I want to fully explain the news that yesterday in MaeSot, a combined force of soldiers, immigration, and local officials raided the buildings where Burmese refugees were residing.
These buildings are four-story buildings and there are 40 buildings in total. Beginning in July 2022, the New Myanmar Foundation began providing safe houses for Burmese refugees. Later, more people arrived there. As time went on, I came to realize that some leaders had taken no responsibility for their people dumped here. They had no supervision. Sometimes, stealing snacks from local shop nearby happened. Even worse, one time, a mobile phone from a shop was stolen. Nobody from that house led to sort out. The leaders from other buildings resolved these issues because there was no in charge of these culprits. Some made loud noises until late night. They ignored requests from others to stop making these noises. They did not care about others and inappropriately behaved. So, no one wanted to ask them to behave well.
The New Myanmar Foundation has been providing safe houses for Burmese refugees in these four-story buildings. Apart from them, there are other safe houses supported by the NMF. Also, some people who are counting on the NMF have been living there. The New Myanmar Foundation is supporting and caring for over a hundred people in total.
Last week, there was a fist fight and in return, a group of people wanted to use mob action. Our manager for safe houses there who used the violence was taken action. I also went there and verbally apologized for it.
As a leader of the New Myanmar Foundation, I have to take responsibility for the physical and mental safety of all Burmese people in that neighborhood. So, a coordinating meeting with each in charge of these buildings was held and I gave message as follows:
One leader each from the buildings would discuss and sort out issues regularly. All residents had to follow them.
If there was a matter, a discussion would be held with the leaders of the organizations or the individual who rented the buildings.
Otherwise, it would need to discuss with the owner of the building.
If a discussion with the owner does not work, that matter would be reported to the police and all other necessary follow-ups will be done.
All the above actions are required for the sake of our Burmese people in that neighborhood. We will never let the people think they could do whatever they want without caring about the whole community.
Yesterday, I heard that Thai officials raided the buildings at 13:00 yesterday. I contacted the UNHCR hotline number to get help. They requested the list of the people and photos. So, we sent what they have requested. (Later, they called us back and we informed them that the situation are handled well.) Neither the in charge of our contact person for security cards nor the manager of the buildings said they could help.
When I got there, I found all Burmese sitting on the ground in the main road under hot sun. I met with the Thai military team leader. He explained that they came to check if there were weapons or not, that they would not arrest Burmese people and, that they just wanted to ask them questions on it. Although they gave a name of the wanted person, he was not in the crowd.
I explained them that these Burmese people were just refugees. A young girl whose parents were prisoners and her father died in prison and, a woman with two young daughters who were taking refuge at our safe houses because her husband was in Bangkok prison were requested to stand up and shown to the Thai authorities. A moment later, the authorities said the people could go back to their residences. No one from the crowd was arrested.
One of the Thai authorities asked me about these people; where were they from, who was supporting them, which NGOs or countries were supporting them, how much cash assistance they received, and whether they were CDMs or PDFs, and finally they asked about our organization, the New Myanmar Foundation. They took my contact number in case of requiring to know more about these people.
He also said;
They had the authority to arrest these people. However, they would not do that because of their empathy for them. They only wanted Burmese people to respect and follow the rules of the local people in Maesot and cause no inconvenience to them. He also explained the challenges and burdens of Thailand relating to handling these situations of the refugee people.
Later, it was found out that Thai authorities confiscated drones, remote controls, army uniforms, and liquid oxygen tanks. They also took two boys.
I found that;
The Thai authorities made no threat or violence towards the Burmese people.
They seemed just to come and search the arms and ammunitions.
They detained no one except two boys.
No guns and even a single bullet was found.
I assumed that;
There was just a rare possibility that Thai authorities would raid these buildings again in the future unless they received information about possessing and distributing weapons and military equipment.
Thai authorities wanted to talk with the Burmese leaders or someone who could take accountability for the Burmese people from the houses. It would be better if we could provide one. Doing so will ensure their safety in that neighborhood.
Currently, there was no risk of arresting Burmese people.
People would face a situation like this one day even if they moved to another place. So, moving to another residence would not be a good decision.
Thailand is under military rule like our country. It has already been stated that if they found the people living in Thailand and assisting the armed resistance in Burma, action against them would be taken. Take note of that.
This was a good opportunity for UNHCR applicants. Please inform them and embassies that it was lack of security and safety although they were living in very low profile and precarious condition in Maesot.
At the moment, the New Myanmar Foundation would coordinate with the leaders from the neighborhood and take responsibility for the security of people in these buildings. Please follow the rules that all house leaders have agreed to.
People can post the news without describing the exact location.
These physical and mental sufferings of the people would be ceased only if the military dictatorship is removed and democracy restored. So, all the Burmese people need to participate in restoration of democracy in our country. The rest is to show mutual understanding each other and be patient during this difficult time.
