Thailand talks of repatriating Karen refugees

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Seng Khum is a volunteer coordinator for the Community Support Network (CSN), which comprises more than 150 volunteers who provide care and counseling for
displaced people living in camps in Kachin State.
(Partners Relief and Development Photo)

Thailand (MNN) — It’s hard to imagine living as a refugee, having no home or hope. Then, the country hosting you starts talking about sending you back to the place that threatened your life. That’s what’s happening to the Karen refugees now living in Thailand.

Steve Gumaer of https://www.mnnonline.org/mission_groups/partners- relief-devopment-usa - Partners Relief and Development explains. “Since the war is over and since everything is better in Burma, we should send these people home, right? And the answer is: ‘wrong,’ because there’s nothing to go back to but land mines and destroyed villages and a continuation of the 62-year-old war.”

There have been incredible reforms in the city, but Gumaer says, “To repatriate at a time like this, when the reforms haven’t reached to the places where these people come from, would be worse than unjust. It would be sending these people straight back to their death.”

These rumors started after the Thailand coup. “Thailand is being led by a military government right now, and there isn’t a consensus.”

Gumaer says there are challenges in the camps, as well. “There has been a tightening of rations, and that’s been something we’ve been following closely. But so far, it hasn’t resulted in any kind of desperation. People are eating, and they have the shelter that they need.”

Partners runs children’s homes in Jesus’ name for unaccompanied and orphaned children in the region.

Gumaer asks for prayer “that they won’t be sent back until they’re able to go back to a place where they can reestablish life as it once was.”

Pray also that Partners will be able to lead many to Jesus as they assist. Contribute to their work https://www.partnersworld.org/s/donate - here .

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