Thailand is one of the countries bordering Burma to which thousands of Burmese ethnic minority groups continue to flee. The military government in Burma shows no sign of stopping its brutal persecution of these ethnic groups. The ruling military Junta has been in power since the early 1960s when they notoriously took control of the country after killing 100 students who were demonstrating peacefully in the country's capital. They have continued to oppress ethnic minority groups and pro-democracy activists ever since.
Burmese refugees in Thailand
Refugees from Burma crossing the river which serves as a natural border with Thailand.There are hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees in Thailand who have been persecuted and forced from their villages by the repressive military regime in Burma. Many have been killed trying to flee over the border into Thailand. Those who have made it are experiencing extreme difficulties. A minority live in recognised camps, leaving the rest to struggle as best they can.
In September 2007 many thousands of people in Burma demonstrated against the government’s regime. The government was quick to clamp down on the demonstrators, who included monks and ordinary citizens. Many of the demonstrators were arrested, and some fled into neighbouring countries. As ever, the media has moved on, but the situation in Burma remains unchanged.
In November 2010 violence erupted again due to seemingly unfair elections. IRT continues to support projects on the Thai-Burma border providing emergency relief to refugees.
The Lahu Orphanage, the Wat Mae Kaen Orphanage and Mary’s House Orphanage
Some of the children living in one of the three orphanages supported by IRTMany children have been left orphaned due to the brutal acts of the repressive ruling military regime in Burma. IRT therefore support the 'Shan and Lahu Outreach programme' in the Chiang Mai province which consists of three orphanages housing over 120 children of both the Shan and Lahu ethnic tribes. These orphanages provide many children with the care and attention that they deserve.
The Lahu Orphanage looks after children aged 6-15 and IRT have assisted in building accommodation for the children as well as the creation of small income generating projects such as a piggery, a vegetable garden and mushroom growing. These projects not only help with raising funds for the orphanage but are also used to supplement the children’s meals.
IRT helps to maintain another two orphanages, the Wat Mae Kaen Orphanage and Mary’s House Orphanage. They also look after many orphans and IRT help with paying the caretakers allowances as well as the establishment of vegetable and mushroom growing projects.
Krung Jor Refugee Camp
These women are displaying the items they have woven in one of the weaving groupsThe Krung Jor Refugee Camp is home to some 635 Shan refugees and it is the only official refugee camp for Shan people in this part of Thailand, the Chiang Mai Province. IRT are assisting the development of two weaving projects for refugee women as well as paying the allowances of two English teachers who are providing night classes for refugee secondary school students. This gives the children a much better chance of being accepted at the only University in the region, where some of the courses are taught in English.
Mae Sot Livelihoods programmes
Mae Sot is in Tak Province in Thailand and is right on the border of Karen State in Burma. It is estimated that between 60-80% of the population of Mae Sot are Burmese. At times of unrest IRT have helped in providing emergency support in the form of food and counselling as well as linking the Burmese with suitable Burmese community based organisations in the area who could provide them with shelter. IRT also helped to provide support to those Burmese who were caught in Thailand without a refugee status and were held in detention centres prior to deportation. IRT still continue with this work, ensuring that the children of parents who are held in detention prior to deportation are properly looked after.
Irrawaddy Sewing Training
Trainees learning the use of electric sewing machines. There is a shortage of skilled labour so these refugees will be able to get decent jobs when they are fully trained.There has been a shortage of skilled workers to work in the small industrial units in the Mae Sot area and therefore, along with a Burmese Community Organisation, the Overseas Irrawaddy Association, IRT has helped with providing sewing machine training for Burmese refugees. They partake in a course so as to provide them with sewing skills to enable them to work in the industrial units and produce clothes. So far IRT have been able to help the Irrawaddy Association to train over sixty men and women, all of whom have been able to find employment. A programme was also set up which began working with Burmese community based organisations to teach the workers their labour and occupational rights.
Income generating projects
IRT place a lot of emphasis on supporting projects that allow the Burmese to stand on their own two feet, greatly improving their quality of life and ensuring that they do not become dependent on outside aid.
Basket weavers
A refugee with trays beautifully made by his basket weaving groupIRT are supporting two initiatives established by Burmese community based organisations. The first is a group of twelve basket weavers who work from their individual homes, helping them to create a mini enterprise. The weavers were already skilled in their craft and therefore IRT has helped with providing tools and initial materials in order to assist the basket weavers with making an income. The quality of the baskets is very good and IRT are helping the weavers to identify and use local markets to sell their products.
Catfish Pond and Piggery for HIV positive men and women
IRT have assisted with the set up of a piggery to enable a group of HIV positive men and women to make an income.Attaining work has been extremely difficult for a group of HIV positive men and women as they were being discriminated against in town. They have been forced to live in a separate commune in the outlying countryside. IRT helped with the set up of a small catfish pond and piggery so that they can make an income for themselves. The piggery has been built above the catfish pond and the catfish live of the pigs’ faeces! The catfish thrive on this food and it is a local delicacy.
Agricultural projects
This flimsy structure is what one Burmese family calls home, but they consider themselves lucky. IRT are supporting the Burmese refugees with establishing vegetable gardens so that they can sell their produce in the local markets.Many Burmese refugees have been allowed to build temporary accommodation on land owned by Thai farmers. This is in exchange for labouring work in the fields. IRT have helped in assisting these families to establish small scale vegetable gardens. Several of the families live close to permanent water sources which enables them to water their gardens. Their produce is then used to feed the family and is also sold in the local markets to generate an income.
