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 Home Overseas Projects Thai-Burma Border Region Strategy
Thai-Burma Border Strategic Plan 2005–2008
29 March 2006
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has been directly assisting refugees and migrant workers on the Thai-Burma border since 1995. Projects supported include direct health services, technical and vocational training, and labour rights education and support for migrant workers and refugees.
Young Burmese refugees living on the Thai-Burma border
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Few governments around the world match the Burmese military regime for repression. Opposition and dissent is brutally crushed, civil organisations such as trade unions suppressed, forced labour, slave labour and child labour is common, and the ruling military elite is noted for its corruption and involvement in the illicit drugs trade.
In late 2006 members of the United Nations Security Council put forward a Draft Resolution on the issue of Burma. The draft resolution, initiated by the USA and the UK, called on the Junta controlling Myanmar (Burma) to release all political prisoners, begin widespread dialogue and end its military attacks and human rights abuses against ethnic minorities. Even though the draft received 9 votes in favour, the draft was vetoed by China, Russia and South Africa, so the resolution failed.
In a statement the US Ambassador to the UN said that they were disappointed by the result as it will be the people of Burma who suffer, as the junta "arbitrarily arrests, tortures, rapes and executes its own people, wages war on minorities within its own borders, and builds itself new cities while looking the other way as refugee flows increase, narcotics and human trafficking grow, and communicable diseases remain untreated." (Un News
Services: 12 Jan 2007)
Such social decline was the cause of the 2007 "Saffron Revolution", where hundreds of thousands of monks and ordinary people took to the streets in a number of Burmese towns to protest the government and demand, yet again, democratic representation. Just like in 1988 the people's peaceful protest was met with violent repression, the Military Junta killed hundreds of protestors and arrested many more. However unlike 1988 there have been few people arriving in the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma Border.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA is assisting six projects for Burmese refugees on the Thai-Burma border. These support medic training and mobile medical clinics, vocational training for refugee and displaced communities, schools for refugees as well as support and education for migrant workers about labour rights and OH&S issues in Thailand.
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA history with refugees from Burma
Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA has been directly assisting refugees and migrant workers on the Thai-Burma border since 1995. Projects supported include direct health services, technical and vocational training, and labour rights education for migrant workers and refugees.
Key issues and concerns for refugees from Burma
- Lack of security and uncertainty about the future.
- Fear of potential attacks from the SPDC or their allies.
- Minimal or no opportunities for employment and income generation in refugee camps.
- Low standard of living with poor water and sanitation, no electricity, minimal education for children.
- Lack of opportunity for youth.
- No freedom of movement as refugees are not allowed to leave the camp.
- The Thai government policy doesn't allow new arrivals to be registered as refugees.
- Health problems including malaria, diarrhea diseases, obstetric emergencies and conflict injuries such as land mines.
Key issues and concerns for migrants from Burma
- Exploitation of migrant workers by employers with long work hours, no OH&S equipment, threat of sacking if workers do not comply.
- Economic hardship as migrant workers are paid far lower than the minimal wage set by the Thai authorities.
- Inhuman and unhealthy living conditions.
- Insecurity for migrants to secure ongoing work.
- Lack of access to Thai health system.
- Lack of knowledge about HIV and its transmission.
Key strategies for Union Aid Abroad-APHEDA with refugees and migrants from Burma in 2005-2008
- Improve the livelihoods and skills of Burmese refugees living on the border of Thailand and Burma
- Improve the health conditions for Burmese refugees living on the border of Thailand and Burma
- Improve the working conditions for Burmese migrant workers in Thailand.
Strategic project areas / themes
- Capacity Building
- Income generation
- support for democracy activists
- Medical care
- Migrant workers issues
- HIV
- Women's needs.
Current projects with refugees from Burma in 2008
- Skills training and capacity building for Karen Women refugees.
- Medical care and health education for Shan refugees.
- HIV/AIDS training for migrant workers.
- Workers' rights training and advocacy with migrant workers.
- Medical care and health education for Karen refugees and other Burma refugees in the Mae Sot area.
- supporting democracy activists with skills training and communication support.
Projects for further research and possible development
- Peacebuilding activities
- assisting the activities of Burmese refugee networks and organisations
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