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Week One Thai Burma Border July 09
This is now my ninth year on the Thai Burma border and the following is a weekly diary of the situation. Some of the names have been changed to protect identity. Please forward to anyone you think may be interested.
Friday 10th July
Arrived into Bangkok and was met by our good Ronnie from FTUB (Federation Trade union Burma).
Ronnie gave up-to-date information on security on the border. Also gave new mobile phone numbers in Mae Sot due to security phone numbers change all the time. Ronnie explained that at present they are facing very difficult times. There is a lot of fighting very near the border town of Mae Sot between DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army ) and KNLA (Armed wing of Karen national union). In June Ler Per Her IDP camp was attacked and at present 3,000 people are in mae Sot waiting to be placed in refugee camp. Whilst these displaced refugees are extremely vulnerable the DKBA are also infiltrating into new IDP area and trying to recruit child soldiers and forced labor is also on the increase. No one is being allowed into register officially in the refugee camps on the border but unoffically they are pouring in from inside Burma. I have the official figures for resettlement to the third country.
As the refuges are resettled to a third country the camps fill up with IDP's ((Internally displaced people) usually carrying infectious diseases, TB and malaria from months hiding in the jungle. The good news of IDP's influx into camp has meant increase in union membership!
Traveled on the night bus from BKK to Mae Sot.
Saturday 11th July
In Mae Sot met up with Dot Lay Mo from FTUK (Federation Trade Union Karen). Dot Lay Mo recently was appointed as Vice secretary KNU. This position has also placed more importance on his security. This was evident as his compound was being guarded 24 hours and he immediately shares with me are worries about his security; he says he lives in constant fear of his life. Yesterday he states two men where outside the compound in Thai marked vehicles with guns.
He repeated the same information I had received in BKK regarding the fighting, that the situation is very difficult. The fighting is very near the border town of Mae Sot. Resulting in thousands of more IDPs, flooding surrounding area. FTUK are diverting what little funds they have to provide support and help at this time. Paw Gay from FTUK has been identified as the coordinator. The IDP'S are being temporary housed in Thailand's Nu Bo village until the Thai government can set up another refugee camp. I have been asked to give support advice and information to this community I will visit next week when I have returned from Mae La Oon camp. They are receiving rice rations from TBBC and minimum health care from AMI.
Asked Dot Lay Mo if he knows the whereabouts, of a friend of Tony's. Tony met him 10 years ago whilst working in mae ra ma lung camp. At this time he complained of stomach problems. Tony gave money for medication and a friendship developed. We met him again 3 years ago when he was working at Dr Cynthia's Clinic in the dentist department, which although restricted he was still able to travel with care in mae Sot and also meet us. I was upset to hear he has had some personal issues and has had to return to his refugee camp. As I am traveling near his camp this week I will try and track him down, it will be difficult as his camp is 'the" most isolated camp in the rainy season.
I am traveling tomorrow to mae Sariang, the local line bus takes 5 hours, then onto mae la oon camp which is very near where the fighting is. It is also a very difficult journey in the rainy season.
Sunday 12th July
As our good friend Ywa Hay has been resetled in Australia our contacts are fragmented and this takes time to build up again. This has resulted in problems with getting into ma la oon camp. As well as not having necessary paperwork the roads are impassable due to heavy monsoon rains. We are hoping to get in tomorrow if no more rain.
Made contact with camp leader Jhonny Thun. One of the most selfless people I have ever met. All his family have been resettled he has stayed behind. He has come out of camp to see us safely in, he said we will get a good driver, I insist one that doesn't drink the local brew whilst driving truck!!.
Mae la oon camp holds 16,000 refugees and most have not left the camp since it was established as a temporary camp 5 years ago. This camp has regular mud slides and I was told today two people where killed when their house crashed into the river on Monday evening. The camp was put up temporary on very bad land.
I was also told today by Saw TU that the US has asked to take another 1,000 refugees for work, they already taken 3,310 in the first three months of the year. Karen Refugee Committee has refused until they can build up the existing work force in the camps. When refugees register for the third country they are taken off work duties to enable them to have compulsory health medical checks and orientation programme, this leaves a dearth of educated people putting pressure on existing health and education workers.
Monday 13th July
My fourth time into MLOon camp and it doesn't get any easier. Declan, Philip and Jhonny Thun and I had a very difficult journey into the camp lots of mud and roads washed away. At first four wheels drove then put chains on wheels and then got out and had to dig the mud away from the wheels. We were delayed on route as two medical trucks coming out of camp with one patient with chronic heart failure and pregnancy complication. W abandoned our attempt and everyone helped these trucks. I have little hope that the heart patient survived the journey, it is so difficult for fit and healthy people. Eventually back on the road and made a detour into my friends camp. Gay Mo Tony's friend was in his camp and really surprised to se us. With no way of communicating he didn't know we were back. He introduced me to his wife again and quietly explained that she was four months pregnant and this was the reason he left mae Sot, of which it was what I had suspected. He also explained the security had deteriated and he was regularly picked up by Thai police as he remains an illegal citizen in Thailand. Although back in camp he is relatively safe his day to day life is so boring. They have no dental equipment only carry out extractions so his work is restricted. He said he has plans to return inside Burma to carry backpack medical and dental equipment to carry out treatment to refugees in the jungle/ this is really brave work as you constantly have the SPDC Burmese regime very close.
