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Freedom of Movement Issue

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Friends Without Borders Magazine No.22

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Page 1: Freedom of Movement  Issue
Page 2: Freedom of Movement  Issue

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Hello again! The first news in this issue is directly for our

members. Recently we just tried to improve our member system

so if any of you haven't received the magazine regularly, please

contact us and we'll correct our mistake immediately.

There are 3 months left for those who are interested in

participating our 'Songs Without Borders' project. As the project

is mainly open for newly composed Thai songs, we'll be really

appreciated if our English speaking friends would help by sending

the news to your Thai friends including, of course, the indigenous

peoples in Thailand.

The next news is from the Non-Violence Network. The

2nd Non-Violence Festival will be organized at the Faculty of

Law, Thammasat University 2nd -3rd November. There will be

academic seminars, workshops, cultural performances and a

local products market. For more information, please contact

the Research Center for Peace Building, Mahidol University,

02-8496074.

Lastly, there will be a photo Exhibition “Worry and Love”

By Kornkrit Jianpinidnan during 7 September – 7 October 2007

at F Gallery 3 & Hatena 20 Nimmahemin Soi 11, Chiang Mai

(a green Japanese restaurant, on the right hand side before

the intersection) All are welcomed.

See you in November!

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Friends Without Borders is a Thai NGO, established in 1999 to promote all human rights for all and the

Thai-Burma people's network. With a small team and big groups of friends, the work started from a small

scale, with a hope to expand to wider and more diverse groups of people in Thai society. Our main activities

are alternative media, human rights education and peoples' network promotion via workshop training and

exchange forums, and capacity building and consultancy for community-based organizations.

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Editorial Team

Pim Koetsawang

Supattra Choklarp

Translator

S. Kanchana

Kanokchan Pattanapichai

Pornsuk Koetsawang

English Editors

Sabrina Gyovary

Venessa Lamb

Contributors

Sing Suwannakij

Natchanon Naepawtae

Wasu Sriyapai

and other friends

Art Editor

Wantanee Maneedang

Member and Distribution

Supattra Choklarp

Printer Wanida Press

We are happy to receive comment, suggestions, and articles from all of you. Please contact,

FRIENDS WITHOUT BORDERS P.O. Box 180, Chiangmai University P.O., Chiang Mai 50202 Thailand

Phone & Fax: 053-336298 E-mail: [email protected] www.friends-without-borders.org

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Page 3: Freedom of Movement  Issue

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A few years ago, on the river bank in Luang Phrabang, my eyes

caught a glimpse of middle-aged man who was enjoyably tiptoeing

in the sand, greeting and talking to boat owners in Thai, and

occasionally stopping to take photos of the scenic view. I'd rarely

seen a man of his age and of this simple character traveling alone so

enthusiastically.

The friendly man greeted me and introduced himself. He said

that this was his first time in Laos, and in fact, it was his first time out

of the country and even his first time out of Udon Thani province. His

application for Thai citizenship was just approved a few days ago,

after living here over 40 years and being born in this country. His

parents were Vietnamese refugees fleeing the French suppression in

1946. The Thai authorities issued them stateless minority ID cards,

which do not guarantee the right to travel or move.

He told me that once the ID card was in his hand, he started

traveling - all over the northeastern region of Thailand and then crossed

to Laos. His next plan was to go to Vietnam to see his roots, although

he knows no relatives there.

While preparing Friends Without Borders 'Freedom of

Movements' issue, I was very delight to hear that some of the displaced

Thai friends who told their stories through 'From the Edge of the

Margins' in the last two issues came up to Chiang Mai for the 'Thailand

Indigenous Peoples' Day'. I knew it wasn't easy for these friends,

whose freedom of movement was denied, to join such an honorable

event. Most Thai people do not think about this type of freedom; there

have been very few claims and demands because we are in such a

legal status that allows us to go anywhere we want. Yet, the fact

remains that in this country, there are over a million people who are

not legally able to leave their restricted areas, either a province or a

refugee camp. Many have spent their lives from birth to death only

inside the unseen fence.

This might be considered normal and justified for some who

believe that the state must control the movement of stateless

indigenous peoples, migrant workers, and refugees, so that they could

not come out to 'create problems' against others. Those who will

think twice are able to see that such justifications stem from only the

senseless fear of people who are 'different' from us. Moreover, people

who experience a life where meeting relatives, joining religious

activities, traveling to hospitals, schools, or work outside restricted

areas breaks the law are unable to experience a 'normal' life.

The magazine manuscript was completed on August the 19th,

in a dull political atmosphere. It seems that some unseen powers are

trying to lure us with a scene of only two alternatives; we have only

the choice of accepting dependence on one of the two groups, or

between losing freedom of one form, or another.

Yet, we believe free human will be able to see and find a way

to walk out of these unnatural and unjustified cages. It's the long road

ahead.

Let's join the journey.

With faith in human dignity,

Pim Koetsawang

3

Page 4: Freedom of Movement  Issue

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Page 5: Freedom of Movement  Issue

5

In modern times when effective traveling depends on speed, everyone wishes to

arrive at their destination as quickly as possible so as to enjoy as many activities as

they can. Thus the popular mode of transport has changed. All other enjoyable things

along the path, such as life scenes along the road or interactions and interdependence

between travelers, are ignored.

In the old days, rickshaws used to be an important mode of transport that

connected a different society. Rickshaw taxi riders, however, are viewed as hard

laborers: inferior to other people. And in these days when everything moves so fast,

how can rickshaws remain popular? Many simply view them as a symbol of the past

or a sell-able product of exotic, Eastern culture. Some link rickshaws to a cultural

promotion campaign or even an energy consumption reduction campaign according

to the trend of global warming awareness. These fashion trends come and go while

rickshaws still exist as rickshaws. They remain intact for many lives who choose them

to be one of their first choices.

For rickshaw taxi riders, riding rickshaws is not only an act of transporting a

passenger from one place to another. The meaning is more than skin deep.

Amidst all the changes, rickshaw taxis waiting at the Chiang Mai Gate Market

continue to be alive, thanks to support from sellers and passer-by.

