), who left Myanmar after a military coup three years ago and was living as a refugee in Thailand with her three young children, moved to Japan where her husband is and began the life she had been waiting for with her family. Ta. Although she was concerned about the situation in her home country, where the civil war is intensifying, she expressed her joy by saying, “It’s fun to live together.” (Seishi Kitagawa)

◆The support money received was “a huge help”

The story of Pyo Pyo and others isFeatured on September 23, 2023. Readers donated money to support Pyo Pyo and others who appeared in the article.

Pyo Pyo, who received the equivalent of 50,000 yen through overseas remittance, once again expressed his gratitude, saying, “At the time, I didn’t have any cash on hand, so it was a great help.”

Gong Aung (63), whose husband once joined the democracy movement in Myanmar, defected to Japan and was recognized as a refugee in 1998. The two met after Myanmar transitioned to civilian rule in 2011 and got married in the country.

◆Life in Thailand where I was worried that I might be arrested by the police

However, due to the chaos following the coup in February 2021, the family fled to another country. Gong Aung returned to Japan. Pyo Pyo, whose passport had expired, took his children and smuggled them into the country to live with relatives in northwestern Thailand.

Life was stressful as she was solely responsible for raising three children. “I was scared because I might be arrested by the police because I was an illegal resident. I couldn’t go out and I was worried about my children’s education,” Pyo Pyo recalled.

With the help of relatives in her home country and a Japanese lawyer with expertise in refugee issues, she obtained a legitimate passport and visa and arrived in Tokyo in February of this year. She started living with her husband and her eldest daughter (5), eldest son (2), and second son (1). She says she will soon apply for refugee status.

Pyo Pyo smiles and says, “In Japan, we let our children play outside in the park.” Gong-Aung, who lived alone, showed the video to reporters and asked them to understand it. “When I get home from work at night and open the door to my apartment, all the kids come running in.”

Pyo Pyo and others prayed for peace to come to their home country for the sake of their compatriots who continue to live as refugees in Thailand.