Dispatches from the front lines of war in Burma
Monday through Wednesday I was privileged to go with a group of pastor to visit the Mae La refugee camp on the Thai Burma border near the town of Mae Sot. The camp we visited is primarily full of Karen people from the Burma Border region who have been forced from their villages and houses by the Burmese army. Estimates are that there are over 50,000 people living in Mae La camp. There are other camps in Thailand. This is supposed to be the nicest one. I learned a lot. My photos aren't great, but they are better than nothing. I don't do well taking photos of strangers in this type of context. Don't like making people feel like they are in a zoo.
Here are some things I learned (or things I think you should know)...
The camp is "tempolary". Thailand doesn't officially have "refugees" or "camps". Hence a temporary shelter area. If only it hadn't been around for 20 years.
Mae La camp is nestled into a very beautiful valley and looks much like a regular village. If it weren't for the barbed wire, guards, threat of violence from the Burmese army which sometimes sneaks in from Burma at night to assassinate Karen leaders, the lack of ability to work and travel - if it weren't for these things. It would be a pretty nice place to live.
Kids are kids everywhere. They like to play volleyball, soccer or in this case Takgraw (an extremely athletic form of volleyball with your feet).
Kids have to go to school even if their families have been chased out of their villages by an army. But school in a refugee camp (oops tempolary shelter) don't look the same as schools in the free world.
Even if your school is dirt poor, you still get a playground if the international community decides to donate one. Only you get last year's model... a little rusted.
There is great singing and worship at the Bible school despite the circumstances. Many of the students are former soldiers I would guess. Some even come and live temporarily in the camp from inside Burma.
Here are some things I learned (or things I think you should know)...
The camp is "tempolary". Thailand doesn't officially have "refugees" or "camps". Hence a temporary shelter area. If only it hadn't been around for 20 years.
Mae La camp is nestled into a very beautiful valley and looks much like a regular village. If it weren't for the barbed wire, guards, threat of violence from the Burmese army which sometimes sneaks in from Burma at night to assassinate Karen leaders, the lack of ability to work and travel - if it weren't for these things. It would be a pretty nice place to live.
Kids are kids everywhere. They like to play volleyball, soccer or in this case Takgraw (an extremely athletic form of volleyball with your feet).
Kids have to go to school even if their families have been chased out of their villages by an army. But school in a refugee camp (oops tempolary shelter) don't look the same as schools in the free world.
Even if your school is dirt poor, you still get a playground if the international community decides to donate one. Only you get last year's model... a little rusted.There is great singing and worship at the Bible school despite the circumstances. Many of the students are former soldiers I would guess. Some even come and live temporarily in the camp from inside Burma.
