We have not really posted here about our plans for this trip (apart from a rest after an unusually busy and stressful year). We had been hoping, and almost sorted the administrative details, that Tim could teach a postgraduate course that would count towards a recognised qualification for at least Peacefully and Wah Doh but perhaps also others. This will not be possible on this occasion.

[At least we hope it won't as those two primary people are hoping to make a fraternal visit to Karen churches in Australia over most of the period of our visit. They do not yet have visas, but we hope last minute dramas (last night a key document was found...) may still enable that trip.]

What we are hoping is that we can talk face to face with some of the key people this end, with a view to exploring how to make post-KKBBSC theological education more available to people for whom travel is difficult (usually through lack of suitable identity papers).

So at present we don’t have any teaching actually scheduled. KKBBSC students are on mission, but the Bible School here in Newton’s village (sorry as yet both the Karen and Thai names are beyond me) is operating and we may help out here.

Relatively “fixed” points are that we want to visit Chang Mai (among other reasons to visit the Baldwins) and Chang Rai (simply as tourists) and at some stage around the middle of January we will need to cross a border to renew our visas.

In short at present our plans are “extremely flexible” – we are not quite sure what we are doing today, let alone tomorrow, but expect the Lord has interesting possibilities in mind

Peaceful villiage view from Shirley's window

We did indeed get the night bus, indeed VIP and very comfortable and no surprises. Neither of us slept much, jetlag I guess but we got a couple of hours in Mae Sot, where we thought we were staying the night, we will actually spend the next few days at Pastor Newton’s village and home as Shirley swiftly arranged everything. We get to chat more with Peaqcefully and Wah Doh and others once the big youth congress is over (Thursday). Meanwhile this is the view from Shirley’s office, not the absolute best view in the village, which boasts superb scenes of nearby hills, but suggestive of the rural peace we will enjoy for a few days here

It is quieter already since I took the photo, as the pig has been fed, so is busy not excited. We’ll be fed soon, and dinners smells excellent

Tonight we get the bus from a hot steamy cool season Bangkok to Mae Sot We hope in the next few days to meet up with Peacefully, Wah Doh and others interested in (or doing) postgraduate work in Theology with a view to seeing how we can help facilitate this.

More news as it happens, if we have a connection at the time or with the benefit of reflection later, if we don’t…

Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Ky (whose party was elected by a landslide in the last free elections in Burma aka Myanmar) has been convicted of not expelling an visitor that her junta appointed jailors allowed to invade her home.
The ethnic opposition to these military dictators in Burma is being chased into exile by armed force or has been bribed into silence.

Yet the junta plan “elections” next year. It is time to speak out. At the very least we can oppose selling more arms to these thugs! Please sign up

There is a full and detailed report on the Aiya Burma Fund site (which though I have not seen corroborated elsewhere sounds accurate) which says that the 3,000 new refugees will not be housed in a new camp in an abandoned school but moved to Mae La (They fled Burma during the recent surge by the Myanmar and their DKBA surrogate forces when these troops torched their villages.) Mae La was already the largest camp on Thailand’s border. Following an ambush on the Moei River (which forms the border) which killed a DKBA commander Colonel San Pyone they write:

Site of Eden Valley Academy, Tha Song Yang region - Photo: TBBC

Attacks on civilians are anticipated in retribution for the DKBA commander’s death.

Because of the precarious security at Ti Nu Koh agencies responsible for critical infrastructure, food and clothing had asked the Thai Army to post armed guards around the old school should it be used as a temporary camp.

Thai security forces said they were undermanned, could not ensure security and recommended another site be considered.

All parties agreed to move the dislocated people into the massive Mae La refugee camp.

Anyone who wants to return home may do so, but Thai authorities will ask them to sign a form saying they have rejected refuge in Thailand of their own accord and have not been forced to leave.

This is to counter recent allegations of soldiers forcing those fleeing back across the border and to prove Thailand is willing to offer safe haven in a time of need.

The Irawaddy reports:

Burmese refugees at Mae La refugee camp are on alert due to a threat of attack by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), according to the vice chairman of the camp.

“The DKBA said they will destroy our camp,” said Vice-Chairman Htun Htun, speaking to The Irrawaddy on Wednesday.

Many of the refugees have packed clothing and belongings in preparation for a military assault, sources in nearby Mae Sot said. Camp authorities have imposed a curfew of 9 p.m. On all refugee residents.

The DKBA threatened to attack Mae La camp after one of their influential commanders, San Pyote (aka Soe Myint), the head of Battalion 7, was ambushed and killed by an unknown armed group while traveling by longtail boat on the Moei River on June 26.

(STR/AFP/Getty Images)
Aung San Suu Kyi meeting diplomats before her trial

The Times reports that

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki Moon, will visit Burma on Friday in a diplomatically risky effort to win concessions from the country’s military dictatorship.

Mr Ban hopes to persuade the Burmese junta to release political prisoners, including the country’s democracy leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, in advance of an election next year, denounced by opposition groups as fraudulent and meaningless.

But if he comes away without a significant compromise by the regime, he will further undermine the UN’s authority in a country where neither punitive sanctions nor diplomatic engagement have brought any obvious improvements.

Please pray that his visit will be useful, and not merely a propaganda opportunity for the regime. It comes at a time when the clamp down on ethnic opposition is particularly intense, with the Burmese opposition (esp. Aung San Suu Kyi) also under attack Ban Ki Moon’s visit could be critical…

Following the call for prayer, as the Burma Army and its allied forces begins to drive villagers out of yet another area, Partners have asked for money to provide relief supplies for the affected villagers:

Partners staff are rapidly working with ethnic leaders to provide critical assistance.

More than 60 families have arrived seeking aid and refugee. Food and emergency supplies are being distributed. Additional help is on the way.

Many at risk families have fled other Burma Army attacks. As recently as last week, Partners staff assisted 40 families with essential provisions, such as mosquito nets, blankets, clothes, pots, pans, and bowls.

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