Rev. Jesse Jackson visits Karen refugee camps in Mae Hong Son

Chiangmai Mail - Saturday, November 15, 2003

Sittichai Prasertsri, the deputy governor of Mae Hong Son Province welcomed an American delegation visiting the Karen refugee camp and briefed them about the conditions in the region. The principal guest was the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr., chairman of the Rainbow/Push Coalition, who visited the refugee camp at Ban Pangmoo Muang District Mae Hong Son.

Rev. Jackson said, "We would like to thank the Thai government for taking great care of the refugees. However, we need the Thai government to note that the refugee camp is only 5 km from the Thai-Burmese border, which is not really safe."

He added that the Thai government's education department should provide education to the refugees by supplying teachers to teach them in the camp. "When the refugees go back to their homes in Burma, they will be able to use their knowledge that they learned here to survive."

Birth control education was another topic raised with the visiting