KAREN REFUGEE COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER MONTHLY REPORT AUGUST, 2008

Transcription

1 KAREN REFUGEE COMMITTEE NEWSLETTER & MONTHLY REPORT AUGUST, 2008

2 Karen Refugee Committee Newsletter & Monthly Report August, 2008 The Month of AUGUST was dedicated to the memory of Augustus Caesar, the First Emperor of the Roman Empire - An adoptive nephew of Julius Caesar, he was a great Military Man Possessed of remarkable skills in Administration and Manipulative Politics. He achieved what Julius Caesar cannot, becoming the Ruler of the Powerful Roman Empire. He was an example for many people with the Military mind-set to follow in his footsteps. Military establishments, set up for Protection of States have become a means for glory seeking people to achieve ultimate Power of Rule. August to all events can be called the month of Explosion which can be attributed not only to the Inventive venture of Man, but to the Forces of Nature as well. Of Natural Explosions, what can be remembered from recorded events would be the awesome Eruption of Mount Vesuvius, on August 24 - year A.D. 79. The entire cities of Pompeii, Herculaneum, and Strabiae were completely buried under Fiery Ash and Lava. Also, on August 1883, mount Krakatoa on the Island of the same name in Indonesia (Then the East Indies) Erupted, blowing away a greater part of the island, and resulting in an estimated 36,000 immediate deaths. The after effect of the Big Blast was to affect a large part of the world for years. It was said to be the Biggest Explosion on Record. Not to be outdone, Man added their own explosives venture to match that of Nature. On August 6th 1945, an Atomic Bomb with Kilotons of Explosive Power was dropped on the Japanese City of Hiroshima. Hundreds of thousands died in the blink of an eye. Another such Bomb was dropped on the city of Nagasaki some days later with the same results. The Bombs ushered in the end of the Second World War. Deads include women, children, and innocents. But that's WAR. With Explosions, we can take into account the Explosions of Human Dissent and the Explosion to counter such dissents. This month, in Georgia, once part of the Soviet Union, but now a free and Democratic Republic, we are seeing internal Dissent Voices. Dissent almost always lead to explosions, But in Georgia, what comes out starkly was the entry, intervention by an outside Power. Powers, normally are quite reluctant to intervene, citing need of Non-interference in internal Affairs, respecting Sovereignty, and Territorial Integrity. But, when self benefits are involved, reasoning stands seem to change. Powers seem to believe they can do what they consider is

3 right, that they can do whatever with the R2P- the Responsibility to Protect. "Double standards" can now have a clearer meaning. With the R2P- in mind we can look back to year 1988 of August 8 th of 1988, the so-called (4 Eights) movement. That was when the suppressed, suffering peoples of Burma opened up with their Dissent of the Military Junta, where there was the "shoot straight" order, culminating in thousands of deaths and unimaginable sufferings. It was an open feature. There was the need of R2P- especially from the Powers that be, including the U.N. But R2P- was no where to be seen-only non-interference, respect of sovereignty. That didn't help, To-day what we see of Burma is that there's more of trouble, use of force, limitations, restrictions, deprivations sufferings. The people have gone through enough. We see more and more people feeling hopeless feel the need to forsake home and country, to seek a better life somewhere. First to go are the refugees, the displaced, who are already dislocated from Home. Now we even see non-displaced, non-refugees, opting to go away where there will be more of a chance for a better living, if only for the children-the Future. For back Home is Future no more. This month we are seeing a lot of features that result from the climate change. There are evidences of Melting Ice, breaking Ice shelf's, in alarming proportion; there was the rising sea water, more moisture, more heat, disparity of Temperature, pressures, strong winds, Heavy Rains, Hurricanes, Floods landslides. These leading to Deaths, Destructions, Displacements, Starvation, Disease. These are testing features, of which one can expect to see more, with more regularity, with more intensity. We can expect to see more with Poor countries and inept leaderships. On the brighter side we see the world effort in partnership, sharing and competition in the spirit of Friendship and Goodwill, the Beijing Olympics. But there is the other side to the Olympics feature with covering-ups, silencing of dissent. Also the picture can be seen of all out attempts to excel in competition, of efforts to the extreme to get the Medal in the name of the state. Competition comparable to all-out War. For this month, one very good feature would be that Thailand, amid trouble-on-going is observing the Birthday of their beloved Queen. The Queen on her part sends out her message of Goodwill together with Her Blessings. One notable feature of the message was for effort to help with Planting Trees, Reforestation, A very simple Message which need to be taken to heart, not only by the people of Thailand, but by all the world's peoples. Forests, and Trees for that matter, helps with all-round need resources, with shelter, shade, wind-break, catchment water, with food, vegetable, medicine, wild-life, giving protection from strong winds, storms, landslides, floods. Trees provide us with many other needs, including clean air each and everyone breathe in, and which no one cannot do without.

