I've been following the ongoing conflict in Burma for several years, but it wasn't until I heard the stories at former Secretary of State David Kilgour's house that I decided it was time to check out the situation on my own.
Mr Kilgour had a reception at his Ottawa home for several Burma advocates including Dr. Cynthia Maung - everyone simply calls her Dr. Cynthia. She had come to Ottawa from the Thai-Burma border to urge the Canadian government to continue its federal funding of relief projects there. Dr Cynthia is an inspiring Burmese woman who has won a slew of international human rights awards; she also runs a medical clinic for refugees on the border of Thailand and Burma, where hundreds of thousands have received treatment since the conflict began.
It wasn't long after that I threw my bag on the back of my wheelchair and embarked on a journey to witness some of the impacts caused by a brutal military regime.
I landed in Bangkok Thailand where I would begin my journey to Mae Sot. It's a town that shares a border with Burma where Burmese refugees outnumber Thais by more than two to one. As a main over-land gateway between the two countries, it has gained a notorious reputation for gem trading, human trafficking and drugs. It is also home to hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees and economic migrants. Refugees come mostly from Burma's war torn ethnic Karen State, a region engulfed by intense conflict between the 400,000 government soldiers and a small rebel force of 12,000 fighters. The rebels are determined to achieve an autonomous Karen State and to protect the Karen people from abuses by the government.
Over the years, thousands of ailing refugees make their journey to Dr. Cynthia's Mae Tao Clinic. Many of them arrive on foot, some barely making it. The clinic was established by Dr. Cynthia during the 1988 Burmese pro democracy movement. The military seized power, many activists disappeared, and others fled the country. Traveling through the jungle at night, Dr Cynthia and fourteen of her colleagues carrying limited supplies made their way to Thailand. Along their 7 day journey through the jungle, they passed through remote villages, treating local people suffering from disease and injury. To the generals of Burma, she is an opium-smuggling terrorist and an insurgent causing unrest. To the thousands she treats and trains, she is a saint.
The clinic provides free health care for those who are escaping the military rulers. People of all ethnicities and religions are welcome at the clinic. The success of the Mae Tao Clinic depends upon collaboration with other local and international organizations and the ongoing support from the international community.
My stay in Mae Sot was heartbreaking but hopeful. From education projects, health clinics, to orphanages, people from all around the world come to Mae Sot to assist in any way they can.
Derek Koch is one of these people, a fellow Canadian who works with an NGO called Imagine Thailand.
For years, large numbers of children have been fleeing the region towards the relative safety of Thailand. This has led countless children into over crowded orphanages in Mae Sot. Imagine Thailand works in poor and marginalized communities empowering youth, businesses and communities with the tools needed to bring about beneficial change. Derek brought us to a few of the many orphanage/boarding schools where in some cases only 2 bathrooms were available for 400 students, 140 of them who live there on a permanent basis.
One of the projects his NGO is involved with; is the 'Clean Water Project'.
Globally, diarrhea is the leading cause of illness and death and 88% of diarrhoeal related deaths are due to a lack of access to sanitation facilities. The Clean Water Project helps by providing each migrant school in Mae Sot with a source of clean, reliable drinking water. The reverse osmosis water filtration system removes bacteria and toxins and cleans the water to nearly 100 percent purity.
For the most part, the border town does not lack water; it lacks water that is safe and clean. For many, drinking water without toxins and bacteria is not an option.
Bottled water is expensive, especially for those with an extremely limited budget. Improving access to clean water and sanitation is vital for children to develop physically, and mentally. It is also one of the UN Millennium Goal targets.
After leaving Mae Sot, I left for Burma.
I flew into the capital, Rangoon. The city was old, run-down. Its infrastructures were crumbling and inadequate. At the same time, it had beautiful sites such as the Shwedagon Pagoda, a 2500 year old sacred Buddhist pagoda with relics of the past four Buddha's. The people of Burma too are warm, welcoming and very friendly. This was surprising given the oppressive conditions they live in. Government control is pervasive. Internet access is highly censored. There is no independent judiciary or democratic institutions. Burma is the textbook example of a police state.
The average Burmese person is afraid to speak to tourists except in superficial ways, fearful of being hauled in for questioning or worse. Every attempt I made to travel to the Karen region proved impossible. No driver would take us there.
My journey to the border was something I will never forget. The images of misery are enduring as is the hope for a brighter tomorrow thanks to the many local Burmese, Thais and foreigners who dedicate themselves to helping the refugees. Despite the continued suffering inflicted by the Burmese military government, around the world there is support. Grass roots organizations and NGOs are mobilizing, advocating, and putting pressure on governments to urge Burma to change its course.
For more information please visit:
www.maetaoclinic.org
www.imaginethailand.org
www.filmsforhumanrights.org
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