"It's a matter of interdependence, just like between water and boats, or tigers

and forests" said Uncle Nuan who has earned his living on rickshaw taxi service for

more than 20 years. "We help our passengers do other things. We help them carry

heavy goods and belongings from the rickshaws to their doors or even inside the

houses. These sellers are not only passengers but also our long-time friends."

Nuan's opinion fits well with Aunt Yao's story. "I have been using the rickshaw

taxi service for years. My house is around the corner. Every morning at around 4-5

o'clock, the rickshaw taxi riders will come to pick me up, and of course load my

products to deliver them at the market. The driver will come back to pick me up from

the market around noon when the morning market finishes. They always take very

good care of all my belongings and goods. Well, the fee might be a bit more costly

than the 4-wheeled taxis, but I consider the extra for their very reasonable labor,"

said Aunt Yao.

Rickshaw taxi riders, generally own their rickshaws, and live as part of the

local community. They are someone people can rely on. Uncle Mongkol, a 50-year

old who rides his rickshaw around Chiang Mai Gate, always helps his neighbors in Pa

Daed District. "Sometimes, when old people who live by themselves own are sick, I

take them to the hospital. I also talk with the doctors and look after their medication."

"We don't have a luxurious life but it's sustainable. We earn enough to live.

Changing from rickshaw to a Tuk Tuk or motorcycle taxi? No way! It is too costly for

rental and fuel. Most importantly, riding rickshaws may be tiring but I feel good. I

don't have to work hard just to earn enough to cover the costs." Uncle Chai, another

rickshaw owner, explained the reasons of his choice before Pao, the youngest rickshaw

taxi driver who has only 7-8 years experiences of this career said, "Some people

think that riding a rickshaw is too hard. They think that it's not a cool job to do. But in

fact, we have more freedom in our lives. We may have to wake up early but our day

finishes early, around noon or early afternoon. We decide the price. I can ask for the

price I am happy with and the customers can negotiate. Then I can choose whether

I want to take it or not, going or not going. There is no arranged queue, no price

cutting. Everything all depends on us."

"If they will promote rickshaw taxis - people would care more, of course, that

would be great," said Uncle Chai. "But I understand that, in these days, there are

other alternatives which are easier and faster like owned cars and 4-wheeled taxis.

A rickshaw taxi might not be available on main roads that many people travel, too.

I think it is better that the passengers have a choice. Once I heard the government

said it would launch a conservation program or campaign to promote rickshaw taxis

as alternatives but then nothing concrete happened. So I think I'd better concentrate

on my daily life and work and be satisfied with it. As simple as that!"

In these modern times, it is easy to travel anywhere. We don't have to ask

anyone to use their hard labor to take us to the destination. But how can we be sure

that we have greater freedom provided by the speed of machines? Do we really

believe in the rules of the new world, that faster means better, more valuable, and

more free ?

RICKSHAW …

THE ROAD TO FREEDOM

Page 6: Freedom of Movement  Issue

6

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A Swede - whose Asian look belied her nationality (she later told

me that her parents were resettled Korean refugees) - whom

I met on the ferry from Okinawa to Taiwan told me this: "I chatted

with a friend online the other day. She said she's 'still in London'

though I never knew before that she went there. It's the first time in

a long while that I again became conscious of this strange feeling:

we are worlds apart, living in different time of the day, perhaps

different days, but in the cyber-world, it's timeless and spaceless:

the real time is the only time we spent with these words, flat images

and windows. Through typed characters, she talked to me about

her life there in her own ways, and it seemed to me that she had

not changed much. She was talking about going back to Hanoi.

Even with this full freedom to move, it seems as if we always carry

our 'selves' around: wherever we go, although the surface of

everything changes, after a while we will encounter the same

problems, as if we are forever locked inside that no-space/time

state, and cyberspace is just a reflection of us…".

On another occasion, I read about this from somewhere:

"…Ibn Khaldoun could in the 14th Century sing the praise of

Nomadism, which brings people 'closer to being good than settled

peoples because they… are more removed from all the evil habits

that have infected the hearts of the settlers'. However, in modern

times, it has been seen as disregard of territory and boundary-

drawing efforts, and not having any fixed address is considered as

unpredictable, dangerous, and ultimately an 'underclass'. Yet, in

the fluid stage of modernity, the settled majority is ruled by the

nomadic and exterritorial elite… Traveling light is now an asset of

power."

Without any clear conclusion, all these made me think of

another occasion when a friend said that he missed his grandfather

because he "…often thought of the conversations we had some

years before he died. I was young then but I enjoyed traveling

through his stories and submerging myself into the images that I

created along the storyline, by using the stock of memory-pictures

in my limited, young mind - listening, half-awake, half-dreaming.

He told me that he almost decided to go to Singapore instead of

the Northeast Thailand. Bangkok was dangerous then for Chinese

migrants as there were crackdowns against the migrants by the

near-police state at the time. Listening to this, I was shocked, almost

angry, to the idea that just one flip of decision - if he chose Singapore

- life would be very different for my grandfather, and he wouldn't

have met my grandmother in the northeast, and then there would

be no me. My existence is just a sheer coincidence - a result of

migration, forced or otherwise, of history and politics, of tiny

decisions, of feelings and emotions, of love and hatred, hidden in

the dusty corners of memories of generations, of the endless

movements of Life - almost irrelevant and utterly indifferent to me.

We are travelers of coincidences, dancers of chances, beyond any

rule."

DANCERS OF CHANCES

Patthaka R

atta

Page 7: Freedom of Movement  Issue

7

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���&� ((�#)

TOO LONG OF A WAY TO REACH!

We are too far away to reach each other. For other people in the world,

this statement may refer to geographical barriers or a lack of public

transportation. However, Korean people of both North and South Korea do not

see distanceas an obstacle. It is only about 200 kilometerss from Seoul,

Republic of Korea to Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea but

North and South Koreans cannot visit each other without both governments'

permission.

Freedom of movement is a basic human right, equal to the right to

correspondence and communication. Yet Koreans are totally deprived of these

fundamental rights due to both their governments' mutual suspicion - a tragic

result of the Superpowers' political game.

