Myanmar singer-songwriter Kyar Pauk's path to exile, one treacherous jungle route at a time.
In the aftermath of the 2021 coup that ousted the government in Myanmar, Pauk found himself on the wrong side of the military junta. As a prominent figure in the country's music scene and visual arts community, he had used his platform to speak out against the regime's brutality. But with his words came a price: arrest.
According to Pauk, when the military authorities informed him that they were looking for him, he knew it was time to leave. With no other choice but to flee, Pauk embarked on an 8-hour perilous journey through Thailand's jungle on a small bicycle. The grueling ride served as a stark reminder of the risks he had taken by speaking out against his government.
After two years of living in hiding with his daughters in Thailand, Pauk was finally able to find safety in France. The transition has been significant, however - one that has left him struggling to rebuild a life. "We didn't have a life," he recalls of those formative two years in exile. For Pauk and his daughters, the experience has taken a profound toll on their emotional well-being.
Now living under the relatively safer radar of French law, Pauk acknowledges that he misses the people and fans he left behind in Myanmar. Yet, as one would expect from an individual who had to leave everything behind for speaking out against injustice, there is an air of resilience about his voice now. He seems determined to hold onto his freedom, even if it means navigating a new country with all its complexities.
In the aftermath of the 2021 coup that ousted the government in Myanmar, Pauk found himself on the wrong side of the military junta. As a prominent figure in the country's music scene and visual arts community, he had used his platform to speak out against the regime's brutality. But with his words came a price: arrest.
According to Pauk, when the military authorities informed him that they were looking for him, he knew it was time to leave. With no other choice but to flee, Pauk embarked on an 8-hour perilous journey through Thailand's jungle on a small bicycle. The grueling ride served as a stark reminder of the risks he had taken by speaking out against his government.
After two years of living in hiding with his daughters in Thailand, Pauk was finally able to find safety in France. The transition has been significant, however - one that has left him struggling to rebuild a life. "We didn't have a life," he recalls of those formative two years in exile. For Pauk and his daughters, the experience has taken a profound toll on their emotional well-being.
Now living under the relatively safer radar of French law, Pauk acknowledges that he misses the people and fans he left behind in Myanmar. Yet, as one would expect from an individual who had to leave everything behind for speaking out against injustice, there is an air of resilience about his voice now. He seems determined to hold onto his freedom, even if it means navigating a new country with all its complexities.
he went thru so much 2 speak out against the military junta in Myanmar and now he's living in France under a different identity lol I feel bad for him tho, imagine having 2 leave behind everything u loved & knowin it was all b/c of sayin somethin 
but at the same time, his voice is SO powerful 
he's an inspiration 2 speak truth 2 power even if it means navigatin a new country wit complexities 
can't wait 2 see what he does next! 
he went thru so much 2 speak out against the regime & now he's still finding it hard 2 rebuild his life in france 
i mean, who needs that kinda stress? 
i mean 8 hours on a bike thru the jungle is no joke, you gotta feel for him! 
and his daughters having to go through all that too... it's crazy how ppl can be so cruel. but kudos to him for speaking out against injustice, he's definitely got some serious guts 
. now living in france tho, i hope he finds the peace & stability he deserves 
8 hours on a bike through the jungle is crazy! How did they even survive that?
I feel so bad for him, but at the same time, I'm also super inspired by his bravery! 
. But omg, his voice is SO strong now 
!
the jungle route he took is crazy 
and still speaking out for what's right that takes courage 
. We need more people willing to take risks like him to bring about change 
so this guy Kyar Pauk just had to flee on a bike through the jungle and now he's living in France with his daughters... sounds like a real thrill ride 
. Glad he's found some stability in France, but you have to wonder what kind of 'freedom' feels like when you're hiding from the authorities 
. I mean, can you imagine having to flee on a tiny bike through the jungle? It's crazy! And the thought of leaving his family behind, especially his daughters... it just breaks my heart 
.
. I'm not going to sit here and say he was wrong for speaking out or anything, but you have to wonder if there were other ways to make his point without putting himself in harm's way 
.
. I hope he finds it easier to rebuild his life and hold onto his voice in this new country 
I'm sending them all my positive vibes 
. It's a reminder that even when we think things are going one way, life can take us on this crazy detour instead 
. France is like his new home now, but he's still got this air of vulnerability about him 
. You can tell he's trying to rebuild his life, but it's not easy when you've been through trauma... 
He's a total hero 4 takin a stand & now he's facin a new life in France... I'm rootin 4 him 
! 
what kind of regime makes people flee like that for expressing dissent? it's hard to imagine living with the weight of those two years on your shoulders... sounds like he's still struggling to rebuild & redefine himself in a new country. 
. Poor guy had to leave his life behind for two whole years... imagine being a dad trying to raise kids in hiding 
. And now he's gotta navigate a new country? That's like me trying to find my way around TikTok after 5 days of no phone battery