Exploiting Thailand’s Burmese Refugees

The recent pro-democracy protests in Myanmar’s major cities overshadow the ongoing civil war raging near the border. Forcible conscription and the devastation of war have prompted an influx of refugees into neighboring Thailand. These illegal immigrants face formidable challenges, including corrupt police, unemployment and organized crime. Because of their illegal status, they cannot secure work permits and are forced to earn a meager living by salvaging trash from a dump. They place their hopes for a better future in the education of their children, provided by international aid organizations, and on the end of war in their homeland. Peace is a priority for the poverty-stricken refugees, and then perhaps democracy and other goals may follow. – YaleGlobal