In 1945, right after independence from Japanese rule, the former Soviet

Union and the US tried to dominate, or possess, this land. A borderline was

drawn to divide the Korean peninsula, as a solution. Until today, the US has

maintained its influence in the South while the former Soviet Union supported

the North.

The drawn borderline divided Korean families. Individuals live in one

country with their relatives in the other. A son cannot visit his mother, and a

daughter cannot visit her father. A family's gathering to celebrate their

grandparents' birthday is impossible, as is a small congratulations card or a

telephone call. Of course, one may witness a televised reunion of divided

Korean families, but it was a very special event organized by both governments

that lasted for merely a couple days.

The division of the Korean peninsula does not mean only the births of

two states, but also the births of enemies. Both North and South Korean

governments defined each other as foes and constantly suspect their own

citizens as spies. Communication and visits are prohibited. To send a short

caring note is a serious crime; an act of providing beneficial information to the

enemy. To help relatives or North Korean refugees is even worse. That is an

act of infiltration - a threat to national security.

It is not a high mountain or a wide, raging river, but both countries'

national security laws that have restricted freedom of movement and

communication of the citizens of both Korean; two countries with people of the

same race, language, history of struggle, culture and art.

With regard to national security, two hundred kilometers have become

an impossible distance.

** The writer is a member of the steering committee of the Korea Human

Rights Research Center

KOREA HUMAN RIGHTS RESEARCH CENTER

��" "��-#$� #� YONG-JONG JIN

Page 8: Freedom of Movement  Issue

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Page 11: Freedom of Movement  Issue

11

THE CONDITIONS OF FRIENDSHIP

It was a tiny river where only a few footsteps could

make their way across. The water ran up north. People

flew across the bridge, carrying goods and money that

were exchanged between the two sides of the river. Only

a few minutes were left before the whistle signaling the

closure of the checkpoint would be heard.

A few hungry dogs slowly ran across the

borderline - without a border pass. Dim sunlight turned

the hurried crowd into dark shadows - as small as ants

compared to the giant tourism billboard on the other side

of the bridge side.

Then, the whistle was blown, and no one dared

continue crossing the Mae Sai-Thachilek border. In the

silence, a loud splash was heard from the opposite side

of the river. All kinds of refuse, including bottles and

plastic bags, touched the Sai River. Bang!

And all became silent again.

Words from a phone conversation were recorded

on a crumpled piece of paper, folded into a small piece

to be kept in a trouser pocket.

"I haven't seen your face for years. I'd like to go

visit you sometime. I thought I'd like to visit my cousin in

Suphanburi, or go back to see my mum. But I didn't do

any of these. Or in other words, I couldn't do either.

"Now I'm okay - better than 10 years ago when

we got to know each other. Sometimes I thought about

the friends at the construction site. All of us, Laotian,

Khmer, Mon, Burman, and Isan workers, were cheated

of our wages. Those from Isan left the place to find other

jobs but the rest of us had no where to go. How could

we leave, right? If I was seen in the front street, I might

be arrested by the police.

"Now I have a work permit and a good employer.

I also can speak Thai much better than before. It's not

difficult for us Mon to learn Thai because we have been

living together since history, right? I guess in ancient

time, all peoples might speak the same language. My

Karen friends said so too."

Upon the script of Soe's words, there appeared

a blurred picture of the 20 Muslim Rohingya workers

from Burma who were arrested in Ranong. The people,

despite their settlement on the Bangladesh-Burma long

before the borderline was drawn, are denied citizenship

by the Burma's government and have to constantly find

a way out. As Bangladesh wasn't willing to accept more

than the hundred thousand Rohingyas they have already

taken, the people turned to Thailand, with an aim to head

further to Malaysia.

The scene of an immigration bus arriving in Mae

Sot overlaid the words. Twenty Rohingya were deported

but found no way to get back home from there. The

group was restrained and returned to the south to be

deported from Prachuab Khirikhan.

"You know I've become an interpreter for workers

who faced problems too. There were people who were

sold to a big ship - locked-up in there, floating on the

sea for a few years with no wages; beaten and kicked

instead. They fled when the ship was on shore and got

assistance to file a lawsuit. I helped interpret for them.

The employer negotiated to pay only 20,000 baht

compensation for each. Well, they were forced to be in

a ship surrounded by the sea like a prison wall; they

were inhumanly treated while working hard for three

years. As if they can be compensated with only 20,000

baht!?

"I know how it feels to be sold. I remembered

when they put me in the back of a pick-up truck, I felt so

excited. I was so glad to be able to get out of Burma,

and travel freely. But then I became to understand that

the 'freedom' was a lie; I didn't go to the place I wanted

to; only where they wanted me to go. I reached many

provinces in Thailand, but none of them were my choice.

Even when I was arrested, do you remember? In the

cell, where the flood reached half of my shin, I comforted

myself by thinking that maybe that was a good chance

to go back home. But then I found I was sent up to Mae

Sot, instead of Sangklaburi. I've never known Mae Sot

or Myawaddy and had no idea how to get to my

hometown from there. Well, sometimes we liked to make

a joke about these kinds of experiences - we said we

have been everywhere that we have never dreamt of."

The damp smell in the temporary cell that kept

the crowed migrant workers including Soe was combined

with the musty smell of the crowed cell in Nong Kai,

where over 50 Hmong asylum seekers from Laos,

including small babies, have been detained since last

year.

A coil of barb-wired was stretched to make a

fence. These people inside the fence could be a bit luckier

than the first group in cell as deportation - back to

persecution - was not promised so soon. Over 7,000

Hmongs are allowed in a refugee camp in Phetchabun,

which is very well-guarded; no new arrivals are allowed.

Yet, their claims for fear of life-threatening danger were

not well heard.

"I used to tell you, remember? I'll return to Burma

once the country has freedom. You asked me what I

meant by 'freedom'. At the time I concerned most with

my livelihood because over there I couldn't work and

eat as I had wanted. But now I can think of another

thing. You see, here in Thailand I can work to feed myself,

but I'm not so sure I have freedom. There are many

basic things I want to do and I can't. No matter how

much money I earn, I can't go visit you or other friends,

because this work permit allows me to exist only in this

one province. Also, if I could go anywhere like other

people, like Thai people, I could help many more workers

than I can now.

