KRM Director Visits Karen Refugee Camps in Thailand

In August 2006, KRM began assisting a new population, as the first refugees belonging to Burma’s Karen ethnic minority arrived in Louisville.

For over two decades, the Karen, along with other ethnic minorities in Burma, have suffered severe persecution by the country’s repressive military junta. Attacks by government troops in eastern Burma have resulted in the destruction of thousands of Karen villages, massive displacement of civilians, and a well-documented pattern of human rights abuses including torture, rape, child labor and summary executions.

Seeking a safe haven, a large number of Karen have crossed the border into Thailand, where 10 international NGOs comprising the Thailand Burma Border Consortium have, in coordination with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Thai government, established a cluster of nine camps for Burmese refugees. Currently, over 100,000 Karen and 60,000 Burmese from other minority groups live in these camps.

Many of the Burmese refugees have lived in the Thai camps for over a decade; a third were born there. However, by the end of 2007 as many as 18,000 Burmese refugees, mostly Karen, will be resettled from the Thai camps to the United States. Louisville will receive over 200, with both Kentucky Refugee Ministries and Catholic Charities participating in the resettlement.

To assess the needs of the Karen refugees coming to Louisville, KRM Director Carol Young visited the Mae La refugee camp in Thailand in 2007. The trip was sponsored by Church World Service (CWS), and included directors from other CWS affiliates who are resettling Karen refugees. (In addition to participating in the U.S. resettlement of refugees from Burma and dozens of other countries, Church World Service is one of the member NGOs of the Thailand Burma Border Consortium.)

There are currently over 48,000 (mostly Karen) refugees living in the Mae La camp. As is evident from the Mae La photos, the Karen themselves play a prominent role in the administration of the camp.

Some recently-arrived Karen in Louisville.

Those interested in learning more about the Karen and other Burmese refugees who are arriving in Louisville are encouraged to visit the links below.

*  Burmese Refugees on Way to US (BBC, Aug 29, 2006)
*  American Dream for Burmese Refugees (BBC, Sept 1, 2006)
*  Church World Service forum focuses on Burma's abuse of ethnic minorities
*  Thailand Burma Border Consortium
*  Burma Issues
*  Karen Human Rights Group
*  KRM Client Profile: Kwee