Continuing offensive

One month on, due to ongoing fighting led by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and supported by Burmese army soldiers against the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) battalions and general headquarters, situated along the Thai/Burma border, it is still not possible for those who fled to Thailand in early June to safely return to their homes.

Refugees are currently taking shelter in seven sites along the Thai/Burma border between Mae Usu and Mae Tawo, but Thai authorities have stated they would like to consolidate these into 3 sites for ease of providing aid and to be able to better control and monitor the situation.

However, this is proving to be difficult due to security issues. A DKBA commander, San Pyote (aka Soe Myint), was ambushed and killed by an unknown armed group while traveling by longtail boat on the Moei River on June 26 and the DKBA have threatened retaliation (more about this story at The Irrawaddy). There have also been other reported incidents of DKBA soldiers crossing the border into Thailand and killing Karen villagers.

The pictures shown below were taken at one of the sites where mainly women and children have fled the fighting.

More pictures can be found here or click on one of the thumbnails below to view a larger image.

Thousands of Karen flee Burma

Numbers are constantly fluctuating, but it is estimated that 4,000 Karen have now crossed into Thailand in the last week after fighting between Burmese government troops and KNLA soldiers.

The Karen Human Rights Group are stating that this ‘…is the largest refugee exodus from Karen State on a single occasion since the SPDC’s massive 1997 offensive in Dooplaya District further south.’

The photos shown here were taken in the Mae Tawo area where approximately 110 students have fled from across the border as well as a number of families.

Some reports of the current situation can be found here:

* Karen Human Rights Group – Over 3,000 villagers flee to Thailand amidst ongoing SPDC/DKBA attacks.
* BBC – Burma’s Karen unable to return home.
* ABC News – Burmese flee into Thailand after army crackdown.

More pictures can be found here or click on one of the thumbnails below to view a larger image.

Songkran – The Thai New Year

The Thai New Year is celebrated every year from April 13 to April 15. It coincides with the New Year of many calendars of South and Southeast Asia. Songkran falls in the hottest time of the year in Thailand, at the end of the dry season.

The most obvious celebration of Songkran is the throwing of water. People roam the streets with containers of water or water guns, or post themselves at the side of roads with a garden hose and drench each other and passersby – including photographers!

The throwing of water originated as a way to pay respect to people, by gently pouring a small amount of lustral water on other people’s hands or over a shoulder as a sign of respect. Nowadays, the emphasis is on fun and water-throwing rather than on the festival’s spiritual and religious aspects, which sometimes prompts complaints from traditionalists. In recent years there have been calls to moderate the festival to lessen the many alcohol-related road accidents as well as injuries attributed to extreme behavior such as water being thrown in the faces of traveling motorcyclists.

More pictures can be found here or click on one of the thumbnails below to view a larger image.

Southern 80 Ski Race – 2009

The famous Southern 80 ski race was held on the mighty Murray River at Echuca / Moama for yet another year. The Southern 80 Ski Race has been going now for over 40 years. The race takes place on the Murray River between Torrumbarry and Echuca on the second Sunday in February each year.

The event is a two up water ski race, which covers the river from Torrumbarry to Echuca. There are over 120 bends in this part of the river.

The race attracts over 400 entries from all over Australia with international representation from New Zealand, Great Britain and the USA.

Due to the devastating bushfires currently in Victoria however, the last main race of the event had to be cancelled because all emergency personnel were called away to assist with the bushfire efforts.

More images from this event can be found here.

King’s Birthday fireworks – Mae Sot

An important public holiday is held on 5 December to celebrate the birthday of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej, the world’s longest reigning monarch. Known in Thai as ‘Wan Chalerm’, the occasion is marked by an outpouring of love and reverence by Thai people throughout the kingdom and around the world.

On the evening of the holiday itself, a number of locations around Mae Sot let off spectacular fireworks displays. This was one was captured from the balcony of my apartment!

More pictures from this photo shoot can be found here.