www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ2L8Dyy5Qk

Today’s photography: Takky and Aye, a couple of Thais bringing aid for the ‘illegal’ refugees that Thai authorities no longer want. http://www.timothysyrota.org/?page_id=430

And for those with an ongoing interest in what is happening on the Thailand border – where has the story gone? Where are the throngs of journalists that were here just a few days ago? Anyway, an update.
In brief: across from Sangklaburi and Three Pagodas Pass we are now approaching the end of the fourth day of unrelenting fighting around the town of Phayathonzu. This has included heavy artillery fire since Monday. Late this afternoon hostilities had ceased and the Burmese SPDC claimed to be in control of the region.
Further up the border and about 50 km south of Mae Sot, the Burmese town of Waleh has been overrun by the Burmese military who have destroyed some of the local infrastructure in their wake, including the home of Saw Hla Pwe (Mr Moustache), the commander of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army Brigade 5 who was responsible for the fighting in Myawaddy

With regard to refugees from Waleh, an estimated 3,000 were allowed to cross into Thailand on Monday but were forced to return on Tuesday.

A couple of key points regarding the return of refugees from Mae Sot and the return of refugees from Waleh: Myawaddy has been controlled by the Burmese military for over a decade, has a mixed Karen and ethnic Burman population, and by Burmese standards is a developed town. With a cessation of hostilities, refugees returning might hope for a resumption of something resembling life a few weeks ago. Waleh, by contrast, is an oversized bamboo village populated almost entirely by Karen people and which has been under DKBA / Karen control for ever. With the overrunning of the town by the SPDC there is no chance of residents returning to anything in any way resembling life a few weeks ago. A legitimate cause for fear?
Currently the SPDC soldiers have dug in on a hill outside Waleh. It is hard for them to be reinforced and there is widespread talk of an imminent counter attack by the DKBA and KNU. More grounds for very legitimate fears by the residents.
In interviewing refugees, another legitimate cause for concern is that it is at times of conflict that there is an escalation of humanitarian abuses against civilians by the Burmese military. These have been well documented over decades of conflict in Karen State and include forced portering (carrying army supplies through forests), walking ahead of military patrols to diffuse land mines and deter enemy fire, forced labour in the building of military infrastructure, seizure of goods and property, and arbitrary arrest of suspected Karen sympathizers.
There is no doubt that in the context of current conflict, these abuses will be more prolific along the border. Grounds for international refugee status? By international law, almost certainly.
So the current refugee situation along the border: Burmese refugees fleeing the current conflicts have been deemed illegal. In Po Phra / Waleh, some 80 families (more than 400 people) are being kept at bay by the Thai military who are refusing them entry. So they are sitting on the Burmese side of a stream in the shadow of Thai guns but too scared to go anywhere else. In addition, International NGOs are estimating that there are at least 3,000 refugees hiding on the Thai side between Po Phra and Mae Sot. There is no regulation of their access to food, shelter or medical care. Thai public village announcements are stating that Thai citizens caught harbouring ‘illegal’ refugees in their homes will face up to 20 years in prison. The fine for having an ‘illegal’ refugee on your motorbike is more than AUD$300. Short of these being considered terrorist acts or in breach of national security, there appears to be no legal ground for threatening such punishments. Nonetheless, the refugees are here and they are either hiding or being hidden as well as they can. And as was the case in Mae Sot earlier this week, it seems that there is compassion and significant aid being given by local Thai residents, despite the threats of punishment.

And so for today’s photography: joining ‘Takky’ and ‘Aye’, two Thais who are happy to be named and who had traveled from Bangkok with a 4WD load of aid for ‘illegal’ refugees. We met approximately 50 south of Mae Sot and these refugees estimated that they would be then sharing supplies with a population of approximately 300.

