Life on the Thailand-Myanmar Border

BBC News:

In the first of a series of articles from the Thai-Burma border, the BBC’s Kate McGeown looks at the thousands of political and economic migrants who flee Burma for Thailand every year.

If you did not know that the town of Mae Sot was in Thailand, you would probably assume it was in Burma.

Burmese script is written on almost every shop front, most of the men walk round town wearing longyis (sarongs) and traditional Burmese teashops are on every corner.

The presence of so much that is quintessentially Burmese is unsurprising, given that Burmese nationals in this border town now outnumber Thais by more than two to one.

It is the same story in the countryside nearby, which is home to an increasing number of Burmese living in UN-administered camps, as well as a large population of economic migrants.

Despite the fact they are in the minority, being a Thai in this area has distinct advantages. Most Burmese are either confined to refugee camps, or working to feed their families amidst the constant threat of deportation.

“Burmese people face many challenges here,” said Ko Phyo, the deputy head of local migrant association Yaung Chi Oo (New Dawn).

“But every year more continue to come, because the situation in Burma is getting worse and worse.”