Eventually arrived into my destination after changing form truck to boat for the last few miles up the Mae Sariang river. Really scenic if only the SPDC where not so close about 4 miles away.
I was met by the medics and they were pleased to tell me they had negotiated, with Thai soldiers two hours electricity 6pm until 8pm!! (perks of the job). As it gets dark early at 6pm this will be appreciated. Food was the usual rice rice and more rice, of course with my favorite Karen fish paste!!!.
Bathing is done outside with bucket and the hole in the ground for toilet facilities. It reminds me how lucky I am to have all the luxuries back in Newcastle that I take for granted.
After the second power cut we abandoned the lights and lit candles then my medic friends shared their news. They repeated the information received in BKK that three mortar bombs hit Ler Per Her camp on June 18th. The camp was evacuated and eye witness reports that 150 and 200 villages have been taken as slave labor by the DKBA, some had not been given food for days and forced to carry military equipment into areas where the attacks are taken. The Burmese Army is firing up to fifty 81mm mortar bombs a day some bombs have also landed in Thailand. This camp is very near territory controlled by The Karen national Liberation Army (the armed wing of the Karen national Union) which is why they are very scared. This was backed up by the map of the camp which has highlighted areas in red risky areas. My feelings of happiness to see these good people are quickly fading with the usual sense of hopelessness in their continued struggle for peace.
Tuesday 14th July
Whilst carrying out health education session in schools I get to meet our young friend Hla Min Head teacher of Junior college. I first met him whilst carrying out teaching session on oral hygiene in Chiang mai 6 years ago. After the session in Chaing mai and with a big smile he asked me if it was ok to have pain in your back. He explained that he had been a porter and expected to carry heavy loads. He had managed to escape from the SPDC, he was referred to Dr Cynthia's and was found to have a slip disc and subsequently treated with donations from the UK.
He continues to walk days/weeks inside Burma to support his family's village, of which his father was the head teacher. He showed me pictures of his village showing him and friends walking through the jungle at night (for security). When they do take a rest they do not have mosquito nets or protection from the rain, this is to get school material books pens into his village. Today he told me the situation in the school is worse than before, because the village's (including his mum and dad) have been attacked by SPDC and DKBA all villages have had to flee and escape in the forest. He says very quietly his voice faltering with emotion that he does not know if the school can be established again. He thanked us for our support over the years and we agreed to try and get him to the nearest Thai village by boat in two weeks to meet up with Tony. Gave him money to pay the Thai's the usual bribe.
Wednesday 15th July
Woke up to the cock crowing, the pigs snorting and the damp smell of the charcoal burning to cook our rice. Rations are provided fortnightly no choice rice fish paste, oil and salt. Officially the refuges not allowed to grow any thing or cut down any trees or fish in the river, but they do illegally collect vegetables from the forest to supplement their poor diet.
Carried out health education in a friend's school. Hla Tay spent one year in Newcastle where he studied at the university. He talked about the struggle in his country for peace and democracy and asked when I thought they would be able to return to his beautiful country to fish the rivers and grow vegetables. Also met up with 83 year old William again who runs St Teresa's school. Thanked us for our donations last year we supported play equipment for the orphaned children. He told me that he was not leaving the camp to go to a third country he would stay and teach the children, this is his 63 year teaching 20 years on the run from the Burmese army, due to him being ethnic karen. After school finishes all the students stand up and sing their national anthem it isone of the most powerful experience to hear it sang by all the schools children and echo's all around the refugee camp.
Declan was asked to play in football tournament it is so humid he looked like he was leaking!. He scored the winning goal so now hailed as English/Karen National under 16 football champion. He said the pitch was in such a bad condition the goal hit a stone and by mistake went over the keeper and into the net. During the match hundreds were watching and cheering. Pitch marked out with salt for lines.
Thursday 16th July
Visited boarding house (we have supported by donations for 3 years) 40 young people between the ages of 10 17 all have been abandoned by parents who have brought them to the border for education. The situation inside Burma is so desperate that parents walk days weeks inside the jungle risking a lot to get their children to refugee camp for education and health. Sometimes as with four of these students there parents killed by SPDC. One young lad who speaks very good English explained very politely that his mother was raped by two soldiers while they made his father watch they were both subsequently killed. He was hiding under the house with the pigs. He eventually escaped carrying his younger brother who was five to the border. His brother contracted malaria in the jungle and is very sick. He asked for some advice on herbal remedies for his brother. I will speak with medics when return to mae Sot, and feed back to Jhonny Thun.
Friday 17th July
Survived the long journey back out if camp very difficult journey as the heavy monsoon rains are continuing. I thanked our brilliant karen driver who managed to keep the truck upright, but only just. We are all very tired tonight and emotionally drained, above is only a snapshot of lots of different experiences that are too long to explain. Declan has said it is one of the most unbelievable experiences and feel's so humble to have been looked after by selfless courage's hardworking and patient people who only ask for peace and democracy so they can return to there homeland.
Next week back to mae Sot, five hours on Sontell (local bus where you certainly see life!).
