Burmese Refugees

For years, the Burmese government has been exploiting the people of Burma. This exploitation has included forcing them to pay exorbitant taxes

Due to constant mistreatment and lack of medical resources, food, and economic opportunity, there have been thousands of Burmese refugees that fled their homes. Most Burmese refugees have chosen to settle in nearby Thailand for the past 20 years. Camps are set up for the Burma refugees. There were roughly 20,000 Burmese refugees in the refugee camps of Thailand in the 1980s. That number has now grown to at least 300,000, although exact numbers are difficult to obtain.

The deadly regime that was appointed by the Burmese government guards the border, looking for citizens who are trying to become Burmese refugees. This increased security, of course, makes it harder for them to become Burma refugees in the first place.

Thai policies are constantly changing their approach to handling the Burmese refugees in Thailand. Burma refugees fall into two categories: border refugees and urban refugees. Thailand's government has pushed for a law that would force some Burmese refugees to return home before the conflict in Burma ends.

Although safer than they are in Burma, Burmese refugees who find themselves in Thailand face devastating poverty, discrimination, and a lack of protection and human rights from the Thai government. These Burma refugees often find themselves working in dangerous construction sites where there are no safety precautions. The Burma refugees are expected to work at least 10 hours a day with an average wage of $1.00 United States dollar. The Burmese refugee camps consist of aluminum houses with dirt floors for the Burmese refugees.

The population of these Burmese refugee camps has not decreased at all since they were originally set up. If anything, the number of Burma refugees has exploded due to problems with the Burmese government. As the corrupt government continues to exploit its people, more Burma residents decide to leave the country every year.

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