Rubble and Chaos of Former Soccer Star Recounts the Devastation of the Myanmar Earthquake

The whereabouts of his comrades are unknown

My parents’ house in Mandalay is no longer livable because of the earthquake damage. I heard from people 

“My family home in Mandalay has been destroyed by the earthquake, and it’s no longer livable. I heard through others that my father and brother, who were at home, have evacuated to another location.”

Pye Lyan Aung, the 29-year-old former Myanmar national team goalkeeper, speaks with a worried expression.

In May 2021, during the second round of the World Cup qualifiers for the Qatar tournament, he gained widespread attention when he raised three fingers during the national anthem at the Japan game in Chiba, symbolizing resistance to the military coup. He later refused to return to his home country and was granted refugee status in Japan in August of the same year. Initially, he signed with the futsal F-League team “Y.S.C.C. Yokohama” as a professional player but retired in March 2022.

“Since coming to Japan, I have had no contact with my family. Directly or even indirectly communicating would put my family in danger. I only learned of their safety from a friend after the earthquake. I haven’t been able to contact any of my teammates from the Myanmar national team, so I don’t know about their whereabouts either.”

On March 28, a magnitude 7.7 earthquake struck central Myanmar, resulting in over 3,000 deaths. The military-led government of Myanmar declared that it would not allow foreign journalists into the country after the earthquake. Due to the difficulty in receiving external information, the exact details are unclear, and the actual death toll is likely higher. The death of a Japanese national, who had been missing since the earthquake, was confirmed on April 14, and was announced by government officials.

“I never imagined an earthquake would happen in Myanmar. It was as surprising as the first day of the coup. I felt indescribable emotions. My first concern was for my family, so I’m relieved to confirm their safety.”

Debris fell and people were in front of me

The city of Mandalay, where Pye Lyan Aung’s family home is located, was close to the epicenter and one of the most severely affected areas. High-rise buildings, colonial-era dilapidated structures, and bridges collapsed. He says he obtains information about his hometown through Facebook, the most popular platform in Myanmar.

“My friend told me, ‘Right in front of me, a building collapsed, rubble fell, and the person in front of me had their neck cut off.’ It was really shocking. There are so many people suffering in the city, but I feel helpless, unable to help them in my current situation.”

In February 2021, Myanmar’s military staged a coup, and Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the government at the time, was detained. Min Aung Hlaing, the Commander-in-Chief of the military, became the top leader, and protests against the military regime spread nationwide. Pye Lyan Aung, who had felt his homeland was progressing positively, now believes the coup completely reversed the country’s direction. He heard reports that the military declared a ceasefire with opposing forces on the night of April 2, only to continue airstrikes immediately afterward.

“I highly doubt the military is genuinely working on earthquake recovery,” he expressed angrily. He also directly pointed out that the military is responsible for the slow recovery. He claims that the military might be siphoning off international aid and funds sent to support the victims.

“They must be receiving aid funds through the military, but it’s not reaching the victims. They’re doing fake aid and taking everything for themselves. Even when food and medical supplies are brought in through international aid, I’ve heard that the military won’t let them enter the disaster zones. They say things like ‘Leave the supplies here with us,’ and take them for themselves. Whether they keep them or sell them, no one knows where they go.”

A friend of Pye Lyan Aung, a fellow Myanmar citizen, also shared a shocking story.

“A Chinese-invested hotel controlled by the military collapsed. Employees and guests are still unaccounted for inside, yet the military refuses to allow firefighters or rescue teams to enter. Without permission, they can’t help. Was there something inconvenient inside the hotel? I watched a video, and in front of the hotel, people who seemed to be family members were crying.”

 

“After everything is over, I will think about myself.”

Pié Lyan Aung is currently working at a Myanmar restaurant in Tokyo. He is not satisfied with his current situation.

“I want to return to my homeland. I want to go back to my old life. I want to do something for my aging father while he’s still alive, and I want to rebuild the house in Mandalay. But right now, I can’t do anything. I need to earn more money, and it’s really frustrating.”

Even after retiring from football, he still plays on a Myanmar team for residents of Japan on weekends.

“It’s more enjoyable than doing nothing I guess.”

With a subtle tone and a rare smile, there is a dark shadow lingering in his expression.

“I’ve been playing football since middle school, so I only had the goal of living through football. But with the coup, everything changed, and my future became uncertain. Right now, I am doing what I can to end the military regime. After it’s over, I’ll think about myself. That’s how I feel.”

He hopes that international support will expand in the future. When asked if he has anything else he would like to say, he answered with a sharp gaze.

“What I want to ask is, ‘Support should not go through the military or government.’ When sending supplies or money, I would like you to find support organizations that ensure it reaches the people who really need it. I hope we can avoid the worst-case scenario where ‘medical aid becomes a weapon used to kill citizens.’ There are truths that are hard to see from Japan. I want to increase my efforts to spread information.”

Pié Lyan Aung, along with his comrades, is scheduled to hold a press conference on April 21 to raise awareness about the situation in Myanmar.