Camp Detention

Warder with a detainee in background.

Refugees have establish their own justice system within the camps. There is a chief justice who leads a committee who passes judgement on people brought before them.

There are some problems that arise in the camp such as theft and adultery. Adultery is the biggest concern for refugees, leaders and elders. In Karen culture, marriage is a monogamous relationship, meaning one wife for one husband and one husband for one wife. If adultery is committed it brings shame to the children, family and community.

From the last two years several cases of adultery were brought before the justic system and some adulterers were detained for correction.

However, Phu Pah Ket, head of the refugee security force in the camp, said less adultery cases were brought forward in 2004 than were in 2003 and 2002. In 2004 only two adultery cases were brought forward. In both cases adultery was committed and the guilty parties were detained for 3 months. If they commit adulturey again they will be detained for 6 months.

But Daniel Zu, vice chairman of Htam Hin camp said that because less adultery cases are being brought forward does not mean that it is decreasing. He said beforerefugee leaders could make a complaint on behalf of the victims, but now they can only try cases that are brought up by the families. This means that the problem did not gone away, just less cases were brought forward.

Chief justice (not want to be name) said law is based on our community in Burma, one wife has one husband and the dignity of our people. Even we are in other country we should take responsibility and set rule and judgment.

Phu Ki, a warder, said "people who commit adultery were detained according to the law in the camp. People who commit it should accept it. We have good heart and soft treat on them. We also correct them, and show them the right way. We are human being and we are not always right and we all make mistake but we have to be patient on each other."

Why the problem happen?

Phu Maw Kyaw, joint secretary of Htam Hin refugee camp said most of the cases related to men and women who work outside the camp. Some husbands didn't send money home. So, the wives, who were relying on them and the money, lost trust in their husb0ands and found someone new to support them. Some husbands left their wives behind and also left behind family problems for the wives to solve. This became too much and the wives have to find a new husband to depend apon. Sometimes when women work outside the camp they find a new Thai husband, and forget about the old one.

Te Paw Naw, 44yrs, a refugee said because of close relationship of men and women andfinancial difficulties in the family, they have to rely on each other. When the husband or wives goes away from home, problems arise. He also said over-crowding in the camp does not help the situation.

Detainee (male, has four children) said he worked outside the camp with a woman who was not his wife, and his wife didn't trust him with her. When he came home his wife drove him out of the house. After several times he said he couldn't stand it and started a relationship with the other woman.

Detainee (female). Her husband left her six years ago. He went and worked outside and never came back. She said, "I don't have money so I went to work outside. The man helped me, we worked together, we stay close and later we felt in love". But the man she had a relationship with was married, with children.