Interviews with Charm Tong

First of all, the democracy movement in Burma, from my point of view, is comprised of all these movements, you know, inside Burma. And we cannot separate that this is the ethnic movement or democracy movement. It is one movement, you know, comprised of various actors and various groups who want to bring human rights and democratic change in Burma.

The human rights and democracy, you know, and equality will be brought for different ethnic groups as well as, you know, for the whole Burma. If you look at the situation of when we hear this kind of statement, that usually mostly come from the Burma army, that if the Burma army do not maintain their power, the country will break away.

But if we really look at the real situation, the one who is breaking this union is the Burmese military regime, which has been in power, stage a coup, you know, since 1962 until today – even though they announced there will be election inside Burma. But the people have been suffering for, you know, over a half a century. So this is what is really happening.

And I believe that the movement for human rights, for equality and justice, is formed, you know, in Burma. You now, have this diverse action from various groups to bring about change in Burma.

Interviewed August 2010

Charm Tong co-founded the Shan Women’s Action Network, when she was only 17. The organization is dedicated to stopping the exploitation of and violence against women and children in 1999.

Three years later, recognizing that their lack of education leaves the Shan young people more vulnerable to being trafficked or lured into other forms of exploitation, Tong founded the School for Shan State Nationalities Youth. The school works to empower and build the capacity of students to become leaders in their communities. It is regarded as a model for human rights education and training of young people from Burma and elsewhere.

Tong has also been instrumental in launching a campaign to bring attention to the systematic use of rape of Shan women by the Burmese military. The campaign, based on a report called “License to Rape,” has received considerable international attention.

Tong has received several international awards, including the Marie Claire Women of the Year Award and the Reebok Human Rights Award. In October 2005, she met at the White House with President George W. Bush.