First letter to the Donors of NYBD Foundation

First of all, on behalf of the orphans, I would like to say a special thank to the donors that donate the money to run the foundation for the orphanages in the camps. With all your help, the process has been running for the whole year and now approaching to the final month. During this long period, I have seen and realized that there has been lots of happiness, pleasure and satisfaction as the benefit things. And of course, our choice was the right implementation for the children who doesn’t have their parents, who doesn't have the shelter and their future is hopeless at every corner. Within this condition, we did and fulfilled their needs as possible as we can. We took part for their monthly diet, providing the good diet for them every month since last April and now we are almost done. Every month when I go back, taking the receipt and pictures, I have seen the smiling face on their faces during having the meal and that's why I am thinking we are fulfilling a part of their ruined living. As it shown in the pictures, you all will feel like what I am feeling now and when I think of the coming year, I am not sure this such an amazing fulfilling will be running in the future or not. Because of this regard, I was asking around to the orphans when the last time I was in camps that "How you guys will be feeling when the foundation's money run out and stop providing special food?" The reaction that I got back is that "There is nothing we can do…..let's pray to the God to be lucky as before" with the deeply sad on every faces. And I had to make a promise to them to try my best for the next year to run things as we did. And of course, without you all help, my promise will be a joke to them and that's why on behalf of the orphans, again, please let's do it for them, for their ruined life. Even though we can't make and fulfill a complete life to them, let's us do what we can, let's us take part of lighting their future.
 When I was back to camp, I also asked the head of the orphanage to write a letter to the donors and you all will be reading what she mentioned for her children, who are living under the caring of her and what she wants for her children.

Saw July Hoo
NYBD worker

Second letter to the Donors of NYBD Foundation

After the implement of NYBD foundation, I have seen the happiness is overwhelming upon my children everytime. I also feel the same as they feel over this helping. It's because they didn't have such a good and enough diet in the past before the setting of NYBD. Only after the providing from the foundation, they have the healthy and enough diet once in every month. So, as I seen, the foundation is doing a great job and benefiting to my children, as I am the one that taking care of them. I know that the children have no one that taking care to them and that's why they need the people to take care of them. The receiving of the providing is also a kind of blessing to the children. So that the running of the foundation is what I am expecting for my children and they also want and hope that the foundation will be running in coming next year. I really appreciate what you all did for me and for my children and providing us the money to buy special food in every month. So that me, my children and the people in my orphanage are wishing you all that May God Bless You All for helping us and we also hope that your helping will be long lasting upon my children and their orphanage.

The head of the orphanage,
Taw Nay Moo.

Dear my readers, last month we were talking about Burma's Election on 7^th November, and now it's done already. So, of course, you all may know who the winner in the contest is. But the Funny thing is that they (Junta) are changing their political party regularly and in this time, even the Flag. Seem likes they are changing it every about 20 years. So, here is a question comes out from my mind that what is going to be Junta's Political Party in next 20 years? And the Flag will be a potential as well?

Burma was actually a Democratic country after gaining independent from British and its official name was Democratic Republic Union of Burma. During the British ruling time, Burma was ruled by separately; Burma Proper which included Upper and Lower Burma, and the Frontier Area which was mostly Ethnic groups resident areas. According to the Panglong Agreement which combined these two different areas, it didn't have equal and fair opportunity over the ethnic groups and the civil war broke out between the government and the ethnic groups. So, when it was getting accelerated during 1960s, it was a good time for Burma's General Ne Win to coup the nation's power and led the country to Burmese Way to Socialism. He came to power in officially when BSPP (Burmese Socialist Programme Party) was formed in 1964. Until 1988, and when the well-known 88 uprising came out, BSPP disappeared and again the SLORC (State Law and Order Restoration Council) was set up and cracked down the uprising. When the election was held in 1990, the NLD (National League of Democracy) won more than 300 seats in Parliament but, again the coup was led by the General Than Shwe and the party was reformed to SPDC (State Peace and Development Council). That's the way they used to change their political name to restore their power to be in stability for the future.

And now, they were again set up a new political party to run the election called USDP (Union Solidarity and Development Party) which is backed by the junta and its former SPDC. Now, the so-called November 7^th election is over and they (USDP) claimed that they won more than 70 percent of the polls. And they changed the Flag at the same time. Seem likes they are putting on a new Political Clothes to rule the country for next 20 years. It was right that they won more than 70 percent but not in the democratization way, instead it was the result of cheating, lying and threaten people to get the polls. Of course, for international community, they did lots of comments, criticize this fate, and without free and fair election. But nothing can stop their Iron Running way which is backed by a Veto owner China and some ASEAN county, shameful countries that support the government that doing such the shameful things.

