Asylum officer questions asked, of a Burmese activist, on August 24, 2025:

Tell me about all of your international travel: for each country visited, what was your immigration status? why not apply for asylum there? did you ever return to the country that you say is dangerous? [that would be your own country] Why would you voluntarily return to a dangerous place?

When did you last depart from your country? What was your last address? Where did you live for each month, for the las 60 months? Let's spend 30 minutes on your addresses, OK?

Why didn't you apply for asylum sooner? why the delay? why delay your departure from your country? why the delay?

When did  you learn about asylum? When did you decide you wanted to apply for asylum?

Tell me about the international travels of your brother: when did he depart, why? where is he now?

Your uncle still lives in Burma? why hasn't he been arrested? He is a minority, isn't he?

Why are  you seeking asylum? What do you mean, "I fear my government"? Why is government angry at you? What are their reasons? More than one reason? 

Were you harmed in your country? how many times? How many times did you suffer physical harm? Which was the worst time?

How many times were you threatened? What do  you mean, "Every day in Burma is a threat"? How many times were you directly, face-to-face threatened?

February 2025 in Yangon: how were you harmed? What impact did that event have on you? Are you still impacted by that event? Ever have "intrusive thoughts" about it? Flashbacks? Nightmares? 

A soldier points his rifle at you. Is that a big deal, or a small deal? Why is that a big deal? What thoughts went through your mind?

Who harmed you? Why? What did he believe about you, as he harmed you?

You suffered harm in December 2024 in Mandalay? who harmed you? How? why? What did he believe about you, when he harmed  you? What thoughts went through your mind? What impact did that event have on you? Does it still, even today, have an impact on you?

Was there a direct, personal, verbal threat? What words were said? Or, was it an indirect threat?

You say you are not a Bamar.? So what? does the soldier care if you are Bamar or not? How does he know your ethnic group? Does your group suffer more than the Bamars?

Can you tell me the event in two sentences? I want to talk about your addresses for 30 minutes, but your harm only for ten seconds, so, you must be brief. If you don't get to the point in five seconds, I will stop listening, and I will interrupt you.

Were you the victim of random violence? The same harm that everyone suffers? Or, because you are not a Bamar, you suffered more harm? What is special about you? Why were you, in particular, targeted?

Does that event, two years ago, still cause you to have repeated, intrusive thoughts about it? In other words, you think about it today, from time to time, even though it is unpleasant? Who wants to have repeated, unpleasant thoughts about the same event?

If you return to your country, what would happen? Who would harm you? Why? What is special about you?