TBC: Camps, Sangklaburi Field Office

Kanchanaburi area

Kanchanaburi TBC Field office

75/4 Pruksakarn 1
Sangchuto Rd
Tamakam
Muang
Kanchanaburi 71000
Email: tbckan@theborderconsortium.org

The Kanchanaburi field office supports two camps, Ban Don Yang and Tham Hin, and monitors the Mon resettlement sites.

Dan Yang

Orientation
‘Ban Don Yang’ means ‘rubber tree village’ in Thai.

Location:	Nonglu Sub-district, Sangkhlaburi District, Kanchanburi Province
Distance from Border:	Less than 1 km
Distance from Sangklaburi:	31 kms / approx. 1 hour driving time (through the village of Huai Malai
Distance from Bangkok:	430 kms / approx. 6 hours driving time
Accessibility:	Car: all-year-round access; requires 4WD in rainy season Phone: mobile phone coverage only behind “Or Sor” checkpoint at camp entrance.
Camp Geography:	Area 70 acres (11 ha)

History
Ban Don Yang camp was formed in May 1997 from two former sites, Thu Ka and Hti Ta Baw. These former sites straddled the border and were relocated after the offensives in Tenasserim Division and Dooplaya District in February 1997. Initially, living conditions were very rudimentary, with plastic sheeting for roofing and lack of adequate space between dwellings. Nowadays, houses have more suitable grass thatch roofs.

With the closed nature of Tham Hin camp, most new arrivals in the southern border area that are permitted to enter a camp have been sent to Ban Don Yang (350 in March 1998, 1,500 in February 2000, 270 in September 2001,). In 2001, Chumphon camp was closed down and its population was transferred to Section F in Ban Don Yang, hence the camp now having sections F1 and F2.

Early in 2005, 395 of the UNHCR’s urban-based PoC (Person of Concern) caseload were transferred to this camp as part of the Royal Thai Government’s policy to have all PoCs located in camps prior to consideration for resettlement to third countries. This has caused some tensions within the community, with some PoCs voicing complaints and demonstrating against their new living conditions. Another group, of slip holders, who had applied for refugee status was transferred to the camp in October 2006, total of 153.

The camp has never been attacked although, with its proximity to the border, there have been occasions for increased security awareness.

The camp lies directly opposite the Mon resettlement site of Halockhani – a collective name for an area consisting of 5 specific resettlement sites – which lies less than a kilometre away. The main military presence on the Mon/ Burma side of the border are units of the New Mon State Party (NMSP) – a ceasefire group which protects the area although, since the 2010 elections in the country, its status is under threat. The nearest major SPDC garrison lies 12 kms away to the northeast at the 3-Pagodas Pass; however, smaller outposts do lie nearer.

Due to its isolated location, the camp is off the mains electricity grid, although the camp office, and health and education centres in the camp have access to power from electric generators. Some households also have access to these to recharge vehicle batteries to power residential lighting.

Demographics
TBC Feeding Population: 3,736 (March 2012)

Breakdown by Age	<5 Yrs	5-17 Yrs	Adult
Breakdown by Age	12.2%	35.6%	52.2%
Breakdown by Gender	Female	Male
Breakdown by Gender	52.07%	47.93%
Breakdown by Ethnicity	Karen	Burman	Other
Breakdown by Ethnicity	95%	1.92%	3.08%

Resettlement (Source: IOM)
In 2005, RTG gave approval for resettlement opportunities to be offered to camp residents. Statistics for resettlement by camp are available since 2006. As of December 2011, 2,118 persons had departed from the camp – the majority resettling in the USA.

Tham Hin

Orientation

Location:	Suan Phung District, Ratchaburi Province
Distance from Border:	10 kms in a straight line
Distance from Kanchanaburi:	90 kms / approx. 2 hours driving time
Distance from Sangklaburi:	295 kms / approx. 4½ hours driving time
Distance from Bangkok:	170 kms / approx. 3 hours driving time
Accessibility:	Car: all-year-round access (incl. 13 kms of unpaved road) Phone: no mobile phone coverage
Camp Geography:	Area 40 rai (6 ha)

History
Tham Hin was established in May 1997 following offensives by the Burmese military in Tenasserim Division, which caused extensive displacement of civilians across the Thailand Burma border. Three temporary sites were established for the displaced persons: Huay Sot and Bor Wii in Ratchaburi Province, Suan Phung District and Phu Muang in Kanchanaburi Province, Danmakhamtia District.

The conditions at these sites were kept very rudimentary (sleeping on the ground with only thin plastic roofing and skeletal bamboo structures). Agreement was reached in April 1997 to move the three sites to the current camp location, and this was completed two months later in June. Though Tham Hin has been a de facto “closed site” since the end of 1997, increases in the population have occurred.

In December 2001, UNHCR’s camp for political refugees at Maneeloy was closed and a new zone (Zone 4) was created for the remaining residents from there.

Conditions at Tham Hin are severely cramped, and have been kept intentionally rudimentary by the Thai authorities, only allowing plastic sheeting for roofing because thatch is considered a fire hazard.

The camp has never been attacked, though Burmese Army troop movements in the area have sometimes led to increased security awareness.

Demographics
TBC Feeding Population: 6,749 (March 2012)

Breakdown by Age	<5 Yrs	5-17 Yrs	Adult
Breakdown by Age	11.9%	33.9%	54.2%
Breakdown by Gender	Female	Male
Breakdown by Gender	51.47%	48.53%
Breakdown by Ethnicity	Karen	Burman	Other
Breakdown by Ethnicity	98.5%	0.99%	0.51%

Resettlement (Source: IOM)
In 2005, RTG gave approval for resettlement opportunities to be offered to camp residents. Statistics for resettlement by camp are available since 2006. As of December 2011, 6,475 persons have departed from Tham Hin since 2006, with the majority resettling in the USA.