On November 8^th right after the election was hold, the sudden clash broke out between the USDP government and ethnic resistance group call DKBA (Democratic Karen Buddhist Army) in the border town called Myawade. The result was bringing out thousands of refugees to Mae Sot, beside of Myawade in Thailand. It was the first omen right after the election and we can imagine how the situation in Burma going to be while the USDP is ruling.

According to my trip back to Karen State, people are living a step beside the border, to be ready to leave if something sudden happen like in Myawade. Neither they couldn't farm nor couldn't work to support their lives. How can they farm in the area where the SPDC camps are all around and in such a small area to feed thousands of people inside? So, how do they survive? They are just depending on the NGO organizations, supporting their lives. The organizations are their air to breathe, water to drink and food to keep them alive.

Saw July Htoo,
Mae La Oon Camp.

First of all, what do you all think of Burma's so called general election in this fall, November 7, 2010? Sound like Burma is heading to Democracy!!!! But, here is a question that what kind of Democracy is going to take place in Burma after the election? Here a simple answer is 'Democracy that rule by the Junta'. Not by the people in Burma. That's a creative idea of the Junta for 21^st century to make more stability of their power

As far as I see, Election must free and fair for the people. Election must be independent and no one can handle behind it. But…Burma's election is something different. It's completely reverse with all the elections in world's history. No free, no fair, no independent and still there are some nations that strongly agree with Burma. People in Burma, they don't have the rights to describe their own political destiny since more than five decades ago. Instead, they are living under the fear ness of persecution, arresting, imprison for their political belief. At the moment, there is no freedom of expression, no freedom of campaign and speech or movement and so on and on inside Burma. Some ethnic party that going to play with this election, don't have the right to campaign for the poll. And many ethnic areas don't have the right to vote for the election, mainly in Karen State. Those kinds of things make Burma as a matter in political and international community.

If we look back the history of 1990's election result, that's clear that the ruling Junta didn't want to transfer the power to Democracy winner. And now as they have experience before, they have planned a perfect strategy to win the election this time. The opposition party NLD is ignores by the election and they are going to run the election without the noble peace prize winner Daw Aung San Su Kyi. The election is going ahead without caring of international pressure and without taking any suggestion of former democratic countries. That's why it becomes a big concern for the nations all around the world.

Burma's ruling Junta are surviving in power only from the direct protection of China in international society. It should be because China has such a big economic tie with the junta and also influence Burma in politic, cultural and social. China's veto is now using as a weapon of self-interest in every decision in political stage. That's why it ignores the real situation in Burma and blindly supports the opposite election of Burma. There is one reason that China doesn't want Burma to transfer to Democracy because China itself is being a communist country. And of course, it has a good reason of saying non-interference or intervention of other nation's problem, no matter what's happening but, after that policy of China, self-interest is taking place. As long as China's protection on Burma is shielding from international's pressure, the junta will keep on going and surviving.

Because of this election now, Thai's Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his top ranking ministers are planning to visit Burma ruling junta in early of this October. Experts and analysts are saying that it is apart of discussion for repatriation of the refugees who are living along Thai-Burmese border in the camps. This kind of news is such a huge panics for the refugee that living in the camps now. Most of the refugees don't want to go back to such a place where full of landmines and under complete persecution. Even the election is not coming yet; its bad effects are working already and just let's imagine how things would be in Burma after the election. Things are going to be completely chaos after the election and if we support, it is the same as giving license to the butcher.

So, it is such an exciting game to watch and wait the result of the election, and what is going to be in Burma, a really independent Democracy or a puppet Democracy in Burma? Will things be getting better or worse? How will the international community response be and how will be the elected government (junta) reaction? Those are which all the things that we want to know and curious on. But, the only thing is that let's see…what will be the next……????

Saw July Htoo,
Mae La Oon Camp.

Dear my reader, we are meeting again. I think how exciting you are to read my next telling about the things in Mae La Oon camp. I am so sure that things are completely different from where you are living now in Holland or the other part of the world even we are living in the same planet. That’s why I really enjoy telling you and I hope you are also willing to read it, isn’t it? So now, this time, I want to tell you about our school system in Mae La Oon and how we manage to deal with our summer holidays.

