July 30 - Aug 5 2009 Week 2

Thursday 30th July

Visit the Special Needs unit which has just opened for migrant children with learning disabilities.  The unit has twenty children - ten come one day, ten the next.  It has funding for only one year as a pilot project.  Special needs children normally don't go to school.  They stay at home, often on their own because their parents need to work.  A VSO volunteer from the UK runs the unit.  She is 68 years old but full of energy.  She has four Burmese helpers.  This unit is a great step forward - one Anne has been pushing for years.

Next we meet with MB, a New Zealander who runs an adult school.  Previously it has been funded by his family and friends but now he has funding through an NGO.  The school now has 20 adults and 20 late teens.  They prepare them for an international exam which they sit in BKK.  If they pass they can apply for a scholarship to a Thai University or one overseas. They are reluctant to encourage them to go to the USA because they tend not to come back from the USA and help their people which is a requirement of the organization.  Burma needs educated people to work in their democratic organizations. Previously the school taught mostly the children of political exiles but now they have external funding they can open the doors to others.  I will teach at this school next week, doing some work on UK politics and campaigning.

In the afternoon, I meet with DLM to meet the new recruit who will be responsible for links with the international community for FTUK.  She is very young but she speaks Thai and has a Thai passport so she can travel if required.  She has come from the Karen Students group.  I hope she will be a big asset for FTUK and the UK unions.

Friday 31st July

This morning we go to the garbage tip.  I don't want to go as I know how bad the conditions are but Lee is keen to go.  MM Tinn directs us there.  It is raining heavy.  I am glad because at least it won't smell so bad.  We go through the school situated next to the tip.  They are the children of the tip workers.  The school is funded by 'Children on the edge' which I believe gets its money from the 'Body Shop Foundation'.  Because it is raining heavy the 'mud' is very deep.  I am up to my ankles in it straight away and I don't have willies.  I didn't bring any as I didn't want to go on the tip.  But here I am up to my ankles in 's-t' once again!  Water is flowing off the tip into a pond. The water is completely black.  We joke and wonder if this is where Coca Cola is made!!  We all walk across the tip to see where the workers live.  A new teacher who speaks good English joins us.  We go to the shop in the tip!  It sells eggs, noodles and rice.  Even though it is cold and rainy there are flies everywhere.   We aren't tempted to buy anything.  The huts they live in are the smallest and poorest I've seen.  Lee says it is so humbling to see these people.  These are the poor.  And yet they smile and encourage us to sit in their homes.  As it is very slippy we carefully go in.  The rain is getting heavier and we are all now quite wet so we head back to the school. We leave a small donation, and the head teacher says he will use it to replace a broken water dispenser.  We leave thankful we have a safe home.  They live on the tip as it is safe from harassment from the Thai police.

We head home for a shower to clean away the stench.   Anne didn't come to the tip this time.  She finds it a little too difficult.

Later we call into AAPP (Assistance Association for Political Prisoners).  I want some more Tee shirts.  They are all very busy on the phone and internet.  No-one greets us.  This is very unusual - then I remember that this is the day the court decides on ASSK.  They are giving interviews all over the world via the internet on the 'once again' delayed verdict.  Eventually someone becomes free - a friend of Khun Saing (now living in Sheffield) - he says they have sold out completely due to massive demand from all around the world.  Good news but I promised Peter Mulligan one - sorry Peter.

Late in the afternoon I meet with ML from FTUB (Federation of Trade Unions Burma - Mae Sot coordinator).  I will not give his name for security reasons.  Anne will do training for the Woman's group on Sat/Sun and he wants to finalise arrangements.

Saturday 1^st August

Training at FTUB and I am banned - women only.  So ML tells me of the situation with the migrant workers in Mae Sot.  There are about 80,000 workers in the textile industry in Mae Sot, most of them women.  They get paid less than half the official minimum wage.  They get about one pound per day and also rice and a place to sleep are also offered.  As the money is not enough to rent anywhere they have to live in the factory. I have seen these conditions - they are sub-human.  I resolve to buy more fair trade products.  The factories are owned mostly by Chinese and Taiwanese people who marry a Thai.  The Thai must own the factory.  Then they employ the wives of the local policemen to work in the office.  This keeps the authorities away.  The workers do 12 hour shifts, 7 days a week.  They like Burmese workers as they are hard working, disciplined and can't complain.  The FTUB is working on improving the conditions of these workers by bringing them up to the standards Thai workers get.  They are having some success but it comes at a cost.  They got the wages of 200 workers in one factory increased to the Thai minimum of two pound fifty per day.  However, three months later they were all sacked and their names put on a 'black list' so they couldn't get work elsewhere.  They have identified that 'Disney' clothing is made in Mae Sot but find it hard to identify other brand names as labels are added at more acceptable factories to make it look like the conditions of the workers are good, and sometimes only part of the garment is made before again being sent away for finishing. See www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=25253 for news of a court victory in 2004.

Sunday 2nd

After church, back to FTUB to see Anne finish the training and discuss with ML how the UK trade unions can help.  I offer some money to help with registration fees he is having at the moment but he refuses saying that although they are struggling we should try to help inside Burma.  They need lots more help.  As we hope to go inside, we will investigate this more later.  ML is fifty years old and has a degree in engineering, so teaches physics.  I feel I have a lot in common with him.  His father played football for Burma and then went on to be an international referee, but times have changed now. He devotes his life to serving his people in the community as a teacher and trade union leader.

