Thailand Diaries, Part III

The aged Colonel greets us warmly from inside his spartan hut. A Karen calendar tacked to the wall. A tabby cat sprawled in an open window. A picture of Christ, Catholic-style, hangs cockeyed. Not what I expected from the 1st brigade's second in command.
Moments ago, we crossed the Moei River into Burma. The KNLA Sergeant guiding us radioed ahead to confirm our arrival. Covert crossing is common along this porous border. But while most are fleeing Burma, we're going in.

We meet a Karen drill instructor and break for an interview. He's covered in tattoos - a half-naked grandson sits on his lap. I look closely at his body art. He tells me the faded ink protects against fire and muzzle discharge in battle. We stop at a local "mini-mart". I ditch my pack, opting to tote only the camera the rest of the way. Before leaving, I buy everyone a Coke to thank the shopkeeper for his hospitality.

The students finished their class movies this week. For awards, I purchased ribbons and medals in Maesot. We premiered the productions Friday night and named the winning entries. Some girls donned dresses for the occasion. All were thrilled to be movie stars. Ben captured it all on tape.

Some of the students are in town today. We're taking them to a local art exhibit and auction this evening. Mercy Htoo "Victoria" will speak before the auction on the plight of refugees. Here's an excerpt of her speech: "As I grew into a young woman, I realized that my people are not at peace. There are times when I feel that my life is very restricted. I feel fenced in...When people love others, respect them and follow the rules of justice, there will be peace. That is what I want. I want to be treated with respect, to be treated as human."

Andrew