Here on the border, we can say that the situation is a kind of instability because of the policy in Thailand and the stupid pressure from the SPDC. So, our school system is also changing. First, our school KNFEP (Karen Northern Further Education Program) was started in 1995, funding by the Norwegian government. We can say that the beginning of the school year, the school was fine without any problem. The fund was excellent and lots of benefits came out from the school. The school gave two years and three months of study courses in the camp and after that the students used to go to Mae Saraing for six months of study to finish the school. Being study in the camp is to get the basic education and getting chance to study in Mae Saraing is to open our eyes and to make our ears wider in the Education Century. Because Education is a KEY, at the moment. And don’t think being graduate from the school is done. All the students MUST do the internship as a volunteer for three months; no one can avoid it because it was a part of the school’s program. And I think that was such a good planning for the students, a kind of giving the experiences before working for the community. (That’s why now I am interning in Mae Saraing and now, I am writing my report to give my teacher). Moreover, the school could set up The Students Exchange Program between Norwegian students and Karen students. Three of Norwegian students came to visited, Learned and found out all the situation on the border for three months and three of Karen students had to do the same. So that they could make the presentation to the rest of the others about what they learned during their time on the border and Norway. But as I mentioned, to get those implementations, it cost lots and lots of money and also lots and lots of money went into the pocket of the Thai and Burmese’s authorities. So, as the running time of the school was getting more years, the funding was also getting weaker and weaker. In 2008 (the same year that I was studying second year in the school), the fund from Norwegian Government stopped, luckily, we got the only opportunity of studying in Mae Saraing but, for the group that coming after, no more studying in Mae Saraing, no more interning, no more student exchange and our school changed to NKJC (Northern Karen Junior College), funding by IHE (Institute of Higher Education), a branch of KED (Karen Education Department). So, I feel like the disappearing of KNFEP is a kind of losing such a great big, big thing. But, the consequences of the school are still remaining and keep on going. So, this is our school history.

This last part is going to be about the summer holidays. We don’t used to have the certain holiday on the border, actually. Why? Because, we are being refugee. But Of Course, during summer time, most of the students used to go back to their village, maybe for family reunion or maybe visiting. But, one thing that I am sure is when they go back; their holiday time is a kind of working time for money to pay the school fee. Most of the parents of the students can’t afford and support their children’s school fee and that’s why for the students who go back to their home village have to work in the farms or selling things to save the enough money and for the some students who stay in the camp are also working inside the camp, going out from the camp illegally for the money sometimes. So, only a few amount of the students left and they are the only that enjoy the certain holiday.

So, for this time, you can compare how lives are different from you and here. BELIEVE IN OR NOT, but, it happened already and still keep on going. So read, think, analyze and do as you wish. Help as you can. I hope you will get a kind of great happiness if you do something different that you haven’t done before. Well………, I am going too far. I think that’s enough and we will meet the next time. Thank you so much for reading my blog.

Saw July Htoo,
Mae La Oon Camp.

On 30th, April, 2010, I started my journey to Mae La Oon camp on the border together with Marieke and Ronald. We left about 9 am in the morning and it was of course the second time for Marieke but for Ronald, it was the first trip. We were in the car for almost three hours and as it was summer in Thailand, the journey was dusty and seemed like the whole world was brown. You can see the pictures from the website because Marieke took lots of photo and short movie.

So, we arrived to Mae la Oon camp, in KNFEP (now NKJC) school at about after noon. And we rest for few hours and it was too hot and terrible for us but, fortunately, we have a river next to the school. So, three of us went to the river for swimming. It was a funny swimming because we stayed in the river for three hours and it was enough time for us to discuss all the things. Three of us, our meeting were so special and different because it was in the water of course. That’s why Ronald named “The Meeting in the Water”. After that, in the evening, we went to the orphanage to talk about the BEAN day and the Gift to the orphanage. So, later everything went well.

On May 1st, we went to the orphanage again for the Gift. I hope you will curious about the Gift. It was to give two pigs to the orphanage and to build the hut for them. So, to day, we built the hut together with the kids who live in orphanage. It was a small hut, wide enough for two pigs so that we did it within in three hours. But, we couldn’t find the baby pigs so that after the hut was ready, we all got inside the hut, and took pictures,funny pictures instead of pigs. So after building of the hut, we came back and chewed the Betel Nut (Karen traditional food after meals). On and on, it was already midday and getting so hot, so we though it was time for Meeting in the Water again. But, actually only swimming without discussion because we have done it yesterday. At the evening, we went to section 13 to visit Marieke’s A May (Means “Mother” in Burmese). We had a special dinner at A May house and it was also a nice visiting because A May was so friendly and so hospitable for Marieke and Ronald.