The whispers of the Shan, Kachin, Lahu and other

ethnic workers from Burma in Chiang Mai became louder.

The 8 PM curfew for all migrants sounded scary.

Yesterday Seng's, Hnum's, Kham's mobile phones, as

well as Sai Sai's secondhand motorbikes were

confiscated by the police, according to the new rules

here.

"Will you come to the Mon New Year event next

year? I'd like to see you. I really meant that. I'm not

used to telephoning much, but here in Thailand I have

to use a phone instead of seeing people in person. In

fact, I don't feel comfortable asking you to come visit

me. If I could, I'll be willing to go, no matter how far it is,

to see a friend. Sometimes I feel so small because I

can't control my life. I mean, the ability to befriend

someone, to continue the friendship, and to meet face

to face doesn't depend on me. It depends on the other

person. If you don't come to see me, I have no way to

see you. For this, I'd like to apologize to you too because

it's like I give you such a big burden. I understand that

well; it's like that between me and my mum too. If I

don't go see my mum, she has no way to come here. I

have to make all the decisions regarding my relation

with her.

"Well, actually I can say I've got used to it now.

The nature of friendship for people like me is like this.

When we get to know and say goodbye to someone, we

have to understand that it could be the last time to see

each other. And we can do nothing else but miss them,

not forget about them, and let the story end on that day

- no further stories."

Dan might be on the plane on his way to resettle

in the third country, and our friendship may need to be

kept in the memory box permanently; it was born on the

first day of his being in exile in Thailand, ten years ago.

The last picture recorded of him was five years ago,

when the gate of Tham Hin refugee camp in Rachaburi

was closed to outsiders. Dan's eyes were red and

hollowed when he said, maybe they want us to feel as

though it's unbearable to be here, so that we will leave….

At the same time that Dan is probably flying, over

200 Karens have fled from cruel war to the border at

Mae Sarieng, only to face an unseen barrier and be

turned back to join the other 300 Karen who are camping

near the borderline, waiting for the door to safety to open.

"Lately I've been thinking about going back to

live in Ye, Mon state. I may be able to do some good

things there. See if they will arrest me or kill me! Many

things I've learnt here could be beneficial for people back

home, right? This is also why I want to see you once

again. If I really can go back, it will be difficult to return

here, and there is no way I can invite you to visit me at

home, the same as I cannot visit you in Chiang Mai.

But as I said, I'm probably used to it already. Sometimes

I have to remind myself that although we don't have

freedom to go anywhere, we are still free people - free

to think and be friends with anyone.

The words stop at the end of the paper. At the

back of the piece there was a short note of news, it said

that three Karenni refugees who tried to cross back to

Karenni state were captured and executed by Burma's

army.

The tiny and narrow river flew fast after the heavy

rain. A few hungry dogs were running back and forth

the border gate with no fear of human rules. The last bit

of sunlight was about to leave the day and create a

stretching, giant shadow of the dogs on the bridge's,

compared to the big tourism billboard.

All kinds of refuse were still mercilessly being

thrown into the Sai river. They fell on the edge of the

margin and flowed along the current, moored on the

Thai side with no sound, with no one to care, be

suspicious or fear.

There was no sign of borderline protectors and

human rules.

July 2007

11

Page 12: Freedom of Movement  Issue

12

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Page 13: Freedom of Movement  Issue

13

�!)���%�.���!�"��BE� "X!�7�3F" .6�����#$!������"��$�-!������

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.���+�� �������

THE TWO-THOUSAND-YEAR PASSAGE

Some say that the ultimate desire of people is freedom. Many believe that

humanity becomes powerful because human beings know the freedom

of movement. Some insist that arbitrary detention ruins human dignity. But

why, after thousands of years of civilization, there remain stories where human

dignity is threatened? Or in fact, situations exist where freedom and human

beings cannot live together? Or actually, human beings never truly know

freedom? Is it possible that freedom has never existed?

With this assumption above, it seems like I am quite hopeless with

the future of humanity. On the contrary, deep inside me, I still believe that

we, human beings, will find ways to live together peacefully. There will be

ways for us to create a peaceful society where people care for one another

- without weapons, tools, conditions and rules to abuse and suppress one

another.

Well, think about this. Since the very beginning of civilization over

2,000 years ago, we have created different schools of thought and social

systems. Why, when our society has been developing for over 2,000 years,

are we in such big mess, from the very grassroots up to global level?

Have you ever heard how Thai students, as well as Japanese and

others, committed suicide just because they failed exams or failed to get into

the desired university? Who would ever think such issue could cause one to

cut their life short? We have created social norms, practices, rules, and

values which are illusions and do not encourage people to see the true value

of being human. We, parents and teachers, cage the thoughts of the younger

ones by promoting values of competition - to be No.1 and winners of all time.

Let's look at a bigger picture, I doubt why I have to go through complex

procedures just when I want to witness the beauty of the Burmese's

Shwedagon, explore the beauty of the Laotian's Luang Prabang or cherish

the Khmer's amazing Angor Wat. Why we have to create a borderline as a

barrier although we never really see where it is. Even worse, such a line

does not only keep outsiders out of the country, it also cage the insiders

within the boundary.

At another level- we accept we are living in the globalization era. We

are living in the liberalism era and most countries adopt a form of liberated

capitalism. It is believed that market competition will create fair trade bring

greater benefits to human beings.

But remember the economic crisis in Southeast Asia in 1997? There

were different explanations about the causes; exceeding investment by Thai

investors, too many foreign loans, too much liberalization, etc. The fact that

the Thai baht was heavily attacked by foreign funds and created such a

domino financial crisis was mostly ignored because it seemed that people

accept, living in the liberated capitalism system, we have to be open to such

a possibility and try to minimize risks on our own.

This shows that the liberated economy system is truly powerful in the

world. Money and capital flow freely without borders. It can go in and make

profits in any corner in the world without limits. The negative impacts, such

as people becoming unemployed after companies went bankrupt, which also

affect their families and society at large, are ignored because everyone seems

to accept these consequences are possible.

