Ok, did you know that Burma (now called Myanmar) is ruled by a military junta? And that it's terrorising its people, forcing them out of their homes by destroying them, raping women, children, using them as slave labour. One person from each village house has to be consigned to do this work for no money. They are forced into it by taxing the family; a tax which many can't afford. The work is things like building dams, laying railway lines, oil related work too. The conditions are apalling. The last time someone tried to set up a worker's union they got thrown into jail. At least they weren't shot I suppose.
Did you also know that the people are fleeing to Thailand? But Thailand doesn't give them refugee status meaning they shove them in a camp with no access to education or healthcare. I get the impression that the camp is heavily over-crowded. Not unsanitary, but space-wise and things-to-do-wise, mental health is a big problem. So this has been going on for decades, kids have been born in these camps, but no-one's allowed out, as they aren't granted any papers. I guess they can go back to Burma if they like, I'm not sure on that score. Plus there's limits as to what ngo's can do. So far foreign countries have placed trade sanctions on Burma, only thing is that that just ends up hurting the people who live there too.
I'm teaching Burmese kids English in Thailand. I'm hoping that their future is one where they live under a democratic government and participate in international trade and politics. I think English is quite a useful language for them to learn. I teach class sizes that would make yer eyes water!! The children are great. They're motivated. They wear the same clothes everyday though. And they aren't the cleanest. They don't have chairs to sit on. They sit in front of benches on the floor instead. Their parents are poor, if they have any at all. I wish I could help more, but I have to live too. I can't put any more specifics here unfortunately.
So what can be done about this? Well, you can give your time to teach just about anything. IT, English, women's rights, politics even. Where can you do this? Mae Sot. You could check out the 'Free Burma' organisation in your country, see what they say.
But really it's in their own country that the problem lies.
The last political party set up in opposition, has had its leader in house imprisonment for the last 20/30 years - her name is Aung Sun Suu Kyi (I think that's how you spell it). She was educated in England and dared to establish an alternative to vote for. Only she got too many votes in 1988 and was jailed as a result.
Human rights, eh? What a contrast to the society I came from.
and that's goood.
