December 18, 1998
Since many people have been following the Karen situation in Thailand, I thought I would give an update since I just returned.
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I conducted church services for them last Sabbath in Bangkok before flying out that
evening. They were still waiting to go into the UN camp for repatriation. They had hoped
to go in November, but it has been put off till February at the earliest. In a camp you
have protected status, and then go to a new country after a few months. Their hopes were
high.
While they were out, the police raided a building where the two families were staying,
picking up 30 Karen and 4 Burmese and taking them forcefully to the border. Even though
the UN has some of the Karen with a tentative status, they have no official Thailand
status, and until placed in a UN camp can be deported to the Burmese border where they
face uncertainty. There is still fighting between the Burmese, Christian Karen and
Buddhist Karen.
God saw fit to spare our people from this raid. Thankfully we had scheduled a trip and
were there at this time. Thaw Thi Ko was able to keep his family in Leon Sexton's small
apartment for safety for the night, and Hillier's family went to an in-laws house. In a
few days they should be able to return and hope for no more raids.
Their situation is still very tentative till they have a permanent status. Your prayers
would be appreciated for their protection.