On May 2nd, today, I asked my friend Nay Nay to go together with Marieke and Ronald to visit Pu Pu house in section 11, because I had to go back to my Mae Ra Moe camp. So, I was not together with them but, I think they had a good visiting there. When I got back to the school in evening, we went to orphanage again to have the first “No Yellow Bean Day Food” together with the orphans. I’m sure that the orphans were so happy to have special food and you can have a look to the pictures and the short video. Three of us were so pleased to see those orphans eating happily. After having the Food together with the orphans, we gave the T-shirts to the orphanage and took pictures together. They were so nice with the T-shirt in blue color with the funny and smart logo.

We did funny things to the kids such as making the bracelet with the colorful small balls, giving lighting stars and the painting as well. They enjoyed doing that so much. They also gave back the Karen made weaving shirt and bags to us. They were so friendly and hospitable, of course.

Our journey to the camp was so short and we spent only for three days. So, today, it was time to leave of course. Before we left, we gave the T-shirt to the students in NKJC School and after that we went to the camp office, waiting for cars to come back to Mae Saraing. We didn’t wait for so long and at 11 am, the car came and we came back to Mae Saraing, Saying good-bye to the kids in the orphanage, students in NKJC School and Mae La Oon camp. For me I feel OK because I have chance to come back to the camp, but, I am not sure with the Marieke and Ronald because they said they will come back after next two years. But, I think we did a good job within in a short time with a well ending.

That’s why I want to tell you that the BEAN DAY is now working effectively and you don’t have to worry for your money that you donated. We have the pictures, the videos and the receipt. We also invite you to come to visit the orphanage, the school and the camp. I am sure that you will have different kinds ofexperience, new people, and new place but, poor place of course. You can also get more information from Marieke and Ronald; hope they will have something special for you to tell about their experience.

Saw July Htoo,
BEAN DAY worker,
Mae La Oon Camp.

My name is Saw July Htoo. I am no 20 years old. I was born on July 11. 1990. I had five siblings, I got three brothers and only one sister. I am a school boy and I love to go to school. I enjoy going to very much. I am not so intelligent but I really like staying in the school. So, step by steps, I continued my studying until I finish high school. But at that time, I didn't realize that the education system of Burma was low lever. Just enjoying and concentrating the studying and try to pass the exam year by years. 

So, there are seven people in my family. My father worked in the forest in timber extraction. I mother was a nurse in the hospital. My family lived in May town which is in central Burma. It was a beautiful town and during the British Colony time, most of the British people love the town. The town is also near with logging area and that's why my father choosed to stay there. As my father was working in logging area, he always stayed in the forest. So year after years, in 2002, when I was eight standard, my family was really indeep trouble because my father passed away my family and the whole world. Since that time, I realized that my family became weaker and weaker to support everything. Of course, I knew the situation of my family and I tried to get out from the school but, I mother didn't want it. So, I continued it until I pass the high school in Burma. As I am a school boy, I would like to get higher education and so, I found out the way I could get it. I know my self that my mother couldn't afford the living cost of University inside Burma. So, fortunatly, it was jsut coincidence because one of my cousin contacted me to go to the camp on the border between Thai and Burmese. First, I didn't want to go, but my mother forced me to go and gain education and search for a better life. So, I sailed to the border in 2006.

Life in the camp was first, so strange for me and I felt that I was in another different world. All the people were Karen and it made me please to be in my people's society. Again, it was not like as my own town because there were so many ethnic diversity there and so many different cultures from different background. People in my town were always on their own way but, here in the camp, everyone was frendly and helpful to me.  But, as for me, it was so hard for me to live in the camp because I am alone without family, without relatives and no one that I know. And there are so many restricted area in the camp and moreover, there are so many check points outside the camp. And later I realized that these kind of things made the life of the Refugees to become too difficult.

When I arrived in the camp, I joined the school called KNFEP (Karen Northern Further Education Programme). Studying in the camp, especially being a student of KNFEP school is more meaningful than studying inside Burma. The curriculum that taught by the schools in Burma are out of the date. I realized that the education systems were completely different. There were so many restriced subjects in side Burma for example; the UDHR and Democracy. That's why I am saying studying in that school was so meaningful and benefit for me, as well. Because, I got so many experience and especially, we can discuss politic  freely. Talking or discussing about the politic is strongly restricted in side Burma and no freedom of expression, no freedom of movement and if you do so, the prison is waiting for you already.

But, of course, staying inside the camp is benefit in those ways, but, the life is so difficult. Poor food, poor shelter, poor at everything. And still, the refugees are not allow to go outside from  the camp to find extra money to support their self. It seem to me like the life of the refugees are the same as birds that stay inside the cage.

July