Refugees from Burma are living on the rubbish heap in Thailand
NTB 10.01.2010 kl. 15:57 | Google translator |http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=578968
photos to the story enclosed to the story (click link above)
On the smelly landfill in Mae Sot in Thailand found an increasing number of illegal refugees from Burma habitat. And the stream of refugees will only increase, warns several charities.
Read also:
Junta chief announces first election in Myanmar in 20 years
Suu Kyi may appeal against house arrest
Rat invasion leads to starvation in Burma
Between the piles of rotten food, twisted metal and dirty plastic bags are Sen San trying to find something she can sell.
- I want to be here and try to save up some money, for here I can keep what little I earn, and no one harasses me, "she says.
The 38-year-old woman belonging to the ethnic minority Karen people, and she is one of many who have fled from Burma to neighboring countries, Thailand and China.
Aid organizations fear that the flow of illegal refugees will increase significantly in advance of the upcoming elections in Burma, the first in the country in 20 years. Refugee flow could cause the relationship between the two countries will be further strained.
Moreover, aid agencies warn that the situation in refugee camps in Thailand could be even worse than they already are.
Miserable conditions
Many of the refugees who have taken over to Thailand, are living under miserable conditions. In the town of Mae Sot, about 5 kilometers from the border, a group of about 300 refugees settled at the landfill on the outskirts of town.
MOUNTAIN OF GARBAGE: A new container load of rubbish arrives dump at Mae Sot, where Burmese refugees are housed.
But life on the filling is still better than life at home in Burma, they says. For in Burma several ethnic minorities are experiencing oppression and murder committed by military junta regime. The refugees tell of soldiers raiding villages, burning down houses, raping and sending people into forced labour.
San Sen serves about 100 bath day, equivalent to 3 dollars, to sell used plastic. It is enough to survive by, "she says. In Burma, she had to give almost everything she earned to the military in "protection money" and taxes.
Fightings
The military junta in Burma has long been accused of persecuting the country's ethnic minorities, which leads to many fleeing the country. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) approximately 140,000 Burmese refugees live in official camps in Thailand.
In August last year, an estimated 37,000 Burmese escaped to China after the outbreak of fighting between government forces and the Chinese-speaking rebel groups in Kokang area. It led to a rare rebuke from China, which is Burma's most important ally.
In June, thousands of Burmese fled to Thailand during clashes between government forces and guerrilla groups from the Karen people.
Confrontations
According to international aid workers, the number of refugees from Burma has fallen in recent months. But the situation is tense, with frequent confrontations between liberation groups and guerrillas loyal to the junta regime.
- Up here there are fights every week, "says David Eubanks in the organization Free Burma Rangers, who runs relief efforts in the Karen region of northern Burma.
He says that there is some large-scale offensive on now, but stressed that the military is about to increase supplies to military camps around the country.
Also, organizations such as Campaign for Burma and Thailand Burma Border Consortium fear the situation in Burma will worsen in the future.
Miserable conditions: Burmese refugees dig in the garbage in the hope of finding something of value.
NTB 10.01.2010 kl. 15:57 | Google translator |http://www.vg.no/nyheter/utenriks/artikkel.php?artid=578968
photos to the story enclosed to the story (click link above)
On the smelly landfill in Mae Sot in Thailand found an increasing number of illegal refugees from Burma habitat. And the stream of refugees will only increase, warns several charities.
Read also:
Junta chief announces first election in Myanmar in 20 years
Suu Kyi may appeal against house arrest
Rat invasion leads to starvation in Burma
Between the piles of rotten food, twisted metal and dirty plastic bags are Sen San trying to find something she can sell.
- I want to be here and try to save up some money, for here I can keep what little I earn, and no one harasses me, "she says.
The 38-year-old woman belonging to the ethnic minority Karen people, and she is one of many who have fled from Burma to neighboring countries, Thailand and China.
Aid organizations fear that the flow of illegal refugees will increase significantly in advance of the upcoming elections in Burma, the first in the country in 20 years. Refugee flow could cause the relationship between the two countries will be further strained.
Moreover, aid agencies warn that the situation in refugee camps in Thailand could be even worse than they already are.
Miserable conditions
Many of the refugees who have taken over to Thailand, are living under miserable conditions. In the town of Mae Sot, about 5 kilometers from the border, a group of about 300 refugees settled at the landfill on the outskirts of town.
MOUNTAIN OF GARBAGE: A new container load of rubbish arrives dump at Mae Sot, where Burmese refugees are housed.
But life on the filling is still better than life at home in Burma, they says. For in Burma several ethnic minorities are experiencing oppression and murder committed by military junta regime. The refugees tell of soldiers raiding villages, burning down houses, raping and sending people into forced labour.
San Sen serves about 100 bath day, equivalent to 3 dollars, to sell used plastic. It is enough to survive by, "she says. In Burma, she had to give almost everything she earned to the military in "protection money" and taxes.
Fightings
The military junta in Burma has long been accused of persecuting the country's ethnic minorities, which leads to many fleeing the country. According to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) approximately 140,000 Burmese refugees live in official camps in Thailand.
In August last year, an estimated 37,000 Burmese escaped to China after the outbreak of fighting between government forces and the Chinese-speaking rebel groups in Kokang area. It led to a rare rebuke from China, which is Burma's most important ally.
In June, thousands of Burmese fled to Thailand during clashes between government forces and guerrilla groups from the Karen people.
Confrontations
According to international aid workers, the number of refugees from Burma has fallen in recent months. But the situation is tense, with frequent confrontations between liberation groups and guerrillas loyal to the junta regime.
- Up here there are fights every week, "says David Eubanks in the organization Free Burma Rangers, who runs relief efforts in the Karen region of northern Burma.
He says that there is some large-scale offensive on now, but stressed that the military is about to increase supplies to military camps around the country.
Also, organizations such as Campaign for Burma and Thailand Burma Border Consortium fear the situation in Burma will worsen in the future.
Miserable conditions: Burmese refugees dig in the garbage in the hope of finding something of value.