Mae Sot

Thailand

Phannu House
Canadian Daves

Green Hopes Center

Famous Rays

SAW Office
Healthcare House

Lucky Tea Garden

Safe House

Childrens Crisis Center

SAW School

Friendship Bridge on the Burma

border

SAW Office

Food

City Center
The city center is bustling with
life. Tuk tuks buzz here and
there offering a quick way to
get from A to B. Bikes and
motorcycles are common due
to their ability to navigate
through traffic and crowds.
The city center is filled with
banks, jewelry shops and many

Economy
Major Gateway City on a nation-wide basis
High density economic trading area
Centered on transnational road Asian Highway AH1
Domestic Airport (many airports have cancelled flights to the area
due to high fuel costs)
In 2012, Indias foreign minister spoke about opening a highway
between Moreh, India, and the Burma-Thai border situated around
Mae Sot to increase interconnectedness in the region

Economy
Special market goods for wholesale gems
Most service industries are supported by Burmese
migrants who often work in sweat shops and factories
Large black market trade in illegal slaves and narcotics
Minor tourist destination, primarily used as a rest location
for Myawaddy, the city across the river in Burma
Also used in lodging for the Umphang District in the South
a large mountain trekking destination

Major Occupations
Migrant workers often obtain low-wage factory jobs
Migrant workers are often exploited
SAW attempts to educate migrant workers on their labor
rights
Many migrants live in a trash dump near the Thai-Burma
border

Daily Life of a Burmese Migrant in Mae Sot

A woman living near the Mae Sot airport, along with 3 children, was referred to SAW.
She had to work very hard to support her children, as her husband was a heavy drinker
and drug user.
She warned him not use drugs because it is illegal, but he didnt pay attention what she
said. One day, she demanded divorce, but he beat and tortured her.
She complained that he didnt provide any food for the family and didnt care for the
family, and was often beaten as a result.
After finally escaping, she arrived in SAW as a domenstic violence case
She had a number of physical injuries and SAW had to undertake effective counselling to
her and to provide for her temporary accommodation, food and other basic needs
including physical and mental health services.
We tried to contact with her husband by phone, to meet with him face-to-face and clarify
the situation
SAW staff were able to reestablish a relationship between her and her husband.
After 3-4 months, we monitored and evaluated her and asked her how often she had
disagreement with her husband. It doesnt occur very often according to her view.
In addition, she now has access to work in factory where she receives 130 Baht per-day.
She can therefore send three children to attend school with having anxiety.

Burma at Large
Serious human rights abuses against civilians in several regions
continue, including against women and children (White House,
2012)
Human trafficking and child labor are common (Amnesty
International)
Military regime accused in 2012 of systematic rape and taking
sex slaves (Human Rights Watch)
Human Rights Watch 2015 Report:
Several thousand civilians have fled military abuses, including reported
shelling of populated areas

At least 27 political prisoners and roughly 200 people facing charges for
exercising free speech

Media freedoms decreased due to governmental intimidation of media

Freelance reporter tortured and killed when reporting on ethnic conflict

Thai-Burmese Border

An estimated 350,000 people remain internally

displaced in eastern Burma
More than 110,000 refugees live in nine camps
across the border in Thailand.
Because of a lack of security in the area,
extensive landmine infestation, poor rule of law,
and an absence of even basic infrastructure and
services any repatriation of refugees would not
be sustainable and in line with international
standards.

Demographics
About a quarter of the population belongs to one of
Thailand's hill tribes:
Yao, Karen (Thai Kariang)
Akha (Thai Akha)
Lahu (Thai Musoe)
Hmong (Thai Mong)
Lisu (Thai Lisaw)
The largest tribe in Tak is Karen.

Checkpoints
This immigration officials have checkpoints along all major roads

leaving and entering into the city center

They check for documentation, however, they are know to demand
bribes even when documentation is presented
This limits the mobility of the migrants
SAW has to weight the benefit of going to the distant communities with
the risk of being caught
They often carry a standard bribe with incase they get caught
If SAW were to get stopped their medical supplies would be confiscated

Community Raids
The new strict migrant policies have led the Thai police to
arrest entire communities of Burmese migrants.
The communities are then deported
SAW Staff can be affected to (the raids are often
indiscriminate of whether individuals actually have proper
documentation that allows them to stay in the country)

Education Opportunities
The Education Act of 2005 offers free education to all (including illegal
Burmese migrants)
However, the Thai schools have a limited number of spots for Burmese students, and the
schools are built very far away from the Burmese communities and do not offer busing

For these reasons the Thai schools are not a viable educational opportunity

There are very expensive private schools

There is a Chinese school in the city center of Mae Sot

There is the SAW school which covers grades K-8

However they now also offer GED courses

The only other option is to travel out and to go to a Migrant Learning Center

Common Health Concerns

CHOP III addresses personal hygiene and dental needs
Newer initiatives focus on reproductive health and the prevention
of sexually transmitted diseases

Domestic violence concerns are also regularly addressed

Available Health Services

SAW

HIV care is offered at the SAW office

Dr. Htin Zaw and the mobile medical team can provide care up to a certain level
The Mae Tao Clinic
Free care sponsored by foreign governments
Serves 150,000 patients. 50% from Mae Sot and Phop Phra, 50% from Burma
Thai hospitals
This is not a viable option because illegal migrants are afraid of deportation, and
the care is very expensive

Refugee Camps
Substantial population of Burmese refugees and economic migrants
Exact number of Burmese in Mae Sot is unclear, but estimates say that over 100,000
exist in addition to the 106,000 already recorded in the official census.

Mae Tao Clinic

Just outside the west of town
Established by the Burmese/Karen DrCynthia Maungto offer free medical services
to Burmese who do not qualify for treatment at the Mae Sot Hospital

The Mae Sot region has around 70 migrant schools that started spontaneously to
meet the needs of the 30,000 children who have crossed the border with their
parents from Burma. Students are a mix of refugees and economic migrants.

Of this number only 7,000 currently attend school. The schools range in size from 20
to over 650 students (Hsa Thoo Lei School). These schools receive no support from
the Thai government and rely solely on their resourcefulness and international
support.