My name is Jordan Pe, and I stand before you today not just as an individual, but as one of many — one of the Karen people, one of the millions who were forced to flee our homeland because of war, persecution, and fear.
I was born into a life where safety was never promised. Where the sound of gunfire was louder than the sound of peace. I lived in fear, like so many others in Burma, just for being who we are.
But now, I live in Australia. I have found freedom. I have found safety. I am deeply grateful for this new life.
But I cannot — and I will not — forget where I came from.
I cannot forget the people still suffering in Burma. The mothers hiding with their children in the jungle. The elders who have lost everything. The youth who have never known peace. I carry their voices with me, and their pain lives in my heart.
Even today, villages are still being burned. People are still being displaced. Democracy is still being denied.
Burma is crying out for freedom, justice, peace, and truth.
And so today, I speak not just for myself — but for those who cannot speak. I stand not just for myself — but for those who cannot stand.
To all of you here, I ask: Please, be their voice. Use your freedom to fight for theirs. Use your platform, your heart, your courage — to stand up for the people of Burma.
We need the world to listen. We need the world to care. Because silence helps the oppressors — not the oppressed.
Let us stand together for a future where no one is forced to run, where no one lives in fear, and where every person — no matter their race, ethnicity, or faith — can live in dignity and peace.
This is my story. But it is also the story of my people. And until Burma is free, I will never stop speaking.
Today, I stand with the people of Burma. For years, they’ve endured violence, injustice, and a stolen democracy. But they continue to rise — with courage, with hope, and with unbreakable spirit.
We cannot look away. Their fight is not just theirs — it’s a fight for freedom, for dignity, and for human rights.
To the people of Burma: We see you. We hear you. And we stand with you.