Myanmar Refugees In Thailand Cheer Suu Kyi

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Myanmar refugees in Thailand cheer Suu Kyi

by Hla Hla Htay

Mae La Camp, Thailand, June 2, 2012 (AFP) - Aung San Suu Kyi was given a rapturous welcome Saturday by thousands of Myanmar refugees forced by fighting and human rights abuses in their homeland to live in a Thai border camp.

Amid chaotic scenes, Suu Kyi stood on a plastic chair and without the aid of a microphone shouted her greetings to the jubilant crowd at the Mae La camp, in northwestern Thailand.

"I will try as much as I can for you to go back home," she said. "I will try to help as best I can with your healthcare needs," she added, pledging that "I will not forget you all".

It was the first time the Nobel laureate has met any of the estimated 140,000 refugees in Thailand, casting a light on their conditions after years of war and poverty that has driven them from their homes in Myanmar.

Her visit came on the last full day of her first overseas foray for 24 years, during which she has charmed global business leaders gathered in Bangkok for a forum and visited the kingdom's Myanmar communities.

Suu Kyi met camp leaders for 90 minutes and then delivered her brief message as refugees, many waving flags and wearing traditional dress, chanted "Mother Suu" in Burmese.

Mae La camp, home to nearly 50,000 refugees, is mainly populated by ethnic Karen people displaced by a vicious war that has rumbled on since 1949.

The Karen National Union signed a pact with Myanmar's reform-minded government in January this year in a move that raised hopes of a permanent end to one of the world's oldest civil conflicts.

Its armed wing has been waging Myanmar's longest-running insurgency, battling the government in the eastern jungle near the Thai border.

The camp, an ordered sprawl of bamboo huts topped with thatched roofs, is ringed by a perimeter fence, and security checkpoints keep residents in and unwanted visitors out.

Vast numbers of people fled the Myanmar government's counter-insurgency campaign, which rights groups said deliberately targeted civilians, driving them from their homes, destroying villages and forcing them to work for the army.

May Phaw Kyi, a 37-year-old Karen refugee who arrived in the camp in 2006, said Suu Kyi gave her hope of a return to her village.

"We want to go back to our village to be reunited with our parents, brothers and sisters. We can if we get democracy."

Years of war have left the Karen region littered with landmines while development has been held back, leaving dilapidated infrastructure and threadbare education and health services.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2012-06-02

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Thousands of Myanmar refugees greet Aung San Suu Kyi

Mae La, Thailand - Thousands of Myanmar refugees on Saturday greeted democracy champion Aung San Suu Kyi at Mae La camp on the Thai side of the border where many have lived for two decades.

The refugees, mostly ethnic minorities dressed in traditional costume, cheered and waved placards as Suu Kyi arrived at the camp 50 kilometres north of Mae Sot.

Suu Kyi toured the camp and held talks with leaders but was not allowed by Thai administrators to deliver a speech to the refugees, sources said.

The congested camp of bamboo houses with thatched roofs holds 50,000 refugees of the Karen, Kachin, China and Muslim minorities.

Some have lived there for 20 years. Half the population was born in the camp officials said.

Hopes ran high that Suu Kyi, 66, could help them return safely to their homes in Myanmar someday.

"We want to go back to Burma, but not now," said Ma Bee, 47, a Karen refugee who has lived in Mae La since 1995.

An estimated 145,000 refugees live in border camps near Mae Sot, Tak province, 500 kilometres north of Bangkok.

Most come from the Karen State, where the Myanmar army has been fighting the Karen National Union for the past two decades.

The government of President Thein Sein that took office in March 2011 has signed a tentative ceasefire with the Karen, but skepticism runs high.

"Full participation for refugees in all planning for return" read one placard in Mae La.

The refugees held flags of Thailand and Myanmar’s National League for Democracy (NLD) flags

-- The Nation 2012-06-02

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Suu Kyi visits Mae La camp in Tak

TAK, June 2--- Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi on Saturday was warmly welcomed while visiting Myanmar people living at the Mae La camp along the Thai-Myanmar border in the western province of Tak.

Greeted by about 50,000 supporters, Suu Kyi was briefed about the living conditions and problems of Myanmar people living here and met with community leaders at the hospital in the camp.

The Mae La camp accommodates 45,000 mainly ethnic Karen people.

Earlier in the morning, Suu Kyi arrived at the airport in Mae Sot district amid tight security, warmly welcomed by a crowd of Myanmar supporters in white T-shirts bearing portraits of the Myanmar democracy icon.

At the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, Myanmar people traversed the Mae Sot-Myawaddy border crossing in the hopes of meeting Suu Kyi as well.

After finishing her visit in Tak, she was scheduled to hold a press conference at Mae Sot airport in the afternoon.

The six-day visit to Thailand beginning on May 29 marks Suu Kyi’s first trip outside of Burma in 24 years.

The Nobel laureate spent 15 years in detention before being released from house arrest in Nov 2010. Ms Suu Kyi, chairperson of the National League for Democracy (NLD), won a by-election for parliament last month and has taken her seat in the country’s parliament. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2012-06-02

[bigbamboo]

South East Asia's answer to Mandela. All power to her.

[UbonOz]

She's not in it for the money.

Why are there not more like her in the political arena?

[rkidlad]

If only Thailand had someone like her.

[nigelnigel]

They didn't mention that the Thai military would not let the masses gather to hear her speak. They also did not allow her to have a microphone so only a handful of people got to hear her messages. There are over 50,000 people in the camp looking for hope and a champion and the Thai military put the boot down on that hope for now. Wonder what they are scared of?

http://www.irrawaddy.org/archives/5665

Edited June 2, 2012 by nigelnigel

[Skywalker69]

Shame on Thaksin for having the stomach to compare him self with the "Lady"

[ianf]

Shame on Thaksin for having the stomach to compare him self with the "Lady"

Spot on. Well said. That was one of the most stupid things that the ignora bt Thaksin came out with. My Mrs calls him the King of Kwais!