Are you safe there? by David Downham

When talking about the work we are trying to do here on returning to Canada, one of the most frequently asked questions is; ‘Is it safe there?’

We have two young women here in Mae Sot from Orillia. Now instead of Europe, young people will often tour the East. These two are spending a month teaching in the College in Doh Tah before going on to Southern and then Northern India. They are confident, positive and very capable and a delight for our own young people in the College there, of whom they are the temporary teachers. They are the sort of young people whose parents must be congratulated for so brilliantly fitting them with the tools of life.

But, whoever you are, it takes anyone time to understand and absorb another culture, another person’s day to day. Cathy’s concern was inevitably they would not have the time to absorb what is going on here and made her to say to me last night ;

‘ I would like to say to them, here we are working on the Thai-Burmese border – which is a lawless place whether it looks like it or not, where the rules of neither country are observed; a ‘fringe place’ with many similar examples around the world, and where here, perhaps more than 2-3 million people live in poverty, great jeopardy and without any likelihood of justice; a people disregarded, who are an embarrassment and a nuisance to both countries; their lives of no importance. And I want to say to them that while this is accepted as an attitude by any country, there is no real safety for anyone anywhere.’ And she went on; ‘Am I being pompous? Do you agree with me? Will it help if I say that?’

And of course, I said,’ Yes, it would help’, and ‘ Yes, I think they will understand.’

In Orillia, a group of people have got together to make a film of what is happening here. I do not know whether it has a title yet, but perhaps we should call it: ‘A Community Intervenes.’ They have made footage of the College and the Clinic and of the presentation of a Stethoscope to Dr. Cynthia, a gift to honor her, from the doctors at Soldiers Memorial Hospital. It came with a short speech of appreciation of her amazing contribution to her fellow Karen and to the many people from all ethnic groups in Burma. It was given in English and with a special translation into Broken Burmese, which hopefully lightened her day. Slowly we are all learning from people like Dr. Cynthia that taking care of another is taking care of yourself.

Here, in Thailand, the professionals, academics and middle classes generally have been demonstrating against the corruption of the present government, bringing travel and tourism, vital to Thailand’s economy, to a standstill with an extraordinarily disciplined and peaceful takeover of Suvarnabhumi airport in Bangkok. The much revered King of Thailand’s birthday was looming on the 4th. of December and the protesters respectfully decided to pack up and go home, but this is unlikely to be anything but a momentary lull. Though the King did not address his people and has certainly become quite frail recently, he took the time to ask Cynthia to visit and presented her with another award. The King in Thailand carries a huge and well earned moral authority. His recent silence on his birthday could be seen as a reprimand of the corruption in the government. While his recognition of Cynthia and through her, of the importance of the Karen in Thai society will be taken by many as an attitude to be adopted as he nudges his people into a more enlightened attitude.

Trying to understand, and attempting to improve, so often takes us deeper into the maze. At least fifty thousand people live a half life in Mae Lah refugee camp alone, unable to travel outside the narrow confines of the camp, unable to work, prevented from living in a permanent house, certainly receiving some level of education, but with no direction for its use. Not surprisingly alcohol and drug abuse become a problem. The failure of the British to leave a reasonably workable political legacy in a multiethnic society has left three devastated generations, in Burma proper, in the territories of the ethnic minorities, amongst the expatriates, who have gone to live in Australia, Canada, the U.S and the Baltic countries, and the people, growing up in the camps and those living the ultimate life of insecurity as illegal immigrants . The UN’s emigration policy for the Karen provides a weak-kneed answer for some individuals, at the same time; it destroys both the leadership and the culture. The Juntas policy is clear: submit or suffer slow extermination. The Thai at present prefer to look the other way. We cannot expect much change in attitude from the Junta, but a gradual relaxation of the rules of citizenship for the Karen on this side of the border would be to the long-term benefit of Thailand . The king of Thailand, a strong believer in peaceful settlement knows this very well. And coming back to the original question: ‘Is this a dangerous place?’ ‘ Yes, of course, it is.’ Is this a good reason for not trying to do something about it?’ ‘No, that would be a far more dangerous thing to do.’