Local refugee in Burmese HBO documentary

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - A Burmese refugee who's now living in Fort Wayne is the center of an HBO documentary that tells the tale of a Burma soldier. He and his family gathered Tuesday night for a sneak peek of the film that airs nationwide on Wednesday.

Camera crews followed Myo Myint around for about three years.  They tell the story of his time serving in the Burmese military to becoming a politcal protestor to fleeing to northeast Indiana.

"Though I feel a lot of hardship, and a lot of difficulties accepting to take the documentary film. But I must do for my people of my country," said Myint.

Myint lost an arm and a leg in his time at the military. He was arrested after a protest against the regime and thrown in jail for 15 years. When he was released, he snuck across the Burma border to a refugee camp in Thailand then came to the U.S. to see his family.

"The main reason why I participate in politics, why I was arrested, why I was sent into prison for 15 years is I want to stop the civil war," Myint said.

Myint's family attended Tuesday night's sneak preview of the documentary, including his brother Ye Naing.  Naing escaped the same protest where Myint was arrested.

Myint now works to help area Burmese refugees with the language barrier and is thankful for a community that's given him freedom.

"We live here, we must regard Fort Wayne as our hometown," said Myint. "So we must regard all of the American people as our best friends."

The documentary Burma Soldier debuts on HBO2 Wednesday night at 8:00.