Declan goes into the jungle with the teachers from a migrant school.  He needs lots of protection from the mosquitoes, so long trousers and long sleeves are required.  He chops bamboo which the children at the school will eat and goes swimming in the river.  He has a great time but is very tired.  He says life in the jungle is amazing and wants to go back.

Monday 3^rd

Breakfast at a Burmese tea shop with Jen from Karen Human Rights.  Cho cho (meaning sweet sweet) is with her and her mother Mu mya.  Cho cho will be married to Jen's brother, Chris, in October and then go to the UK with him.  Chris has worked in Mae Sot for some time also.  Mu mya meets her cousin in the shop and finds out her cousin's husband has been picked up by the Thai police - he doesn't have a work permit.  He will be deported back to Burma unless he pays the police a 'fine'.  She looks worried as it is more money and hassle.  This is a common story.  It costs 60 pound to get a work permit and this is too expensive for most who are only earning one or two pounds a day.

Meet with DLM to video him sing and talk about his role in the Karen community and their fight for democracy.  He is a fine singer but only knows a few songs fully in English.  I will produce a CD of him for all to hear when back in the UK.  He is off inside Karen state tomorrow for a week to meet with some leaders inside.  I wish him well.  I can sense he is a little apprehensive.  It is always dangerous to travel inside.  Lay Say another worker from inside will also go back but he is unwell.  He says he has cold but I suspect it may be malaria.  We support his village primary school.  He brought us pictures of it and receipts for the money spent.  We will continue to support it and hope it doesn't get attacked.  He is taking second hand clothes back for the villagers.  As his journey is long and much of it on foot he can't take too many

Tuesday 4^th

Today I went to Minmahaw school to do a morning teaching session.  Twenty one students who all spoke very good English so I didn't need a translator.  Their ages ranged from 17 to 22.  Some of them are children of political leaders in Burma and one whose father is prison for his political activity.  They are all keen to know the international perspective on Burma and listen carefully about what is happening in the UK.  I show them some footage of Zoya Phan speaking in the UK and they are very pleased.  They are a very bright bunch but without scholarships they will not be able to go to university.  Anyone know of any scholarship funds?  Prospect Burma provide some but more are needed as few of these students will be successful in finding funding.  Opportunities for medical students are particularly in short supply.

In the afternoon I pay a visit to Mae Tao Clinic - the free health care clinic for Burmese migrants.  The conditions are as bad as ever.  More patients are flooding in from across the border.  Amputees practicing walking on new false legs cross my path.  This is not usual.  I can hear the sounds of newly born patients and there is a large queue for the eye clinic.  Our friend Lisa who is administrator is busy in her office but she takes a break to chat.  She tells me funding is short as usual but they will get by - they have to.  At least there is a clinic.  In many areas of Burma there are large areas without any health care.

Tonight is our last night in Mae Sot.  We will be sad to leave.  We have dinner with Lisa and her family- Karen food for everyone except their son Jack who wants a burger in a bun!  It is very hard for these people.  We have the option of leaving.  They must stay and continue the struggle.  One day we will meet inside a free and democratic Burma.  Rocky urges me to continue the work with the trade unions.  I would like him to get involved but he is very cautious - it is difficult and dangerous work for the Burmese  His talents are in supporting his people in the jungle areas.  He will go back soon to bring medicines, food and clothes to his people. 

Wednesday 5^th

We travel to Maesariang to meet with our friends from Mae La Oon refugee camp.  On the way we travel very close to the border.  Just twenty metres across the Moei river our driver points out the positions of the Burmese military. We can see the soldiers from the truck.  Later he points out the positions of the Karen just a few miles upstream.  This is the area where there has been fighting recently.  They are all so close - it is very frightening.  On our way we go to the local Thai administration office to ask for permission to visit the displaced people from the fighting who are now in temporary shelter on the Thai side.  Paw Gay from FTUK is with us.  She has a truck load of aid for these people.  The Thais refuse to give us permission, they say it is not safe.  Paw Gay has to contact a friend who will arrange for some people to come out of  their camp and collect the aid.  Paw Gay will drive the truck as close as possible to make it easier.  I understand the Thais - the situation is unsafe but we wanted to show solidarity and tell them that then world is aware of their plight. Disappointed we travel further up the border and visit Safe Haven Orphanage which houses about 150 children of families who are still inside Burma.  These children are lucky as they get rice rations and the Burmese soldiers can't attack them, but conditions are not good. They have only temporary shelter under tarpaulins.  The Orphanage leader expects more children to come soon.

At Maesariang our friends, Hla Min, Gay Moo and Hla Htay are all there.  Anne gave them some money a few weeks ago so that they could pay for a ride out.  Gay Moo and Hla Min came on the vegetable truck but Hla Htay came on his motor bike.  It takes nine hours by bike because the roads are so muddy.   It takes five hours by truck but they are delighted to see us.  Gay Moo is now married and his wife is expecting a child.  Hla Min tells me how his village was burned down by the SPDC and his family had to run for their lives.  He asks if we will be able to pay for it to be rebuilt.  I say I'm sure we will be able to find the funds from our friends.  He is delighted and says he will walk back inside when it is safe and let us know the situation. He gives us a disc with pictures of the village. It is so sad to see it destroyed for no reason. His brothers and their families are now hiding in the jungle waiting for the Burmese army to move on.  Despite all this, we have a party at the Karen Refugee Committee house.  We supply the beer and they supply the food.  We sing traditional songs and they entertain us with Karen music.  It is so good to see them all smiling despite the tragedy all around them.

Tony Stokle

Mae Sariang

Thai/Burma border