“The Refugees Are Not Included in the Decision-Making Process”: Refugee Interview #4

 

 

The interviewee is a young Karenni male who grew up in a village near Loikaw Township in Karenni State, and was interviewed by Burma Link in Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee camp in March 2015. He was unable to attend school in Burma due to the conflict and lived in fear of direct and indirect consequences of the conflict. Finally he fled to Thailand and to Ban Mai Nai Soi refugee camp with his uncle, safeguarded by Karenni soldiers on the way. The interviewee says he worries about repatriation, as the people of Burma “are still living in fear.” He thinks that repatriation is currently “impossible” and feels that refugees “don’t have any accurate information about the repatriation.” He also discusses the aid cuts in the camp as well as the lack of refugees’ inclusion in the decision-making process in the camp. He wants to say that when there are any important issues taking place concerning the refugees, all the refugees, especially youth, should be included in the meetings for decision-making. “We, youth, should have the right to express our feeling and view on any important issue because it concerns our future.”

 

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BL: How did you come to the camp?

I came here with my uncle and Karenni soldiers by walking from my village to the camp.

 

BL: Why did you come to the camp?

When I was in my village, many Burmese soldiers came into our village and killed many people, and they also dragged so many people in our village to become porters. We always had to run away. I could not go to school, and my heart was always filled with fears. At that time, my uncle told me to come to the camp with him, so that I can go to school. That’s why; I decided to come to the camp with my uncle.

 

BL: Have you left the camp since arrival? When and where did you go?

I went back to my village for two times; the first time was in 2008, and the second time was in 2013. When I went back in 2008, I went back with Karenni soldiers, andthey safeguarded us on the way. It was hard and tiring. I had to walk all the way to my village. It was in the raining season, and we had to avoid the Burmese soldiers on the way. Our rice had gone bad because of the rain, and we didn’t have enough food on the way.

But, my second was a little bit better. I had to walk and took a ride on the car. The situation was a little bit better. There were not many checkpoints, so I arrived safely to my home.

 

BL: How do you feel about living in a refugee camp?

I feel a little bit safe living in the refugee camp, and I am happy that can go to school. On the other hand, I feel sad that I don’t have freedom; I cannot go outside the camp.

 

BL: Has life in the camp changed since May 2014? How?

I don’t see much change in the camp, but recently, I see that there are many training and workshops, such agriculture, make-up, cooking, and etc., are provided for the refugees. I think this is a good opportunity for us. Recently, many Thai authorities come into the camp, but I don’t see anything special about it. I don’t see many restrictions in the camp either after they came.

 

BL: Do you feel that refugees in the camp receive adequate aid and support? If not, can you explain?

If there is damage in our houses, the ACTADC check and provide the materials that needed to repair the house. The materials they provide are not enough for repairing. For example, they provide only 10 bamboos when we need 15 or 16 bamboos for one house. For the new comers, some of them stay with their relatives in the camp.

 

BL: How about food?

Since the aid-cut in 2013, the refugees do not have enough food, so some of them try to do farming on hills outside the camp. It is a little bit hard because many people don’t have jobs.

 

BL: How do you feel about the recent developments inside Burma?

I feel that they are not moving forward to the real development/democracy. Even Burma seems to move toward democracy, I think there are still many flaws in the current situation. I don’t think the people have free and fair election, and freedom to live freely in the country. They are still living in fear.

 

BL: Are you worried about repatriation? Why/why not?

Yes, I worry for security, food, water, and shelter for the repatriation. We need every basic assistance if we are going back to Burma. For now, I, personally, think it is impossible to repatriate. There is no preparation taking place inside Burma for the return. If forced repatriation is going to happen, we will be in big trouble. If the Thai government and UNHCR want us to repatriate, international organizations, the local authority, and the ethnic leaders who are taking charge in the repatriation should work together and need to take responsibility for the return.

 

BL: Do you feel like you have access to accurate information about the camp or any other developments for refugees? Can you explain?

No. In 2014, I heard a rumor in the camp. The people were talking that all the refugees in the camps will be forced to go back in 2015, but I am not sure whether it is true or not. I am worrying if this rumor is true, and we don’t have any accurate information about the repatriation. If anything happens in one of the camps, for example when the camp was on fire in 2013, we want to get access to the accurate information about the news, but we don’t have access to it. We just heard from other people if anything happen.

 

BL: Do you feel that refugees are included in decision making and planning about the camp? Can you explain?

Only the camp committee and the section leaders are in the meeting for decision-making and planning about the camp. After that, they will announce (using loudspeaker) the situation and outcome of the meeting in each section by the section leaders. The refugees are not included in the decision-making process.

 

BL: If you want to voice your concerns about something in the camp, who do you go to?

We don’t have anyone to talk to if we want to voice our concerns; we just stay/keep quite. If there is any problem occurs in the family or something like that, we just go to the camp section leader.

BL: How do you feel about your future? What do you want for your future?

For me, I want to get a UN registration if I have to continue to stay in the camp. If the situation in Burma is not improving, I want to get an opportunity to settle in third-country for my future. But, if the situation in Burma is improving, I would rather go back to my country and live with my family.

 

BL: Is there anything else you would like to say?

I would to say that if there is anything happen or any important issue for the refugees is taking place, all the refugee especially youth should be included in the meeting for decision-making. We, youth, should have the right to express our feeling and view on any important issue because it concerns our future. That’s what I want to say.