Teacher fears for school hit by Burmese poll turmoil

Published on Thursday 11 November 2010 13:11

A BURMESE headteacher visiting Scotland has spoken about her fears for her family and friends at home as post-election violence erupted close to her school.

Say Hei left the Thai border town of Mae Sot for an educational exchange as the first elections for 20 years were being held in Burma - then watched in horror as thousands of refugees flooded over the border and fighting broke out in the area close to her school.

The headteacher is at Campie Primary School in Musselburgh, East Lothian, as part of the Global Schools Partnership to promote education between different nations.

The 56-year-old, who is at the school with Paw Ray, another Burmese headteacher, left her own five children and the 84 schoolgirls who live in the Child Development Centre in Mae Sot. It doubles as a school and boarding house, mainly for orphaned Burmese children.

The teachers set off not expecting any problems in the region, only to discover their centre and the other 62 Burmese schools in Mae Sot had been closed by the Thai government.

Thousands of people have crossed the Moei River, which separates Burma from Thailand, to escape the fighting - and there are fears for the children's safety.

Mrs Hei, who is a widow, said: "I was really worried because I did not know that people were safe.

"I have spoken to and e-mailed friends and family, and feel better knowing the children are safe and well looked-after.

"We do not know when the Thai authorities will reopen the schools."

When the Burmese teachers arrived in Scotland they learned that the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army had taken control of Myawaddy, across the river from Mae Sot. Since the 1988 uprising, Burmese people have fled across the border into Mae Sot, which has effectively become a Burmese enclave.

As the Thai authorities do not give refugee status, the Burmese are classed as migrant workers and live in very poor conditions. There are an estimated 100,000 Burmese migrants living in the border town, many of them in camps.

Campie headteacher Sheila Laing and three other teachers were in Mae Sot in the summer. Ms Laing said: "We did not expect anything like this to happen. We were all really shocked and frightened for CDC school, the families and our own children.

"It was very hard to get through to talk to our friends, but now we are happy they are safe. We do worry for the future of the Burmese people, who just want the right to live in a free state and to go home to a free Burma."

Ms Laing's daughter, Louise, 19, is currently in Mae Sot doing voluntary work in the school and the Mae Tao clinic - and was able to send back news that Mrs Hei's children were safe.

Louise said: "I have tried to help out at one of the temporary camps for people who have fled from Myawaddy town. The people are hungry and tired and very frightened.

"The Thai government have been amazing in this emergency situation though, and credit goes to them for their effort in taking care of the 15,000 people who are inside the Thai military base."