Mae Sot

Like many border post towns, Mae Sot is a place of ethnic diversity and cultural fusion. It is the Easternmost point of Thailand and the gateway to the land of Myanmar (Burma). For many years, the town has been a base for Burmese refugees and displaced migrant workers coming to Thailand to earn a living. Because of this, the town has often been nicknamed ‘Little Burma’. Over the past 20 years of turbulent history in Myanmar, many different ethnic minorities had suffered suppression from the Burmese government. The suppression and violence created a huge refugee situation in Thailand as people fled across the border in search of safety and a better life. It has been estimated that there are still up to 200,000 Burmese scraping a living in Mae Sot today. Even though the refugees have been living in Thailand for many years, there is still a struggle against the Thai government for them to be allowed full Thai citizenship. To this day, Thailand does not recognise the concept of refugee status. Walking around the streets and markets, you will notice a mix of Burmese ethnicities (of which there are said to be around 135) giving you the sense of the complexity of Burmese national identity. Some of the women wear Thanaka bark on their cheeks and the men wear the traditional Burmese longyi (wrap around skirt.). Due to the large populations of refugees, the town has also been a base for foreign NGOs who work in many different areas; from healthcare and education.