The Thai-Burma border

For almost fifty years, Burma has been ruled by one of the most brutal dictatorships in the world, the State Peace and Development Council. The junta has closed Burma to the outside world, thrown its population into darkness and mismanaged its economy into an astounding decline. Fighting between the SPDC and the ethnic rebels continues after sixty years of conflict, littering the countryside with landmines and shattered villages. The dangers of daily life, particularly acute in the rural areas, have led around 156,000 Burmese to flee to Thailand, despite the fact that many are not recognised as refugees by the Thai government.

In November 2007 I travelled to a small bustling market town called Mae Sot, in the middle of the Thai-Burma border. I met some of the Burmese people living in and around the town, many of whom are ethnic Karen, the largest group effected by the civil war. Currently half of their four million population is living in the border area, living as illegal migrants or in camps awaiting resettlement. Through a small NGO called 'Children On The Edge' I met some of the families who are making a life there despite constant uncertainty. The UN has limited power in the area and international aid agencies are conspicuous by their absence, but fortunately there are a myriad of small charities working under the radar, supporting local schools, hostels and clinics.

These pictures and stories are just a small representation of the many, many people living in the border area, in between worlds.

To read the full text accompanying these images please download pdf here (and view tearsheet here)
To find out more about the Burmese migrant population please go to:
Children on the Edge www.childrenontheedge.org
Thai Border Consortium: www.tbbc.org
Karen Women's Organisation: www.karenwomen.org