Democracy village was built by Burmese refugee from Nat Ein Daung area after the area was taken by Burmese army in December, 1992. Troops from Thai army 9th Infantry Division burnt the village down on April 7, 1993. It is unofficial Thai military's policy not to allow permanenet Burmese refugee settlements on Thai soil. This will keep refugees on the run. They also want to clear the area from refugees in order to build the Unocal sponsored gas pipeline which passed through the area.
(right to left: Win Min, Ko Aung Thu Nyein, Ko Moe Thee and unknown visitors at Thapsake camp in 1994?) We moved to this area after the fall of Nat Ein Daung in 1992.
This is one of the several villages built after Nat Ein Daung was occupied by Burmese army. Most of 102 members resettled there. Ko Phone Kyaw (far left-sitting). Again, this village was burnt down by Thai border police less than a year later. After this, 102 moved again to furthur south, Hua Hin region.
This story had a happy ending. I was there to help the refugees build a clinic. They came and got me at night. The father told me that placenta had not come out yet. Mother did not know she was having twins. I did the exam and felt the baby's head. The baby was blue when he came out. We did all kinds of stimulation (hold upside down, suction mucus with suction bulb, slapping feet..etc) without any luck. Finally, mouth to mouth resuscitation did the magic. That was the sweetest cry we heard. I was sure parents were excited too.
We were building a clinic in Kyauk Ka Din village, a refugee camp inside Thailand. As usual, Thai authorities forced the villagers to move to a new place 1 year later. They do not want a permanent resettlement inside Thailand. After 3 years in the jungle, we became expert in building using bamboo.