Please note, for the security of the illegal refugees photos do not, by and large, depict faces. And the photo of the arm of a little girl who has written something on her wrist? It is in Burmese script and the word is ‘TheTi’ which means courage.
Peace
Tim

http://www.timothysyrota.org/?page_id=428

Again, for overseas friends who might want a perspective on what is going on:

The DKBA departed Myawaddy overnight on Monday leaving it open for the return of temporary refugees. Indeed, yesterday morning when traveling the road between the temporary camp and the border it was apparent that some of those that had fled were already independently making their way back home. This was well before any coordinated effort to repatriate them. When official coordination did begin at about 1pm, ‘refugees’ were released from the camp in stages, early groups walking the approximately 2 km up to the border from where boats took them back to Myawaddy from one of a number of points. Noticeably, small aid organizations and many local Thai citizens were handing out drinks and food both as the refugees made their way back to the border and at the departure points. Later groups were taken by an assortment of trucks. Lots of food and water being provided. Some Myawaddy residents ended up going back looking as if they had just been shopping.

Of some concern was that one internationally recognized news agency saw the return of the refugees as an opportunity to talk in terms of people being repatriated against their will by the Royal Thai Government “to a dangerous and uncertain future.” This was bad reporting. Senior staff at International Non Government Organizations, with whom the Thai Government were meeting throughout the day, do not support the notion of forced repatriation yesterday. Similarly a senior administrator from Mae Tao clinic commented from one of the departure points that while some people were reluctant to go back because they were scared (understandably), the majority wanted to go home.

A more sinister note: by 11:00am Burmese officials could be seen at the sand-bagged post under the Thai-Burma bridge. Usually manned by soldiers, an unexpert eye (mine) would say that the people at the post – two in immigration uniform, one soldier and two policemen with one rifle – were a motley and improvised crew, perhaps reflecting the absence of sufficient regular military in the town to man the post. Myawaddy was very quiet. Later in the afternoon at one of the points on the Burma side at which boats were returning Myawaddy residents, an SPDC mini van arrived with more senior SPDC military officers who watched and proceeded to film the refugees coming back, not that this would present any necessary danger, but it would be intimidating for returnees.

And on the rest of the border – Waleh was overrun by the SPDC late yesterday with a number of buildings being burnt. Rumors are that there might be a KNU / DKBA counter offensive. As a result the refugee situation near Waleh (about 40km south of Mae Sot) is unclear. Similarly in Sangklaburi in the south of Thailand, the refugee situation is unclear.
Peace
Tim

Here is a link to some of the photos of the new wave of refugees that crossedyesterday: http://www.timothysyrota.org/?page_id=424

A few brief points – any description of the fighting as a skirmish are way below the mark – there was consistent arms, rocket and mortar fire throughout the morning and continuing into the afternoon. This was part of coordinated attacks along the border from Sangklaburi through to Mae Sot. The Karen National Union along with a break away battalion from the Democratic Buddhist Army and in the South the Mon State Army were involved. There are rumors that more DKBA leaders may become involved against the SPDC (Government troops). Similarly, there is a sense of anticipation waiting to see how other anti SPDC groups – the United Wa State Army, the Shan State Army, and the Kachin Independence Army will respond. In the process of fighting, the DKBA have captured two senior SPDC military commanders.

Having achieved their ends in Myawaddy, the DKBA have now withdrawn from the town in anticipation of a large SPDC counter offensive. The KNU / DKBA have destroyed land routes into Myawaddy and hold strong defensive positions in the surrounding mountains and jungle. SPDC access would need to be by helicopter and there were rumors concerning this throughout the evening.

With regards to the refugees, coming from all along the border, the estimate is now at 20,000. Thai aid services mobilized very fast and effectively and throughout the day, from a personal opinion, conducted themselves in a manner which deserves significant praise, ranging from the soldiers at the border organizing refugees who had just come across the border, monks, the volunteers who were using their pick ups to ferry people from the border, and the people coordinating the makeshift – and very rapidly put together – camp. Very cool. And when they turned up with over a thousand ice creams for the kids. Nice one.

And the final words, or thoughts from yesterday: respect to those who are prepared to take action for democracy and human rights in Burma. I do not agree with war and witnessing the plight of innocent victims – simple people who try to live a normal life – is deeply saddening. But this is a reminder that Burma is a terribly f**ked up place and even without open conflict people endure the gross violations of the military government. It should be remembered that this country has striven for democracy in 1988 and again with the saffron revolution. The recent election has been a gross insult to people who respect and want democracy.
Peace
Tim

For more: www.burmesedreaming.org