This is what has happened and continues to exist. We might be

perplexed with many incidents that happened as a result of human action,

the action of human beings who value freedom. We have traveled on this

passage for more than 2,000 years. How long will it take until I see what I

have expected?

13

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Page 14: Freedom of Movement  Issue

14

��" �$�"��()�* Uttayan Cheewit

�""�#� !�!������!��0(�"�/[�"���� ��2�� �� 8 ��$�����"!����6�

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4�)���!�/��#�#� %��"��������� ��2��6�����������3$E ?

������4�)4���� �����������$"�����&��0������� �)�"������ �� 8

���3$#�-�@ ��"��� �!)����"��)� *��"-��������!����!+�-.����"���6�$������

%�����%���)� .���."��$�/1���9#�! 9�B!)��)�� ���!)��)��

��"��6$� ��.%���"�����&���/���2�$ ��� �������%���.��/1��������

�%���� ����/1����������-. �(#%#�!��/1�20� %���"�� ���6����" ��6��4/-�

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6����%���7��8�!)����+����8E���3$E���"������-�!)��@ �� ���4�)-#)

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%�#�$6��*�0��"���! *�0.�"���%�"���/I��)���)0�����-�9) ����������

�$)��4$.

FLAME OF MY THOUGHTS

How many lives, at birth, have found themselves in a cage, with their rights

restricted to chose only from select choices?

If this fact was known to all human seeds, they would choose to be sown only

in free land. Isn't it difficult to comprehend why the stateless, as a result of

racial discrimination, have been boxed in, restricted? Equally incomprehensible

is why, when an ID card is not in one's hand, are a person's natural rights

consequently denied?

Our friends have not immigrated here for qualities of attractiveness or

extravagance. Human rights violations have pushed them to come and sell

their labor; one by one; from one generation to the next. Here, you - my friends

- have poverty as your chief, freedom as your inspiration and faith as your

immunization. Though the rice being eaten is comparable to vomit, this life is a

better than the one in the place where human rights are intentionally ignored.

May my faith be with all the human seeds that grow, liberated, in foreign lands.

May my love be with my friends, the travelers - the peace-loving, marginalized

people who left the jungle for cities in neighboring Thailand.

���������������!� ��������-����

Page 15: Freedom of Movement  Issue

15

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Page 16: Freedom of Movement  Issue

16

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16

THAILAND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' DAY

DECLARATION

We, comprising of representatives from the Indigenous Peoples Network

in Thailand, the new-Thai group, the displaced Thai group, the Moken, the Moklen,

the Urak Lawoi, and non-governmental organizations organized Thailand's

Indigenous Peoples Day in order to present the problems and demands regarding

indigenous peoples' rights, according to the universal human rights principles.

We are here, in front of the ThreeKings Monument, Chiang Mai, to present our

declaration.

We declare that the land, nature, rivers, the sea, and mountains are our

spirits and way of lives. Our language, culture and ethnic diversity are our just

rights and liberties. The nation state that was formed after our existence on our

land must respect and not violate the indigenous peoples' human dignity.

We declare that indigenous peoples in Thailand and in this world are brothers

and sisters of humanity. We are friends of all peoples in this world; we are not

your enemies. We are not to be detested or be scared by all you visitors; in fact,

we have been exploited. We have been invaded by the state and capitalism, in

the name of development.

We declare that the rights, liberties and human dignity of every indigenous

person are our intention. It is our mission to advocate for equal and just treatment

and respect.

In order that such rights, liberties and human dignities will be truly enjoyed

by all,

We declare the 9th of August of each year to be Thailand's Indigenous

Peoples Day, and the establishment of the Indigenous Peoples Network of Thailand,

That will walk forward to create peace and harmony in the global indigenous

society,

and advocate for the rights, liberties and human dignity of the indigenous

peoples in Thailand and around the world to be truly enjoyed.

With respect and faith in the way of life and human dignity of all peoples,

Declaration read at the Three Kings Monument,

liberated Lanna, Chiang Mai on 9 August 2007

The Indigenous Peoples Network in Thailand

Page 17: Freedom of Movement  Issue

1717

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Page 18: Freedom of Movement  Issue

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Page 20: Freedom of Movement  Issue

20

Chiang Dao to Bangkok for People's Community Forest Bill" and asked me lots of

questions. Then kids came and fired questions to me, bought me soy milk, snacks

and drink. (laughs) Another day in a gas station, a well-off man invited me for a

meal. I went to the food court and ordered rice and curry but the seller did not

serve me. Then that man shouted loudly, "Hey, serve the man. I'll pay for it." You

know, tears filled my eyes then. I gave the man a leaflet and get his signature to

support the bill.

"It took 49 days for me to reach Bangkok; about 10 days behind the group.

When I arrived, a TV program came interviewing me and took me to a very crowded

place to campaign. I felt as if I was floating in the sea. Then I thought of another

group that also wanted to join us, but because they were indigenous peoples

without ID cards, they were not allowed by law to travel out of their area. Come on!

Stateless people face problems too. They are Thais born in Thailand but they

cannot walk freely like us. This is really hurtful. We walked and we were tired, but

they must be more tired than us because they couldn't walk. This has to change!

"Let's think. The fact that the stateless people, migrant workers, and refugees

in closed camps are restricted their freedoms of movement means they can't even

tell the society about their problems. It's as if their mouths were shut. It's like a sick

person was hidden from others to know the symptoms. We are in the same planet,

but with barriers. Those who create barriers build a big barrier in their own mind

and thought, and how can they lead the world into peace? Nature never has a wall.

Water runs freely from the north to the south. Policy makers who do not see others

do not see themselves either.

"If we let injustices remain, there will be halo effects because it's the same

unjust social system. You see, at first when we protested, others disagreed. But

later, everybody staged protests; teachers, factory owners, EGAT employees, etc.

Even the political party: the one that never listen to us, now stages protests. I think

those whose freedom of movement should be restricted are those who are corrupted,

those who cheat the poor like us. (laughs) We only want to live peacefully and

naturally.

