My Visit To Burma

by Frank Anello, Founder & ED

Recently I took a trip to Burma and spent 2 weeks in Kachin state, which is located to the North on the China Border. This area was under the rule of the KIO (Kachin Independent Organization) and Protected by the KIA (Kachin Independence Army). I spent much of my time visiting in the IDP (Internally Displaced People Camps). These camps had been in place for the past three years as fighting broke out in 2011. I had been in Refugee camps on the Thai border, but this was much different.

These camps had very little support due to the difficulty of its location being so close to China. The IDP camps have very poor sanitation and a very poor food supply. One camp had 1700 people in it and the other had 3000. These were just two of many IDP camps holding over 100,000 refugees.

Many people were shocked to see me walking through the camp since they new how difficult it was for me to be there and would thank me for coming to visit them. They would tell me stories of how the Burma army would attack them and how they are trying to eliminate them from existence. I learned that there were only a few areas in Kachin state that are still in their control and the Kachin army struggles to keep its army strong to withstand attack and preserve their culture. Once the Burma Army invades an area and takes control, they attempt to eliminate the Kachin history and language from all the school systems, forcing everyone to only learn Burmese.

Kachin Soldiers Training, Kachin Independence Army (Video Clip 32 seconds)

I learned that the Kachin also have to worry about China playing both sides of the conflict, supplying arms to Kachin state in exchange for access to they’re natural resources. China is working to dam the rivers which would then take hydroelectric power produced from the dams for themselves. The amount of electricity that China would take from the Kachin could power 80% of Burma. They are also digging rare earth mines destroying the environment and rice fields.

Everyone I would visit asked me to please share their struggles back in America. We must keep moving in the direction of serving our brothers and sisters. My travels to learn more about the plight of the refugee strengthens my conviction that we have a great resposibility to serve refugees right here in our city. The people that we work with here have come from horrible situations and though the few that make it here are fortunate to be here, they need our assistance in welcoming them and helping them to become a part of our beautiful city. The future is that the families and children we serve today may one day return to their country as reformists for peace and equality tommorrow.

Blessings,

Frank

 

#burma, #kachin-state, #refugees

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