4 The message is Simple, but essential in, the state the world is in. Also, it is applicable and timely. Brazil, with the largest of Resource Rain Forest left in our world is now facing this loss, where 8147 sq. kilometers of forests was destroyed between August 2007 and August This follow the loss of 4820 sq. kilometers of Brazil's Forest the year before- Each year, Forests the size of a small country are being lost. Reforestation is practicable, if only people have the awareness and the will. We look and see gatherings of people spending their spare time. In the Olympics, 90,000 a day. We see hordes of people at meets, competition, Rallies, Occasions. If these peoples can spare a fraction of their spare time, say, to plant a tree a day, our world will be richer by billions of trees, in a matter of years. The message from the Queen, need to be taken up by the world's peoples, in awareness, in acceptance and in knowing that it is the only way for survival, of our world. KRC Mae Sot.

5 K.R.C Camps Activities Report. August /8/08 - KRC and some staff went to Nu Po camp for fact finding on problems related to charcoal and sharing information with medic in Nu Po camp. 11/8/08-15/8/08 - The Karen Refugee Committee's Social affairs Coordinator as well as CMSP Administrator went and gave Job Description Training in Htam Him Camp, and mean while Organised one percent (1%) Committee and collecting information relating to History of the camp. 11/8/08 - KRC, LAC, and Mae La camp Committee together had a meeting, and Judicial Issue were discussed. 12/8/08 - the Karen Refugee Committee Deputy Chair Person, and Joint secretary went to Umphiem Camp for Participation in the mothers day celebration ceremony. 16/8/08 KRC Joint secretary visit Karen traditional hand wrist tying celebration ceremony in Umphiem Camp. 22/8/08 - KRC Representatives went to Mae La Camp, to observe the hearing of A,Too Lay case at camps". Judiciary office /8/08 - Representatives of KRC attended "Thailand New Domestic Violence Protection workshop" Organised by LAC, at Watana resort, Mae Sot. 27/8/08 - KRC has an meeting and discussions on. The "Code of Conduct" for CMSP.

6 NUMBER OF PEOPLE IN THE CAMPS August, No. of Over 12 Yrs 6 12 Yrs Under 5 Yrs Total MAE SOT CAMP Families M F M F M F AREA Mae La 7,377 12,834 12,033 5,024 4,553 2,405 2,322 39,171 Um Phiem Mai 4,375 6,602 6,404 1,649 1,422 1,658 1,536 19,271 11,752 19,436 18,437 6,673 5,975 4,063 3,858 58,442 Mae Ra Moe 2,903 5,773 5,606 1,781 1,611 1,208 1,248 17,227 NORTH Mae La Oo 2,830 5,829 5,413 1,793 1,661 1,111 1,077 16,884 Total 5,733 11,602 11,019 3,574 3,272 2,319 2,325 34,111 Noh Poe 3,934 6,725 6,046 1,784 1,706 1,260 1,112 18,633 SOUTH Ban Dong Yang 845 1,461 1, ,520 Htam Him 1,081 1,588 1, ,115 Total 5,860 9,774 9,281 2,725 2,616 2,041 1,831 28,268 Grand Total 23,345 40,812 38,737 12,972 11,863 8,423 8, ,821 We shall always be grateful to the Thai people and Government for their sympathy and understanding in allowing us safe refuge. We are also indebted to the NGOs for their Supports and Services. TBBC Support in Food and Shelter Material. TBBC is also supporting with warm clothing for all the camps. TBBC is Supporting with Camps Management program to help with Administration, Management Stability improvements in all (7) Camps. MSF Support in Medical and Health facilities. AMI Support in Medical and Health facilities. ARC Support in Medical and Health facilities. M.I (Malteser International) formerly MHD Support in Medical and Health facilities. ZOA (ABW aid) Support in Educational facilities Teachers' Training. World Education / Consortium Support in Educational facilities, Teachers' Training and Education for Deaf / Mute / Blinds. TOPS Support in Educational facilities Nurseries. ICS Asia Support in Educational facilities, Teaching, Learning Aid. COERR Rice and Educational support. EVI To be involved with Extremely Vulnerable people, care and support. H.I Support for Refugee Handicaps with Prosthesis and rehabilitation and also year end sporting events for Handicaps. NCA (Norway Church Aid) has been providing KRC with administrative & organizational Support. It has also supported with remuneration for KRC members and workers. UNHCR For Registration Process Protection and Ultimate Safe Repatriation. Now helping with Resettlement. SMRU Support with Malaria Control, Prevention and Treatment. SVA To support with Libraries in the camps. PPAT Parenthood Planning Association Thailand Supporting with Family Planning and Preventive/ Education in Refugee Camps. Address: P.O Box- 5, Mae Sot, Tak-63110, Thailand. Ø (055) Intl: E- Mail: krc.academic@gmail.com. Fax: (055) Intl: Mobile: