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From Tiffany Schauer, July 22, 2008

I extended my stay at the Field Village in Chiang Mai to help resort owner, Jong, procure and arrange transport for a second truckload of supplies to the Thailand-based Burmese Orphanage. (Read July 9 blog.) Serendipitously, my delayed schedule coincided with Mia Farrow’s visit to Chiang Mai University. Mia was just named by Time magazine to the 2008 top 100 most influential people in the world. (www.time.com) Mia has partnered with the Nobel Women’s Initiative to discuss the political rights crises faced by women in Thailand and Burma. The Nobel Women’s Initiative was established in 2006 by a group of women Nobel Peace Laureates. Only 12 women have been recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize in its 100+ year history. The goal of the organization is to draw attention to women’s unique equality issues, peace and human security initiatives with the intention to create a world of real peace with justice and equality—where no woman anywhere will have to fight for her intrinsic rights. (See www.nobelwomensinitiative.org)

Ominously, on my way to the seminar, Jong and I stop by her friend’s nail salon to make appointments for Jong’s resort guests. We arrive to be told that, a week ago, Tan, the salon owner and long-time friend of Jong’s was stabbed to death by her husband. They have three small children. They were separated for over a year. She wanted a divorce. Jong kneels down in front of the makeshift memorial at the storefront and weeps.

A half hour later I am dazed and wander into the seminar on women’s rights. Whatever doubts I had about the relevance of women’s rights to a more humane global whole were dismissed by the senseless death that just touched my reality. I am shaken awake—violence is disproportionately borne by women at the family, community, corporate, and global level. Nobel Peace Laureate, Jody Williams, Darfur Activict Mia Farrow, Dr. Sima Samar, Chair of the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission, and Qing Zhang, Chinese labor activist, discussed this concept suggesting that injustice, inequality, and violence against women, children, or marginalized communities are common conditions world wide. The Nobel women suggest that addressing the issue as a collective problem may reveal methods to reduce this suffering.

Several Burmese women activists spoke of their regime’s incomprehensible crimes against women to repress the people’s will: rape, torture, execution, confiscating their homes, and burning their villages. Scores of courageous women speaking out about these atrocities have been killed, imprisoned, or have gone into hiding separated from their families, homeland, and culture. We watched a video testimony by Burmese activist Aung San Suu Kyi, (herself a Nobel Peace Laureate whose house arrest has recently been extended for another year). Aung San Suu Kyi’s witness is testimony that the Burmese regime continues to imprison proponents of democracy, block aid to Cyclone victims, violently exterminate Burmese citizens, and render thousands of Burmese people homeless refugees. Heroic efforts to steadfastly inform others of these conditions and work to stem the tide of abuses can be found at www.womenofburma.org and www.shanwomen.org.

Thai women activists spoke of their struggles for a voice and control of their own lives and destinies. Lahkela Jahtaw explained that women living in remote Thai villages have little or no say in the lives. Most cannot read or write, are not recognized as citizens and have no ability to defend themselves if abused or displaced by local or larger government oppression. Another Thai woman, No-aeri Tungmuangtong, explained that women in her village do not have basic human living dignities: documentation identifying their citizenship; healthcare choice (their husband must give permission for a pap smear); freedom to leave their house or village; participation in village affairs or leadership; basic education (they cannot read or write); or protection from violence. Nasae Yapa of a rural Thai village near Chiang Dao spoke of being imprisoned for her efforts to participate in tribal leadership decisions.

Nasae Yapa spoke of the invaluable help she received in her plight by IMPECT Association. 252 Moo 2, T. Sonsainoi, Sonsai District Chiang Mai 50210 Tel. +66-53-492-544; +66-53-398-591 Fax +66-53-398-592; Email: impect@cm.ksc.co.th. The Foundation for Women, Law and Rural Development is also making progress towards opening up Thai culture to gender equality, justice, and nonviolence. www.soc.cmu.ac.th/~wsc/forward.htm.

“The efforts of NWI members and other women involved in the delegation to Thailand are not only to keep alive the issues of peace with justice and equality, which include violence against women and the crises of political rights, but also to highlight the importance of a just and peaceful global community for women.”

You can help. Wake up and become aware. Do something.

“Ordinary people, when they believe in themselves and what they want to do, can achieve extraordinary things. What makes a person extraordinary? It’s what they do, not how they’re born…Worrying about the problems plaguing our planet without taking steps to confront them is absolutely irrelevant. The only thing that changes this world is taking action.”

Jody Williams, Nobel Peace Laureate.