"Johnny" Warrior Highlights Refugee

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Subject: "Johnny" Warrior Highlights Refugees Desire to build Future Away from Camps

"All the Burmese students talked to agreed they will go to a third
country if they have the chance.
"Although we get an income and free meals here, we would like to finish
our studies and find a job
with a future. That would be better than staying here with nothing to
do," said Ba Than, 32. He was
a geography sophomore at Moulmein University, but has lived at the camp
for over three years.
Courses at Maneeloy cover only English, vocational skills and sewing, he
said.
"Friends who went to the US, Australia and Canada told me that they
already have citizenship, have
a chance to study, earn US$8-9 per hour from their jobs and enjoy
privacy," said Aye Thein Htwe,
29, a former student at Rangoon University
> 
> Camp more a community than refuge
> 'Johnny' seen 3 days before embassy siege
> Supoj Wancharoen
> Six years ago the Interior Ministry registered a 20-rai block of land
> in Pakthor district of Ratchaburi province as a "safe Burmese student
> centre".
> Known as the Maneeloy holding camp, it was a place where Burmese
> dissident students could live comfortably, with UN funding, away from
> the persecution in their homeland.
> According to local residents, the centre began with fewer than 20
> Burmese fugitive students, but the number has since grown to nearly
> 2,000.
> A Burmese student admitted the centre, which was formerly a border
> patrol police camp, is also home to many colleagues who have not
> registered with the Interior Ministry.
> The students-cum-refugees are provided with dormitory accommodation
> and those who need privacy can build their own shacks. Some have
> married and have children, nephews and nieces. As a result, the
> Maneeloy camp functions like a community.
> The "community" is demarcated only by a 1.5m high barbed wire fence.
> The strands have been stretched apart by students who are too lazy to
> use the main gate when they want to visit outside food shops for a
> change from the free meals they are provided with three times a day.
> The refugees can afford to eat and drink outside the camp because
> everyone receives 800 baht per month from the United Nations High
> Commissioner for Refugees. Thai staff said the Burmese are allowed out
> during official working hours.
> Four food shops catering to the Burmese have been opened in the homes
> of Thai villagers living nearby. The students often hang out there
> throughout the day-relaxing, eating, sometimes drinking and singing,
> and exchanging views with local Thais.
> These four shops take in tens of thousands of baht monthly, not
> including the profits from the underground lottery which amount to
> nearly 10,000 baht per month.
> Koon Kingplong, 59, has run her food shop for nearly three months. She
> charges 15 baht a plate, and 20 baht with a fried egg on top. Some
> students pay their bills monthly.
> Despite the controversy over the armed takeover of the Burmese embassy
> last weekend, she feels indifferent to it. The Burmese students at
> Maneeloy are peaceful and she has never seen a fight there.
> "Thai staff at the centre do not impose strict controls unless
> something serious happens. I saw Johnny [the leader of the embassy
> dissidents] at the camp frequently.
> "He was here three days before the siege and looked normal, not
> aggressive," Mrs Koon said.
> The students largely run the camp themselves. Every six months they
> elect an administrative committee of 19, including the chairman.
> Members have different responsibilities, to handle foreign affairs,
> alliance relations, politics, news, finance, discipline and social
> affairs in the camp.
> Shwe Hla, 36, the vice chairman, said the work is demanding as they
> have to take care of everyone and ensure living conditions are
> acceptable.
> Someone who is seriously ill cannot go directly to a doctor, Shwe Hla
> said.
> The patient must go first to a clinic run by the International Rescue
> Committee established by non-governmental organisations. There is no
> doctor at the clinic, only a Thai nurse. The patient needs a
> certificate from the clinic before he can travel to a hospital that
> has connections with the UNHCR.
> All the Burmese students talked to agreed they will go to a third
> country if they have the chance.
> "Although we get an income and free meals here, we would like to
> finish our studies and find a job with a future. That would be better
> than staying here with nothing to do," said Ba Than, 32. He was a
> geography sophomore at Moulmein University, but has lived at the camp
> for over three years. Courses at Maneeloy cover only English,
> vocational skills and sewing, he said.
> "Friends who went to the US, Australia and Canada told me that they
> already have citizenship, have a chance to study, earn US$8-9 per hour
> from their jobs and enjoy privacy," said Aye Thein Htwe, 29, a former
> student at Rangoon University.
> He admitted he did not have the same chances, but said living in
> Thailand was better than in Burma.
> Both disagree with the actions of the self-styled Vigorous Burmese
> Student Warriors, who used force to take over the Burmese embassy.
> "I have no idea how Johnny and his group got those weapons. We have
> seen them, but don't know them well. "I don't think they will return
> to Burma or they will be killed. They must be somewhere along the
> border area," Aye Thein Htwe said.