Giraffe Women: "Condemned" to live with rings around their necks
The llaman Ma-y In Majon, but all known as Mariana and Maria Jose. They come from Myanmar, living in Thailand and are not citizens of any country. They are refugees, although one of them still have no right as such. Ma Nan-s tourist attraction; Majon has been for many years. Both share the same story but with different ending.
Its appearance is attractive, my first thought is to have them in front. Ma-Nan, she wears bright silver bracelets on her wrists, colorful traditional clothes and gold rings along the neck that characterize the Long Neck tribe; Majon put them stopped long ago but can recognize that led by the narrowness and length reaches its neck under the thick black hair. A major tourist attraction, certainly. A reef too juicy for the Thai government to let him escape.
He came home with marks and scars on legs, Majon account, read stuck in power for as he rendir rest
No I'm wrong. They confirm my suspicions right away and start counting from the beginning, saturating in some citrus episodes lives. Both arrived in Thailand at the beginning of the decade of the 90, fleeing the abuses of the Burmese dictatorship on the country's ethnic minorities. The government required the different families of ethnic Karenni, to which belong the Long Neck- to deliver a 70% of their income to state coffers. And when these were not high enough, punished family involved recruiting one of its male members and forcing him to work for the army. Majon's uncle died and; his father ran better luck after falling ill with malaria was returned to his village for being unable to keep up with the armed. "He came home with marks and scars on legs", Majon account, "Reads stuck on in power as he rendir rest". It is rumored that another uncle was shot, "Taken away one day and never came back". And that's when they decided to flee.
The story of Ma-Nan is not very different. Although the army never attacked your home, prowling war the area adjacent to the village where he lived and was common to see and hear explosions around. One day the fear was stronger than the desire not to leave their homeland and decided to take refuge on Thai soil. "We walk a week through forest to reach Nai Soi", explains. And this is where the life of both confluent: in one of the villages to Long Neck located northwest of Thailand.
We walked the whole week through forest to reach Nai Soi
Nai Soi is a refugee camp, but its inhabitants have a UN passport which says they are. Nai Soi is a kind of human zoo. They are locked, the tourist access payment -250 Baht, about seven euros- and although the Thai government not forced to wear necklaces, are indirectly coerced. "The Thais just give money to families whose women continue to carry the rings", afirma Majon. A sum of 1.500 baht a month exactly, 40 euros at the exchange. The rest, those who have decided to take it off, receives only a generous amount of rice to ensure its subsitencia. Vegetables, curry and other staples of the Asian diet, they are again reserved only for those who keep the tradition and do not break with the tourist business that Thais have mounted.
Nonetheless, more and more that, as Majon, dare to break with the past. "I have a thousand reasons to stop wearing the necklace: weighs too, upset, hurts, deforms the neck, not practical ... ", explains. Majon is a modern girl. You only need to take a look to notice-western style clothes, black hair with burgundy wicks, purposeful movements without whom much has been known world-imagine. You have 22 years and like most of his generation is more concerned about his future than the old ways.
I have a thousand reasons to stop wearing the necklace: weighs too, upset, hurts, deforms the neck, not practical ...
That is why he decided to leave Nai Soi and ask to be transferred to a refugee camp. The Thai government granted it and that is where he now lives, ensures happy, been awaiting a response from New Zealand to move to this country under a resettlement plan. "In Nai Soi can not access these programs", clarifies, "Partly, so I decided to commute the field ". That and to achieve a better education. "There is also no high school", continues, "Primary and is not in operation due to lack of teachers".
A walk in the country allows me to check in first person. Maybe it's all so the village is running out of people. "They're leaving all", Ma-Nan says wistfully, "I promise that from the camp will go live in Europe, America and Oceania and are going to try their luck ". She has her doubts. Do you think too much missing in Thailand as a tourist attraction, that the national government will not let go so easily.
A Thai military couple strolling near the place where we are. They are under constant surveillance
A Thai military couple strolling near the place where we are. They are under constant surveillance. Fortunately, both speak Castilian-and hence their nick names, Mariana and Maria Jose- so it is not necessary to interrupt the conversation. In English it would have been much more complicated, reflect. Probably, not been so relaxed and had silenced many information for fear of reprisals. I want to know how to learn Spanish. "On tourism", respond in unison. "There was a time when many tourists come to visit, especially Spanish ". There is now less - "I can just practice your language", complains Ma-Nan-, perhaps unmotivated to permanent exodus to refugee camps is leaving Long Neck village empty and dull.
Sorry to be so insistent, but I can not avoid returning to ask if they have never had a book or studied Castilian beyond what they could teach tourism. I answer with a resounding on, although recognized Majon know how to read and write. "Me he carteado with many tourists spanish, is a good way to learn, plus it allows me to keep in touch with the people who come to visit ", explains.
It seems incredible that his Castilian not have any academic foundation: pronounced in a perfect accent, has a very correct grammar and understand everything the first time without me making any effort should vocalize more than necessary or support my speech at the gesture. It is smart, much. Speaks almost ten languages, also, ensures that understands the Basque. "She looks just like my tongue", clarifies, "If I speak slowly I understand everything". Personally, I have my reservations. But maybe someone should investigate.
Comments (8)
Lilla
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I liked it!!!!! I am a feminist……not radical but I understand there are k k continue defending abuse!
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Javi and Mayte "Looking Waslala"
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Great article Olga, real. We were in Mae Sot also investigating Burmese refugee. We hope to share the experience with you later.
We can also tell you that we decided not to visit the villages of Long Neck just for the reasons that explain…
Thanks for sharing. Two Valencian Greetings from Santiago de Chile!
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Harry Fisch
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Olga, Maria met a thousand years visiting the village on a foggy day . Here's the picture I did then http://www.flickr.com/photos/boqueron/82997833/in/set-1652781 .
It was by chance. I was with a family group visiting the town, between mud and rain. Someone in the group named Julio Iglesias (!!!) , which was – obviously- absurd at the time and place and a voice, it was not known, in perfect Spanish: «I would like to meet you in person»… Was Mary ! … I think it was at that moment that I realized that the only distances creates ignorance. And why the Tower of Babel has been a divine punishment. Feicidades for your article, Harry Fisch
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Lydia
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A wonderful story. No wonder they flee to Thailand and some also try it quits. It is truly amazing the history of Majon. Having learned a language based only talk to tourists and corresponding with them, has much merit.
These women are the example of not always keep the traditions, especially when they are harmful to health and dignity.
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Olga Moya
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The truth is that it is one of the stories that I liked to do. It was full of nuances, of prejudice that is largely confirnaron-in other fell short and, in some, correpondían not at all with their reality-. So depressing hallucinated that zoo, with the force of a girl 22 years he had gotten out of it, with their enthusiasm and their world; I was also surprised the vehemence with which the other woman defended tradition and claimed he was not interested what lay beyond their village. What the Castilian could have stayed in anecdote, but given the level elevadísivo girl 22 years who had never had a book, was quite disruptive. Harry, I was very glad to read your testimony! Congratulations for your great work! Javi and Mayte, did not go very BIRB in! Just how are you justify a visit if there is some newsworthy behind or study, otherwise it is only helping to perpetuate their misery! You have more info from Karen another article of mine on in camp you can also read here! Lilla, Lydia have every reason! Besos to all!
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Amber
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It's awesome, although they are the same traditions are ancient. It is hard and weird to know that there are still places in the world where women are subjected.
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alex torres
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Very good article, really sad that continue to treat women well in the XXI century
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Cynthia
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So you are a feminist of the "good", Jjajjjjaj.
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