From a perspective of “a” Thai resident on this matter ( I cannot honestly say ALL Thai people agrees with me, but most of which I encountered shared the same opinion I have), did you know that Thai has always supported refugees from all nations around Thailand? We have refugees’ camp for Burmese-Kayan, Hmong-Laotian, Cambodian, etc. We, Thailand, are just small developing country; although we have the heart, kindness and the willingness to help all those unfortunate people. We always try our best to support them, yet we still lack of many resources; space, money, manpower and jobs to support the refugees.

You might wonder, since your interview has mentioned a girl who was born in the camp and never leave the place, and the application process for resettlement in the United States is taking such a long time. Well, that statement is partly true. From my point of view, Thai government has a priority to take care of Thai people first, call me selfish but that’s all the government in all countries do, isn’t it? Even American Government does. You might said it’s cruel and neglected that Thai Government doesn’t seem to try to help those refugees, when even America, the Third Country, offers to take some of them into the country.

Let’s see, the war in Viet Nam and Laos, which government took the major part in? American? Can I say that American Troops is the reason all these refugees flee their countries into Thailand? I’m not playing the blame game here, but isn’t it the right thing American Government has to do? Clearing up their mess after what they did? Instead of having a permanent camp in Thailand, American should offer to take ALL people affected by the war to relocate to USA. The fact? US only takes educated-skilled labors; doctor, teacher, religion leader, etc. That’s why the resettlement process is taking so long. Americans only wants USEFUL refugees. Those who didn’t pass “the bar” get left behind and stuck in Thai camp, cannot return to the countries they fled, cannot go to America (and all those “third country” offer to take them only if their qualities matched their requirement). We did try to give them jobs and help them be more dependent, but you have to know that these people have no education, skilled or training. Once we trained or taught them to a certain level that they can work, the “third country” will take some of them. What do we have left? Those helpless women and child, completely rely on us to feed and raise them.

So hear us, it’s not that we didn’t care, but we’ve already tried our best and we’re willing to continued doing that. Just one thing we ask for at the moment, in this situation. Please don’t push any more responsibility towards us; we’re not ready for it.