"Now the world is not so developed so national security remains an important

issue. The power holders have barriers in their mind, so a borderline is so important

to them. In fact, there are no borderlines on earth. There are no borderlines in our

soul or spirit. Those people do not understand Dharma; they don't understand that

the others have mothers like they do, too. I think only those that lack knowledge

dare to be selfish; they don't know they'll only find a dead-end. (laughs) My people

are affected a lot from this term 'national security'. We are assimilated to be Thais.

I was taken out of my village and put into a school that taught me to feel ashamed

to be a Karen and to live like a Karen. The fact is, however, we only do have

different culture by nature. And then some people said, because you are different

from us, you are dangerous to us. Does this make sense? They don't trust us just

because they don't learn to understand the truth of the world.

"A human walks to live. We travel to think, find out the fear inside of us and

search for the inner desires. Monks do walk for meditation. Jesus walked to find

out some truths. I walk for my home. I walk for the truth of a home; raising cattle,

growing rice, talking to my families neighbors, fishing in the rivers, listening to the

tales and poems, etc. These are human beings' basic needs.

"I came down the mountains today, on the Indigenous Peoples' Day, because

I am one of the indigenous peoples. I hope that if we can put the Indigenous

People's Day on Thai calendar, we will win more recognition from people. We are

not here to request or ask anything from you; we are here to press the claim on our

right. (laughs) The indigenous peoples lived long before the birth of any nation

states. Our walk will be long, I know. Now the political atmosphere isn't good for

any movement. When we had a national capitalist like Thaksin, small capitalists

appeared in local community. Now with military rule, a village headman, knowing

they will be appointed to be here forever started to become dictators. This creates

halo effect. It destroyed the community's way of life, which means it will destroy

the country as a whole. I am looking for a chance to do something"

**************************

WHEN NATURE WALKS

Strong sun reflected on sweat on determined faces in the indigenous peoples march

flowing along main streets of Chiang Mai on August 9, the World Indigenous Peoples'

Day. Prue Odochao, who, two years ago, carried his hope all the way from Chiang Mai

to Bangkok on his two feet, was at the end of the procession. Driving his old pickup truck

with a megaphone in his right hand, he explained to people on both sides of the streets

the intention of the march.

The procession reached the Three Kings monument and Uncle Jorni, Prue's

father, went up stage and presented the Declaration on the Thailand Indigenous Peoples'

Day. Prue and I then sat down under a tree and started our talk.

"Teachers taught me that the hilltribes destroyed the forests and I believed so.

But later I learnt that our way of life is actually a very natural life of conservation. We live

up in the mountains, deep in the forest. Our right to traditional livelihood is restricted. The

laws regarding forestry and land made us live in fear. We couldn't sleep. We couldn't

eat. We were arrested and detained. We were terrified even of the sound of an airplane,

a car or a motorcycle. It wasn't only me. The entire village was. (laughs) Then I started

to ask myself questions, 'Why fear? Why didn't we have enough rice?' These are not

NATURAL conditions. Mother nature provides us a comfortable life but the problems are

human-made. Then I learnt to understand my rights and universally accepted human

rights. I learnt that Thailand is committed to various treaties that require equal treatment

to all peoples regardless of ethnicity and race. I learnt that according to international

practice, people who live before a law is enacted do have rights. We have been living

here before any forestry bills, so we have to fight. Justice is with us!

"The struggle isn't as easy as I used to think. It has taken a long time till today.

I'm a hilltribe with an ID card so I can travel. I went throughout the country and exchanged

our problems with other grassroots groups. We disseminated information, campaigned

and demonstrated to stop forced relocation of the indigenous peoples out of the forests

and proposed the People's Community Forest Bill.

"The campaign walk from Chiang Mai to Bangkok was inspired by a Dhamma

walk we participated a long time ago. We heard that a government's version of a

community forest bill might be picked up. We know that the Thaksin government cut the

people off; they didn't discuss anything with us. Demonstrations were even attacked by

dogs and gangster released by the authorities. We then thought a walk should be the

safest way. Villagers walking out of the forests could be called a "Natural walk". Any

attack against us wouldn't be justified. We planned to arrive in Bangkok during the time

when two bills, ours and the government's, would be discussed in the parliament. This

time our movement used a cool approach, rather than the hot one like before. If we went

with an obsession with the bill, we will get nothing. I suggested that this walk should

empower us as individuals too.

"There were tens of agreements, like rules, for example, to ensure that we would

walk peacefully. No smoking and making noises during the walk. Some even prayed

while walking. About 20 people walked all the way to Bangkok. Another 50-100 people

joined the walk from time to time until the end. We distributed leaflets, explained our

causes, and asked for supported signatures for our People's Community Forest Bill.

Sometimes I had to leave the group to campaign somewhere nearby. We tried to pass

through communities so that we could reach as many people as possible. We met other

people's movements; those suffered from dams, affected from rock grinding plants in

Phitsanulok, farmers with debts, etc. Some groups cooked food for us. Some performed

traditional dance to cheer us up. Some gave us traditional massage. Monks on the way

prayed and preached us.

Prue carried a traditional Karen basket on his back all the way. Inside it there was

his sacred stuff he vowed to carry to Bangkok. Whenever he had to leave the group,

Prue would come back to the point he left and started the walk there in order to complete

the mission. However, when the group arrived in Phitsanulok, the participants were

worried they might not reach Bangkok on the expected time and would miss the other

people movements that planned to join them to support the bargaining power. Finally,

the procession decided to travel by cars occasionally.

"At the time I thought if we had to do that, it's like a lean grain of rice; it's not a full

one. How could I tell people back home that I completed the mission? Between life and

law, which one is more important? Life, isn't it? We don't know how laws will be in the

future and no politicians can be relied on. Policies can be changed but our life and soul

are certain and real. So, I chose to continue my walk. I believe my action would fill in the

missing part and make this mission really complete. I then bought a map and headed to

another route passing through Nakhon Sawan.

"At first, it's quite dark walking alone. (laughs) I mostly slept at temples, or even

on the roadside. There were so many unexpected supports along the way. On the first

day, a lady and her daughter bought me two serving of congee. It's the first time I had

congee in my life! Another time I was resting because my feet were swollen and the

basket hurt my shoulders. People saw the leaflets on the basket saying "Walk from

Prue Odochao a 36-year old Karen from Samoeng District, Chiang Mai,

joined an indigenous peoples' rights movement since he was 22. Prue

was a member of the Northern Farmers Network and once was elected

as its chairman, while still earning a living by sustainable farming.

