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Remarks by Ms. Hoffman in Honor of World Refugee Day
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For Immediate Release Office of the First Lady June 23, 2008

Remarks by Ms. Hoffman in Honor of World Refugee Day East Garden


˙˙Photos ˙˙Audio

Click here to listen

June 20, 2008

MS. HOFFMAN: Good morning, everyone. This morning I want to talk about why
I become a refugee, and also my experience settling in U.S.

Both of my parents lived in Burma. The Burmese military does not like our
Karen people or any other minority ethnic groups in Burma, so they want to
ethnically cleanse the country.

The Burmese soldiers come to our Karen village to torture, rape and kill.
They use our villagers as forced labor for carrying weapons, building roads
and even oil lines. Both of my parents forced to be a porter of the Burmese
soldiers, who beat my father until he almost died. Thankfully, he was able
to escape.

After the Burmese soldiers stole everything they want from our village,
they burned them down to the ground. My village was also burned, so my
parents fled to Thailand and lived in refugee camp.

I was born in refugee camp and lived there for my whole live. Our camp was
supported by U.N.; they gave us food and place to live. But we still had to
scare of the Burmese soldiers, because our camp was so near to the border.
Sometimes, at nighttime, they will attack our camp, shooting peoples and
burning house. There is many time I still remember having to run and hide
in cave and watch my house was burned down to the ground. One time, as a
young girl, I was almost nearly killed by a mortar that fired in our camp,
but God protected me.

Life in camp was very poor. There is no job, not enough food, and many died
of disease every years. We were surrounded by a barbed-wife fence and not
allowed to leave. It was just like a jail. If we tried to leave, the Thai
soldier will arrest us and treat us badly. Also, the Thai soldiers will
occasionally rape young girl in camps. We always lived in camp in fears,
but what could we do? If we tried to live in Thailand, the Thai will arrest
us because we are not a Thai citizen. And if we go back to Burma, the
Burmese military will arrest us and kill us because we are Karen.

In December 2006, the United States of America opened its arms and gave our
Karen people opportunity to escape and live in this country. I applied to
come to America, but to be accepted I have to do two interview and medical
check. Many peoples failed the medical check and have to stay in camp.
Fortunately I passed, so I'm able to come to America. After six months I
received wonderful news that I could come to America, and I arrived in
United States on June 19, 2007. It's a true miracle of God. A month later
they brought my family to United States as well.

The U.S. government helped me with medicals and food bills for almost one
years. I am very grateful to President Bush and the people of America to
allow me to stay in this wonderful country.

A few months after my arrival, it was difficult to find a job. But several
months later, I found one. It was very badly treating, so I have to quit.
Now I have a wonderful job at Starbucks, so I am able to provide my own
basic needs.

I love America. I can go anywhere in United States and not worry about
being checkpoints or being arrested. I'm so thrilled and so excited, I
can't wait to become a citizen of this wonderful country.

I want to be a part of a country that give people rights and freedom.
Today, on behalf of the Karen people, I want to thank President Bush, the
U.N., the International Rescue Committee, and the people of America for all
your help in give me freedom. Most importantly, I want to thank God for all
his grace.

Please don't forget my people in Burma who are still suffering. Thank you.
(Applause.)

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