Showing 1 - 10 of 12
In fear ofbeing forgotten
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 21/08/2016
» Monsoon rains drench the cluster of small bamboo huts clinging to the sides of the Salween River bank that separates Thailand from Myanmar. The 475 leaf-roofed huts are home to 3,356 Karen people that make up the displaced community known as Ei Tu Hta.
Dengue season's extra sting
B Magazine, Phil Thornton, Published on 05/07/2015
» Dr Pipat is a worried man. As head of the paediatric department and deputy director of Mae Sot Hospital, he fears that 2015 is going to be a bad year for dengue cases.
The deadly cost of breakbone fever
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 07/09/2014
» Poe Cho lies on the floor of the children’s ward at Mae Tao Clinic, his tiny body stilled by dengue fever. The boy, seven, was infected by dengue when bitten by the Aedes mosquito while living as a novice monk at Myawaddy’s Yaw Bu Temple, across the Moei River that separates Thailand from Myanmar.
Hunting those who hurt children
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 29/06/2014
» In the northern city of Chiang Mai, Pol Lt Col Apichart Hattasin is battling to stop sexual predators preying on and hurting children.
A complex peace
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 02/02/2014
» Despite recent reforms, working in Myanmar for international non-government organisations (NGOs) is difficult. Most NGOs are concentrated in the country's urban areas, kept well away from the ethnic regions where health, education and food security is desperately needed. Like in most countries, NGOs are supposed to work in Myanmar with government agreement. This requires either a memorandum of understanding or letter of agreement with the government.
Out of the darkness
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 22/12/2013
» Not many people would describe Boon's life as a dream. Growing up in rural Thailand is tough, but having only 20% vision to rely on, being denied access to schools, being sexually molested by a drunken stepfather and fighting off an adult neighbour are obstacles only the mentally strong survive.
Stranded amid a sea of reforms
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 10/03/2013
» Recent progress within Myanmar is coming at the expense of ethnic villagers in the country's impoverished southeast, who who are seeing their land expropriated as development steamrollls in. That was the conclusion of ''Losing Ground'', a report released last week in Bangkok by the Karen Human Rights Group featuring the results of field studies undertaken from January, 2011 to November, 2012.
Spreading light in a murky world
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 23/12/2012
» Bunsiri was 15 when she ran away from home. Despite having only 20% vision she had been doing well at school. With the help of her stepfather Bunsiri had fought for years to go to school and had learned to read and write.
Mekong River bandit's powerful friends dry up
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 30/09/2012
» Naw Kham has been labelled a pirate, drug lord, murderer, racketeer, godfather and spy. He is listed as a fugitive on Interpol's Wanted Persons index. Earlier this year, both the Thai and Chinese governments placed Naw Kham on top of their most wanted foreigners lists, with Thailand offering a US$65,000 (two million baht) bounty for his capture.
Pilgrimage of pain for sick
Spectrum, Phil Thornton, Published on 08/07/2012
» Mary Boullier's pale fingers probe the swollen skin surrounding the barely opened slit that remains of nine-year-old Tin Tin's left eye and says, "We don't know what is causing the swelling around her eye, but when Tin Tin was admitted here she had severe anaemia. If it was left untreated it could have caused heart failure."