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Posted on November 10, 2004

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Posted from Seattle, Washington (USA) at 8:15 PM local time

From Piglets to Prosthetics

There are many parts of the world where conditions force people to flee their own homes. But what about those people who wish to flee but cannot? Myanmar is home to perhaps 2 million IDPs, or Internally Displaced Persons (source: The Peace Way Foundation). IDPs are essentially refugees unable to escape their homelands; they wish to escape some form of oppression but lack the means to do so. In Myanmar, a majority of such people are ethnic minorities. Most live in rural areas. Many of the country's IDPs are fleeing government relocation or forced labor. Others seek to escape ongoing fighting between ethnic insurgents and the Burmese army. Recent reports out of organizations like The Free Burma Rangers provide strong evidence that the army continues to force people out of their homes, mine villages, destroy rice supplies, etc.

Many of Myanmar's IDPs end up on the border with Thailand, where they may receive medical care, clean water, food, and other forms of humanitarian aid.

Last night's event at the University of Washington, "From Piglets to Prosthetics," brought together ten different organizations contributing in various ways to helping Burmese refugees and IDPs. From Project Piglet to Green Empowerment, the organizations discussed their activities with the interested public (and learned about each other as well). Featured at the event was a collection of photographs by Seattle Times photographer Tom Reece. Tom's photographs of refugees in the Thai border town of Mae Sot provided tangible evidence of the challenges such people face. The images also communicated the strength of the human spirit - and the resolve of those working to help Burma's displaced people. Tom's photographs, along with a special report by Paula Bock about Dr. Cynthia and the Mae Sot refugees can be found in a special Burma section of the Seattle Times Web site. Don't miss this link. Paula's story, aided by the visual display of photography, provides an emotional sense of the refugee situation in Myanmar. (My two favorite photos in the set, by the way, are these: on one hand, the challenges faced, on the other, room for normalcy and peace in everyday life.

Of the organizations involved in last night's event, several are featured in the [Links] section of this site. The Seattle Burma Roundtable (also known as the Burma Action Group) sponsored the event.

February 1, 05: I thought I'd throw in here having recently returned from Myanmar that The Seattle Times Web site is one of those blacklisted by the current government. Though Internet access is now available in the country's cities and major tourist destinations, many sites are inaccessible. I found it interesting that The Seattle Times was blacklisted while several other publications like The New York Times were not. It wouldn't surprise me if "A Land of War - A Journey of the Heart" had something to do with this.