Refugees in Thailand

The border areas of southeast Asia have long been sites of movement and migration but in the last 20-30 years Southeast Asian states have tried to define and enforce their borders and this age-old movement of people has become more difficult. In the last 20 years, military rule in Burma has created an exodus of people in to neighbouring countries. Some are fleeing fighting between armed groups, some are fleeing attacks on their villages and livelihoods and others are fleeing a life of oppression and predation by state forces which makes life unbearable in Burma. Some manage to migrate through legal channels but most migrate illegally due to increased restrictions on movement. Some fit within international definitions of 'refugee' and have ended up being warehoused in refugee camps. Only a long term solution to the political problems and climate of oppression and predation in Burma will counter this mass migration.

There are 7 Karen refugee camps in Thailand, all containing large numbers of youth: Mae La, Umpiem Mai, Noe Poe, Mae Rama Luang, Mae La Oon, Tham Hin and Ban Don Yang. KYO has committees and offices in all camps and engages the youths in a number of activities. These activities provide social services, specialised training and entertainment for the youths.

Dependency Culture

There are some social problems in the camps which affect youths and KYO is heavily involved in programmes to prevent problems and deal with them when they arise. For example, there are some drug and gang problems in camps, fighting, some youths break the law and there is mass unemployment. These problems are largely due to the heavy restrictions on movement outside the camps. Long term dependency on camp rations is causing skills and knowledge about livelihoods to be lost and is generating a culture of dependency and victimisation. KYO strongly believes that allowing refugees to leave the camps and seek work in Thailand as legal migrants will pose no problem to Thailand and allow the refugees an opportunity to provide for themselves and their families without relying on donations. Working by themselves to solve their problems will improve the self-confidence of youths and allow them to gain dignity in their lives. Since Thailand is interested in creating a special economic zone around the Burma border, allowing the refugees to work in border area factories will benefit both the refugees and Thailand.

Resettlement

Since 2006 there has been a large scale resettlement programme from the refugee camps to western countries, mostly America. Some resettlement started about 10 years before this, but this was small scale. Resettlement has caused some problems of 'brain drain' with the most skilled and educated refugees leaving to seek a better life elsewhere and KYO has been very concerned about training up new leaders quickly to replace those who leave. Despite tens of thousands resettling from the refugee camps, the camp population remains largely unchanged since the problems causing migration remain in Burma. Many Karen youths continue to flee attacks, fighting and oppressive militarisation in Burma and enter Thailand as illegal migrants or refugees. Repatriation is not a viable option, despite Thai pressure on refugees to return, since the very reason they left Burma remains unchanged. The refugees want to go back home since they do not enjoy living in a foreign country, but they do not want to die or live in fear.

KYO Refugee Camp Activities

KYO works closely with the Refugee Camp Committees and assists them with the implementation of their activities. KYO also works with international NGOs and other CBOs in the camp to provide services to the youth. Since 2005 KYO has been working with COERR to make drawing and writing competitions for school students, done dancing for Karen youth cultural expression, and to provide services for unaccompanied or orphaned youths in boarding houses. In the boarding houses, KYO educates students about health, supports their health needs with medicine and extra nutrition and distributes hygiene supplies.

Each camp has slightly different activities depending on the needs of the youths and the resources available. For example, Mae La Oon camp KYO has a weaving project, Noe Poe camp KYO supports a boarding house for 80 unaccompanied or orphaned children from inside Karen State, while in other camps KYO works with Right to Play to provide Sports training for youths.

Have your say

KYO welcomes all opinions about the refugee crisis, resettlement issues, self-sufficiency ideas and repatriation. Have your say on our discussion forum.