Comments on: Rescuers abandon attempts to free ‘human zoo’ women http://www.andrew-drummond.com/1998/01/04/rescuers-abandon-attempts-to-fee-human-zoo-women/ Journalist covering Bangkok, Thailand and Southeast Asia Thu, 04 Dec 2008 02:12:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Ella http://www.andrew-drummond.com/1998/01/04/rescuers-abandon-attempts-to-fee-human-zoo-women/#comment-1047 Ella Fri, 11 Apr 2008 02:37:15 +0000 http://www.andrew-drummond.com/1997/12/14/rescuers-abandon-attempts-to-fee-human-zoo-women/#comment-1047 I too have visited this camp near Mai Hon Son and I found it degrading and appalling that these women are literally 'on show', caught in the trappings of a modern day human zoo. There are no medical facilities, no education, and no welfare in place for these beautiful women, children and their partners. They are denied the very basic of human rights, with little to no voice and are afraid for their future. We need to band together to stop exploitation and slavery that these women endure every day. This dialogue is not only just from my experience but from also talking to these women, who are aware that they are modern day slaves. Another point is: What impact is tourism having on issues related to mental health that is developing from being held against will in these so called refugee camps? . There is no infrastructure in place for dealing with trauma that has been experienced from transitioning over from Burma. How can one person, namely Thana Nakluang, hold so much power over a small minority of ethnic peoples? The Karen deserves a voice and complete autonomy over the way they choose to live their lives. The Thai government have an impending responsibility to act now to stop these 'tourist camps' from operating. There will never be true freedom unless these women and men are given the tools to empower themselves out of poverty and slavery. Keeping flocks of tourists exploiting year after year will not empower, rather it will give way to unduly authorization of ethnic deprivation. By continual manipulation of Karen Tribes for the benefit of few, the Thai government supports further dispossession of this minority tribe, lending little to the notion of compete sovereignty and independence. A call is being made for free education, health care, an end to slavery, a voice to be heard, complete I too have visited this camp near Mai Hon Son and I found it degrading and appalling that these women are literally ‘on show’, caught in the trappings of a modern day human zoo. There are no medical facilities, no education, and no welfare in place for these beautiful women, children and their partners. They are denied the very basic of human rights, with little to no voice and are afraid for their future. We need to band together to stop exploitation and slavery that these women endure every day. This dialogue is not only just from my experience but from also talking to these women, who are aware that they are modern day slaves.

Another point is: What impact is tourism having on issues related to mental health that is developing from being held against will in these so called refugee camps? . There is no infrastructure in place for dealing with trauma that has been experienced from transitioning over from Burma.

How can one person, namely Thana Nakluang, hold so much power over a small minority of ethnic peoples? The Karen deserves a voice and complete autonomy over the way they choose to live their lives. The Thai government have an impending responsibility to act now to stop these ‘tourist camps’ from operating.

There will never be true freedom unless these women and men are given the tools to empower themselves out of poverty and slavery. Keeping flocks of tourists exploiting year after year will not empower, rather it will give way to unduly authorization of ethnic deprivation. By continual manipulation of Karen Tribes for the benefit of few, the Thai government supports further dispossession of this minority tribe, lending little to the notion of compete sovereignty and independence.

A call is being made for free education, health care, an end to slavery, a voice to be heard, complete

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