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Third Country Resettlement Sparks Hot Talk

By Sharreh Rocco In Karenni Refugee Camp 1, near the Thai-Burmese border town of Mae Hong Son, the hottest topic around is the United Nation’s resettlement program to a third country.

Though many Burmese refugees like the Karen and the Chin have been resettled, this is the first time that refugees from the Karenni camps are to be resettled. Nearly 500 of the camp’s more than 20,000 people are expected to be chosen for resettlement in Finland, New Zealand and the United States.

Although the program still does not have an exact timeline, there is much anticipation. Some camp residents have already sold off their properties.

Despite the excitement, many who will remain in the camp are unhappy about the program.

Husbands and wives quarrel. A husband, enraged with his family’s failure for selection after the first set of interviews, starts an argument with his wife, who opposed the idea of being resettled.

“I want to divorce her, because she makes our family’s good fate go to waste,” said Maung Nokh. Both husband and wife are struggling hard to make a living and to plan for the future of their children.

“I am sure if we were selected, there would be much a better chance for our children in terms of access to education. Honestly, being in this situation, I do not see any upcoming changes in our country,” he added.

However, Maung Nokh’s wife has her own reasons to stay. “I have my mother, who really loves me, and I don’t want to leave her alone. Therefore I can’t go, as she was not selected to go with me,” she said.

The news of the third country resettlement reached the camp in August, and spread like wild fire.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) explained that the selection for third country resettlement was done for the Karennis this time because of the long-term political problems in Burma. The agency also cited the lack of opportunity for children in the camps, according to Ti Reh, camp chairman.

The selection process has disrupted studies. Lu Reh, a university student, just gave up his education in Bangkok, where he was a second-year student. Last month, he came back to the camp for his interview with representatives from the UNHCR. But he could not go back to Bangkok to continue his studies because of the extremely high fares for traveling. He is hoping to be resettled in Finland.

Camp students – including those not directly involved in the selection process – have also failed exams due to all the gossip surrounding the program.

“My children are not concentrating on their lessons anymore, just talking about their friends’ program of going to Third countries, as we are unluckily not selected for that,” said Bu Meh, a mother of three.

A few have felt the stress in an extreme way. A mentally ill person recently committed suicide, hanging himself with a rope inside his room. The reason for the suicide is not known. But a camp security official said, “I think he was depressed with his relatives leaving for a far away place, as the distance between Burma and Thailand has already given him enough trouble.”

Many camp residents are also unhappy that many of the camp officials have applied for resettlement. On a sign board in the middle of the camp, there was a picture a man pointing to another man, with writing that said, “Have you paid all of your debt that you eat every day?”

Though to many it wasn’t clear what the sign meant, some camp officials recognized it as a serious political warning. They interpreted it as meaning many are unhappy that camp officials are applying for the program and not giving a chance to ordinary people.

“I am unhappy with a number of leaders here, as they are happy with their position already. And now they are greedily trying to monopolize the opportunity again,” said a source who wished not to be named.

“I think it is because people who really want to go are not selected,” said Maung Htoe, whose family has been selected for resettlement to the US. He added that some people even plan to demonstrate on the day the selected people leave the camp.

“Because they only think conservatively that UNHCR is trying to separate our people, culture, and literature,” Maung Htoe added.

“Actually this is the very best chance for us,” said Khon khu, a man whose family has been struggling to get sponsors from countries like Australia and Italy, and who has spent thousands of baht calling foreign embassies.

Some who are not selected feel they have been ignored. They must continue living under restricted circumstances where finding food is a hurdle and traveling outside the camp is difficult and expensive because of security reasons.

“Though we are not selected for the program, we will be happy if we can earn a decent living with a little more income as we have a large family to support,” said a father who has rejected along with his family during the interview process. “We have to think of social developments— and supporting them to go to school though we can’t be selected for a third country.”

A woman named Beh Lahr, whose family was selected, has resigned from her job as a nursery teacher. Some neighbors think that it might be a big problem if she should fail to go.

But Beh Lahr said she didn’t expect any problems. She is very optimistic that she will go to Finland.