Ko Lin Lin's Oral History, Round 2
Item
Title
Ko Lin Lin's Oral History, Round 2
Synopsis
• Ko Lin Lin, Male aged 30.
• Ethnic Myanmar, Muslim.
• Previously interviewed November and December 2020.
• Prior to COVID-19 he was seaman working on a cruise-ship in the Caribbean but returned to Myanmar as his company terminated his contract.
• Hopes to return to go back to work on the cruise-ship, but has so far been unable to do so due to travel restrictions and limited opportunities for Myanmar employees.
• Caught COVID-19 in August 2021 along with this entire family. Struggled with breathing but recovered within a few days.
• Sourced oxygen cannisters from local Muslim and Buddhist charity groups, but did not seek any treatment from public health facilities due to boycotting government services following the February 2021 coup.
• Ran through much of his savings from working abroad and on cruise ships to help his family survive through the COVID-19 downturn.
• Witnessed significant inflation in food stuff since early 2021, especially during Delta wave of mid-2021. Very sympathetic for poorer families without savings who could not afford to eat.
• Supported needy relatives but was not asked to donate to any charity groups directly.
• Got married amid COVID-19 lockdown in September 2021, with twenty people at an Islamic wedding ceremony at the mosque and a smaller wedding ceremony at his wife’s house.
• Was vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine at a Ministry of Health facility for free but had doubts about its effectiveness. His family including wife got COVID Shield vaccine at a private clinic at a cost of 200,000 MMK [US$112] for both shots.
• Had to bribe many officials to renew his passport to travel abroad, he felt due to his identity as a Muslim. As most Embassies remain closed due to the coup, however, has struggled to get a visa to travel abroad.
• Ethnic Myanmar, Muslim.
• Previously interviewed November and December 2020.
• Prior to COVID-19 he was seaman working on a cruise-ship in the Caribbean but returned to Myanmar as his company terminated his contract.
• Hopes to return to go back to work on the cruise-ship, but has so far been unable to do so due to travel restrictions and limited opportunities for Myanmar employees.
• Caught COVID-19 in August 2021 along with this entire family. Struggled with breathing but recovered within a few days.
• Sourced oxygen cannisters from local Muslim and Buddhist charity groups, but did not seek any treatment from public health facilities due to boycotting government services following the February 2021 coup.
• Ran through much of his savings from working abroad and on cruise ships to help his family survive through the COVID-19 downturn.
• Witnessed significant inflation in food stuff since early 2021, especially during Delta wave of mid-2021. Very sympathetic for poorer families without savings who could not afford to eat.
• Supported needy relatives but was not asked to donate to any charity groups directly.
• Got married amid COVID-19 lockdown in September 2021, with twenty people at an Islamic wedding ceremony at the mosque and a smaller wedding ceremony at his wife’s house.
• Was vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine at a Ministry of Health facility for free but had doubts about its effectiveness. His family including wife got COVID Shield vaccine at a private clinic at a cost of 200,000 MMK [US$112] for both shots.
• Had to bribe many officials to renew his passport to travel abroad, he felt due to his identity as a Muslim. As most Embassies remain closed due to the coup, however, has struggled to get a visa to travel abroad.
Date Created
March 2, 2022
Language of interview
Burmese
Related interviews
Index
Biography
- Marriage 2
Covid-19 waves
- 2020 versus 2021
- Delta 1
- Omicron
Daily life necessities
- Food 1
- Medicine 1
Infection by Covid-19
- Family and self 1
Jobs 1-2
Political crisis 1-2
- Embassy closure 2
Response measures to Covid-19
- Assistance for Covid-19 relief 2
- Lockdown 2
- Restrictions on social gatherings 2
- Travel restrictions 2
- Transfer of oxygen cylinders 1
Vaccines 1-2
- Marriage 2
Covid-19 waves
- 2020 versus 2021
- Delta 1
- Omicron
Daily life necessities
- Food 1
- Medicine 1
Infection by Covid-19
- Family and self 1
Jobs 1-2
Political crisis 1-2
- Embassy closure 2
Response measures to Covid-19
- Assistance for Covid-19 relief 2
- Lockdown 2
- Restrictions on social gatherings 2
- Travel restrictions 2
- Transfer of oxygen cylinders 1
Vaccines 1-2
