Paula Bronstein Photojournalist

BURMA: TURMOIL AND POLITICS

While Burma remains a poorly-functioning state profound change continues as Burma’s President Thein Sein assures the west that he will move forward with all the necessary reforms. Pro-democracy lParliament leader Aung San Suu Kyi works on political reforms as well for her National League of Democracy party, The country has all the chance to uplift and improve the standard of living of its citizens while many Burmese still suffer from extreme poverty and inadequate health care. A wave of anti-Muslim violence in Meiktila in March, 2013 left 43 people dead, most of them Muslims displacing nearly 13,000 others. Such an explosion of "Buddhist" rage was not the first in the country enjoying the new taste of freedom. 2012 brought another group of Muslims, the Rohingya, targeted by ethnic Rakhine Buddhists in Western Burma. Two violent events, June and October killed over 200 people and left 140,000 homeless. Most of the victims were the stateless Rohingyas who are amongst the most persecuted minorities in the world.  

  • Seik Kaung:  Aung San Suu Kyi is seen in in her vehicle with her aide as supporters surround the car during an early election campaign visit to Shan state.Paula Bronstein for Der Spiegel / Getty Images Reportage
  • Hsih Seng: Aung San Suu Kyi prays at a local monastery as she visits with monks during an early election campaign visit to Shan state.Paula Bronsteinfor Der Spiegel / Getty Images Reportage
  • Hopone:  Ethnic Pa-Oo women hold flowers  as Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during an early election campaign visit to Shan state.Paula Bronstein for Der Spiegel / Getty Images Reportage
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  • Hopone: NLD supporters sit in front of the stage as Aung San Suu Kyi speaks during an early election campaign visit to Shan state.Paula Bronsteinfor Der Spiegel / Getty Images Reportage
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  • SITTWE - NOV 9: Rohingya from Aung Mingalar are escorted by Burmese police in a truck heading back to their remote community after being allowed to shop at the IDP camp market. There are no facilities in the Aung Mingalar area so many depend on this weekly trip.(Paula Bronstein for The Washington Post via Getty Images)
  • MAYEBON - NOV 8: Overall of the Mayebon IDP camp where registration has taken place forcing the residents of the camp to list themselves as Bengali not Rohingya. The new policy is called the Rakhine Action Plan. Paula Bronstein for The Washington Post
  • SITTWE - MARCH 6:  Rahana  Bagum, 11, carries mud from the sea used for construction at the IDP camp. In 2012, sectarian violence between the Rohingya, who are Muslim and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists killed at least 200 people and made 140,000 homeless, most of them are Rohingya.
  • MAYEBON - NOV 8: Albella (left) Abdul Hamid,40(center) and Moria Katu (right) look through the window of a thatched hut at the Mayebon IDP camp where registration has taken place forcing the residents of the camp to list themselves as Bengali not Rohingya. The new policy is called the Rakhine Action Plan. (Paula Bronstein for The Washington Post)
  • SITTWE - MARCH 6:  At a local mosque men and boys join in Friday prayer, a very important weekly practice for the Muslim Rohingya at the IDP camp. In 2012, sectarian violence between the Rohingya, who are Muslim and ethnic Rakhine Buddhists killed at least 200 people and made 140,000 homeless, most of them are Rohingya.
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  • Women and children wait in line for medical care at the makeshift Aung Clinic which serves many Rohingya with a few dedicated staff giving free medical care. ( Photo by Paula Bronstein/ For The Washington Post )
  • SITTWE - NOV 9: At the Baw Du Pha IDP camp Mosboba Hatu age 60, is held by her daughter Roshida,35. According to the family, Mosboba Hatu has not eaten solid food in a few weeks, she is only taking in fluids. Her daughter says she has TB but there has been no final tests done to prove her illness. The family claims that they don\'t have the money to travel to the clinic to have the proper medical tests done. Health care continues to be an ongoing problem for the Rohingya as most can only get just basic treatment, for many their illness gets worse and in some cases become serious.Paula Bronstein for The Washington Post
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  • Rohingya girls study at a religious school teaching daily classes in Islamic studies at the Say Tha Mar Gyi IDP camp.( Photo by Paula Bronstein/ For The Washington Post )
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  • Sara Katu looks out from her tent as the monsoon rains fall during the start of the rainy season at the Thay Chaung camp.( Photo by Paula Bronstein/ For The Washington Post )
  • A boy covers himself from the rain as he waits for medical care outside the makeshift Aung Clinic which serves many Rohingya with a few dedicated staff giving free medical care. ( Photo by Paula Bronstein/ For The Washington Post )
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  • Isslam looks out of his living quarters along side his daughter Muryar Katu,9, at the Say Tha Mar Gyi IDP camp.( Photo by Paula Bronstein/ For The Washington Post )
  • SITTWE - NOV 8: Mohammed Nur Amin takes a break from  working on an open wooden boat at the Ohn Taw Shi, a fishing village at the Rohingya IDP camp outside of Sittwe. Many Rohingya talk of fleeing, some want to go to the Malaysia.Paula Bronstein for The Washington Post
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  • YANGON, BURMA - APRIL 14: Burmese celebrate the second day of their new year water festival called Thingyan in Yangon, Myanmar April 14, 2014. Water-throwing is the distinguishing feature of this important festival during the first four days. Thingyan is similar to other new year festivities seen in Southeast Asian countries such as Laos, Cambodia and Songkran in Thailand.(Photo by Paula Bronstein/Getty Images)
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  • Construction workers  are seen at the site of a major construction site that will be a shopping center.( Photo by Paula Bronstein/ For The Washington Post )
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  • COVERING THE WORLD
  • A DEVASTATING WAR IN UKRAINE
  • AFGHANISTAN BETWEEN HOPE AND FEAR - THE BOOK
  • UKRAINE'S ELDERLY: LEFT BEHIND BY WAR
  • UKRAINE BALLET: DANCE DURING WARTIME
  • ROHINGYA: STATELESS AND UNWANTED
  • GAZA: CRIPPLED FOR LIFE
  • LESBOS: THE REFUGEE MIGRATION
  • SILENT VICTIMS OF A FOREVER WAR
  • FEMALE MARINES IN AFGHANISTAN
  • ACID VIOLENCE: STOLEN FACES
  • CLIMATE CHANGE: NATURAL DISASTERS
  • DISPLACED BY WAR SOUTH SUDAN
  • MONGOLIA: CHANGING LANDSCAPE
  • BHUTAN: THE KING AND HIS PEOPLE
  • CORPORATE, INDUSTRIAL - Mongolia
  • BURMA: TURMOIL AND POLITICS
  • INDONESIA'S MENTAL HEALTH: Living In Chains
  • About Paula
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