Currently he lives with his wife and two children and is looking for

opportunity to walk further.

Page 21: Freedom of Movement  Issue

21

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CROSSROADS

It's late. Tonight sleep would not come. I keep thinking of someone who

left us over three months ago. I haven't heard any news, but she is always in my

thoughts.

I have known Wanee Mukopaw from our work against human trafficking in

Mae La refugee camp. Human trafficking problems there are tremendous because

those restricted to stay behind the barbed-wire naturally dream of the world beyond.

People would rather work to feed their families instead of waiting around for charity.

Human trafficking feeds on this weak point of human nature. These people disguise

themselves as "helping-hands" to find jobs for the refugees, who unknowingly

find themselves up for sale. Wanee believed that the way to solve this problem

was to educate the refugees of the danger of this trafficking process, and their

responsibility to protect everyone in the camp.

And this little woman then turned into my role model and inspiration. I

turned into another son of hers. I love her like my own mother.

At work, we constantly encounter problems that need solving from issues

regarding the influence of the brokers in the camp down to disagreements of

different minds working together. Most importantly, it is impossible to tell the

people to follow the rules and stay within boundaries. That is going against human

nature. Determined to improve her peoples' well-being, Wanee never accepted

defeat. Her children kept asking her to take a break, but a soul like hers was not

made to be stagnant. ...Oh, just this little stress can't slow me down.. Wanee

said. She had been through all kinds of hardships.

Wanee was charismatic, even in the tattered clothing of a refugee. When

she was young she was the village's beauty and one of the very few with an

education. Her family married her off to a Karen soldier, for fear that she would

fall for the Burmese that the family despised. But her life was not a happy one.

With the Burmese army invasion Wanee had to flee with her children. All she

could do was forage for food one day at a time, she herself ended up starving,

one day at a time. ...We cooked rice in a sardine can and that is for the whole

family..

Wanee began life in the refugee came at Mae Kong Kha, Mae Hong Son,

with her husband and four children. Her two younger children were born later in

Thailand. The violence of war forever changed her and her husband's lives, they

were filled with painful details; she faced each and every detail courageously.

She decided to go to work in the rice fields, weeding in exchange for rice or a few

baht to buy food for the children. Back then, the restriction of refugees to work

outside camp was not seriously enforced. After she moved all the children to Mae

La camp, returning to the old camp was not a possibility. The Thai government

did not accept that we were legal refugees by Thai law. We were only illegal

immigrants, could only stay behind the barbed wire fence. If we headed off we

would only get arrested. Maybe even get hurt. They only viewed us as a burden...

In her new home, Wanee worked as a teacher in a Muslim school. I saw

her reading by candle light till late every night. She read all kinds of books, also

the Bible. She believed in God's love. Until the beginning of this year, when all

hopes were dim, her young children made their decisions to go for resettlement in

Norway. As much as she hated to see the family separated, Wanee knew not to

hold them back; their future would be much brighter than if they were to stay

around.

So much Wanee had to leave behind with her decision to migrate across

the barbed-wiresd to her third country; her ambitions of her work here for her

people, even her older married daughter had to stay behind.

I still remember watching Wanee in her cottage silently gazing outside.

She must have been full of worries. How could she live in a strange country like

Norway? Fear, joy, and hope all a jumble in her heart.

Then the day arrived. Wanee stood waiting for the international organization

bus in front of Mae La camp, excited and anxious. She got on the bus with her

five children, her eldest daughter having to stay behind. She stood watching

Wanee, a question shone clear in her eyes; will we ever see one another again?

The bus pulled away slowly, Wanee took one last look at the gigantic camp. This

was the first time she saw the camp from the outside, for once from the view of an

outsider. Her last glance at her eldest daughter blurred with tears and shattered

heart. The bus gained speed and disappeared from my view.

It has been three months. I wonder about Wanee's new life. I could do

nothing but pray for her. Her old cottage looks strange when I walk by, no one is

there in the kitchen. No one is there to call out hello to me.

One day, an unfamiliar phone number appeared on my phone. ...It is

Wanee Mukopaw calling from Norway! Her voice was raindrops on parched earth.

...I am learning Norwegian. Do you know that over here we can travel anywhere

we want? Don't have to hide from the police. I am going to work with a women's

rights group here. I'll live here until it is ok to go back; I still plan to go back… Her

voice was filled with the excitement of a prisoner just released from a long jail

term.

Wanee Mukopaw's voice was enough to revive my motivation to continue

our fight. I am prepared to walk with her, although our paths may not cross again.

Page 23: Freedom of Movement  Issue

23

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Dear Mulan,

By now, you might have known that the movie "Persepolis", which is a clearly

a type of "Wag My Tail" movie, was banned from the Bangkok Film Festival. The

Iranian Embassy had asked the event organizer to pull it out, the same as they had

tried in other countries before. This is withstanding the impressive message of this

movie that is, "I love Iran"

Some "power-holders" do have a strange way of thinking, don't you agree?

These authorities didn't know how their narrow-minded perception was the very best

weapon to ruin their beloved country's image. Actually, I have a very impressive

experience with Iran when visiting Shiraz, the city with the stunning ancient castle,

Persepolis. The Persian civilization, rooted for several thousands years, has provided

Iran with a great depth of culture. The Persians are also very friendly and incredibly

warm people. My Iranian friend invited me to his home and called all other friends to

meet me. Moreover, each of his friends even brought me a small gift as a treat. This

is their culture; it comes naturally.

Like people of other religions, the Muslims here have their own way of life. The

rules concerning relations between men and women could be obviously noticed.

Foreigners like us might find it strange to see all women cover their faces and bodies

and stay separately from men in all public transports. Women's rights seemed to be a

controversial issue for people here. But on the other hand, Iran has quite a number of

prominent female movie directors such as Niki Karimi who participated in the World

Film Festival in Bangkok two years ago, and Marjane Satrapi, the director of Persepolis,

which just received Special Jury Prize at the 2007 Cannes Film Festival.

