Over 8,200 Christians

need your love, prayers, and support.

     Over 8,200 Karen Christians, most of whom are women and children, will spend yet another dreadful day within the confines of Tham Hin Refugee Camp in Ratchaburi province, Thailand.  These refugees are from the Karen ethnic minority group of Burma (Myanmar).  They are fleeing fighting and persecution that is taking place in their ancient homeland in Burma.  Burma is currently ruled by an illegal military junta that has been condemned by a myriad of nations, world organizations, religious leaders, and human rights organizations for brutalizing its own people. The Burmese government has a long and well-documented history of perpetrating inhuman and barbarous abuses against the Karen ethnic group.

 

The children of Tham Hin...

what is their future?

 

UNHCR High Commissioner Ogata refers to conditions in Tham Hin as “shocking”

     In October 2000 the lady entrusted by the UN to monitor the world’s refugees, Sadako Ogata, referred to Tham Hin refugee camp as “very bad” and “shocking” (Bangkok Post, Oct. 18, 2000).  The Thais have been hospitable for accepting the Karen refugees and nobody should knock them.  Thailand is having enough trouble just feeding its own people, so it is time for the world body to take action, particularly the international Christian community, and lend a hand to Karens and other peoples from Burma who are suffering as refugees.

Backroom Deals and Blood Soaked Money


     Karen refugees first started to arrive in Tham Hin after the Burmese Army’s 1997 offensive against KNU (Karen National Union) controlled areas in Tenasserim District in Burma.  The area where the Burmese Army drove these Karens out of their villages is, by coincidence, near the route of a multi-billion dollar gas pipeline project, as well as a highway project sought to link the port cities of Bangkok, Thailand and Tavoy, Burma.  In fact the “Gateway to the Andaman Sea” highway project, that is now under construction, runs right through a string of razed villages that were once inhabited by the current occupants of Tham Hin.

 

Tham Hin children exercising in the morning...their plastic-covered houses in the background.

Families line up for water between more plastic-covered dwellings.

 

“Hunted Like Animals”

     “Brother,” a Karen refugee from Tham Hin told me, “it's tough in the camp, but for the IDP’s (Internally Displaced Persons) hiding in the jungle it is much worse.”  Some of the Karens that fled their villages after the offensive scattered into the thick jungle along the Thai-Burma border.  The Burmese Army considers these regions free-fire zones and all persons that are spotted are shot on sight.  According to my Karen source, “IDP’s are hunted like animals by Burmese Army patrols.”  But IDP’s not only have to deal with the threat of Burmese Army patrols but also that of land mines, malnutrition, and a plethora of tropical diseases and infections.  According to my research on the border, only a sprinkling of assistance ever reaches the IDP’s of Tenasserim District.

 

 

One of Tham Hin's many crowded dwellings. Though traditionally, Karens use jungle leaves to roof their dwellings, they must use plastic in Tham Hin. It traps the tropical heat inside and as one source says,
"it is like swimming in Hell."

A Baptist church at Tham Hin. My friend manages to muster a smile for the camera, even though he is sick and very skinny.

 

 

Lost Everything Except Their Love for God

     For a jaded Westerner like me, what a blessing it was to see how the Karens of Tham Hin even in the face of suffering and adversity stick together, care for each other, and maintain their dignity.  What a strong sense of community they have!  The Karen people love God, and God’s house and his word have not weakened a scintilla in Tham Hin!  This is faith.  The Tham Hin refugees have nothing, not even a country to go back to, yet their faith remains strong.  We need Karen missionaries to come to the West to help make our spirits stronger and not vice versa.

 


This site is dedicated to the memory of Baldwin Zan, who passed away in Tham Hin Camp in the year 2001.


 

“Please use your liberty to promote ours.”

Daw Aung San Suu Kyi

For comments or more info about the Karen refugees of Tham Hin please contact:

kawthule@yahoo.com






WebCounter