Little Daughter: A Memoir of Survival in Burma and the West
(By Zoya Phan)
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| Author | Zoya Phan |
Zoya Phan was born in the remote jungles of Burma to the Karen tribe. For decades the Karen have been under attack from Burma's military junta; Zoya's mother was a guerrilla soldier, her father a freedom activist. Many Karen are Christian or Buddhist, but Zoya's parents were animist, venerating the spirits of the forest, river and moon, and the family lived in a bamboo hut on stilts by the Moei River. Her early years were blissfully removed from the war.
At the age of 14, however, Zoya's childhood was shattered as the Burma army attacked. With their house in flames, Zoya and her family fled. So began two terrible years of running from guns, as Zoya joined thousands of refugees hiding in the jungle. Her family scattered, Zoya sought sanctuary across the border in a Thai refugee camp. Zoya, a gifted pupil, was eventually able to escape, first to Bangkok and then, with her enemies still pursuing her, in 2004 she fled to the UK and claimed asylum.
The following year, at a 'free Burma' march, she was plucked form the crowd to appear on BBC, the first of countless interview with the world's media. She became the face of a nation enslaved, rubbing shoulders with presidents and film stars.
Zoya Phan, now 28, lives in London and works for the human rights organisation Burma Campaign UK.”