Mulan, you know that Marjane is an Iranian in exile in France, right? Persepolis

is based on her true story that she put into a best-selling comic book earlier. The

movie brought us the pictures of how the military treated the people of Iran during and

after the Islamic revolution there; you could see only men in public places as all women

covered their whole bodies with dark big robes. But, ironically, the film showed that

these women actually wear Prada, Gucci or any brand name products inside the robes!

Persepolis told the story of the nine-year-old Marjane who survived political

crisis since 1978 when the monarchy was overthrown and replaced with an Islamic

republic under Ayatollah Komini's leadership, and was then followed by the Iraq-Iran

war. For her safety and well-being, Marjane was sent to Austria and there she grew-

up a liberated woman. With the love and constant loneliness of being an exiled person,

Marjane came back to Iran, trying to settle in her motherland, but it seemed that Iran

did not welcome her. Well, even her movie - the love of Iran she wanted to tell the

world - is banned, isn't it?

Persepolis, the title of the movie and the name of the 2,500-year-old ancient

palace in Shiraz I visited. Shiraz is the old Persian Empire's Capital city, and the

center of poetry, wine (You know the Shiraz wine, right?), and roses. The Iranians call

Shiraz the City of Love - beautiful with trees and flowers. Persepolis, the animated

movie, is also a movie of love. No matter what the Iranian government thinks of

Marjane, at Cannes the female director dedicated this honorable award to all her

beloved Iranian people. The movie ends with love and honest best wishes for Iran.

I think a political crisis either in Iran, Thailand, or any country, are no different;

most victims are the innocent, ordinary unarmed civilians. Tears ran down my cheeks,

thinking how I feel for Thailand. I hope that one day I will be able to tell the world about

my love, as sincerely and courageously as she did.

However, in the cyber era today no one can really stop those who want to

speak out like Marjane. Soon we should be able to watch Persepolis in any digital

format. I believe you and Wag My Tail's fans will definitely have a chance to enjoy the

very powerful, touching movie, and then you will love the Iranians (even more).

Kriengsak Silakong

It was thundering and I was lying down waving my tail listlessly for the

new Act concerning movie ratings and censorship. It sounded good but sadly

the authorized decisions fell solely in the hands of government officials and

those who were selected by them (just like many other decisions made in

Thailand)! Then, this letter arrived out of the rain and that meant I could ask the

editor's permission to take a short break to clear my head, and shared with you

his tail wagging letter instead.

OK! I will sniff around for it. My tail is always given for freedom of expression

and freedom of art. Anyway, I'd like to make it clear here that the exercise of

the freedom of art must not violate, insult or promote hatred or racial discrimination

like some Thai movies that enjoy making fun of indigenous peoples and gays,

are these okay? Well, if not - how are they different from other chauvinistic

propaganda during any war-time?

Mulan

Page 25: Freedom of Movement  Issue

25

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Ingredients

A river fish, tomato, galangal, lemongrass, chili, lemon basil leaves, coriander

and spring onion, salt, and a bamboo tube

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The arrival of a person or group can cause others to leave. The Lahu community

that used to live up at Mae Sai Waterfall had to relocate to the current Ja Lae

village in Chiang Rai once the government announced that their settlement area

must be reserved for conservation and tourism purposes. But no matter what

changes come, the people must go on struggling in their very own way.

Even without the kind of coerced moves the Lahu have experienced, they have

been great travelers traditionally. Since their ancestors' time, they ventured for

hunting and to find land for farming, growing rice and vegetables to cook with the

meat they hunted. Today, we had the opportunity to knock on their kitchen door

to taste the 'Nga Sa-la Way', a kind of spicy fish soup, uniquely cooked in a

bamboo tube for convenience during travel. The precious tube can be carried to

and from the fields and bushes and everywhere they go.

Instructions

• Clean the fish and cut into nice pieces.

• Cut tomatoes into small pieces and chop all other ingredients.

• Mix the chopped ingredients well with the fish. Add salt.

• Put the mixture in the prepared bamboo tube. Add enough water to fill about

a quarter of the tube.

• Grill the bamboo tube for 20-30 minutes. The well-cooked Nga Sa-la Way

will be ready to be served with a mountain of steamed rice.

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NGA SA-LA WAY (LAHU'S SPICY

FISH SOUP IN BAMBOO TUBE)

Page 26: Freedom of Movement  Issue

26

Page 27: Freedom of Movement  Issue

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While traveling in Thailand I came across your magazine in a small cafe in Chiang Mai. I

read every article, making sure I missed nothing. All those words struck my heart, as well as my

mind. A government should help and fear its people, not destroy them. We have to stand strong

to create change. Although I'm an American citizen, I'm still faced with similar issues. We ignore

immigrants, do not offer health care nor allow them to live and work here legally. How can this be?

I hope these words reach you, in your struggles. Keep speaking out! Your voices are being heard.

I'd love to subscribe to the magazine. Please send more information. Tess/ USA.

It's nice to hear your appreciation in our magazine and hope you help voice out so that

other people, including other American citizens, will hear too.

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Now I'm studying in the last year in high school. I don't know if you're still publishing

Friends Without Borders. I've read the 12th issue (Inspiration), Jan 06, and I was so impressed.

Thus, I'm sending you my old belongings. They may be old but could be more or less useful for

the children at the border. I'd like them to have clothes and bags to go to school. Hope they study

hard and achieve their dreams. I'd like to be another person to give moral support./ S. Butprom,

Amnatcharoen.

Thanks a lot for your materials. We will send them to the children at the border, attaching

your letter. Yes, this magazine will continue as long as there are people like you.

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We invite you to share an article or a poem relating to human rights, marginalized peoples, ethnic nationalities, refugees or migrant workers. Please send a

manuscript that hasn't been published and isn't longer than 2 A4 page (Times 12) under the theme 'Hope' (31/10/07) and 'Teachers' (31/12/07)to us by post

or email. The writer's real name and contact address must be attached. The editor reserves the right to edit the selected pieces. There will be a small gift and

a little honorarium for the writers.

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