The Olivers In Thailand

This weekend Powerpack Thailand (aka us) had the privilege of taking an international Powerpack Team to Hoay Maw to run two days of children's leaders training, children's workshops, celebration, and finally, Sunday church service.

A more complete report will follow later once we have recovered!

A brief video below shows the children enjoying the new Powerpack "More & More!" Thai audio CD we released in January. The Thai songs are based on the English Powerpack "More!" album (plus songs from other Powerpack albums).

The video starts with the team performing a number of the songs on the church's balcony.

The international Powerpack team included Thais, Americans, Canadians, Norwegians and British - (sorry - no Irish involvement...).

Although the British contingent were experienced "Powerpackers", this was only the 1st or 2nd time the others had been involved in a Powerpack event - this did not hinder them entering fully.

We were especially proud of the three young Thai team members from COC House Of Praise who were a wonderful role model to the children - it was a privilege for all of us to work along side them!

Well done and thank you everybody!

We look forward to planning the next Powerpack Thailand outing!

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On Monday 21st December, 15 intrepid/mad boys ranging from 9 years old through to 50's, embarked on a crazy expedition - to climb Doi Chiang Dao.

This two day camping expedition was organised by Simon Bird, who was able to find a local guide and a porter to guide/help/assist us on our epic adventure.

Doi Chiang Dao is within the Chiang Dao Wildlife Sanctuary, and consists of a "clump" of mountains that rise from the surounding plains at 500m elevation, with the highest peak being Doi Luang Chiang Dao at some 2225m elevation - the third highest peak in Thailand.

Having "checked in at the sanctuary's base, counted in our bottles of water (60l), cans of beer(2), cooking gas canisters (2), natural gas cans (aka baked beans), we were driven as far as possible by our local guide and porter to the starting point on the North side of the range at around 1100m elevation.

Despite having a "porter", we still had to carry the majority of our two day supplies - 4 litres of water each, food, cloths, sleeping bags and tents. Being the middle of "winter", we were prepared for "extreme" cold - it turned out temperatures "only" got down to around 10'C at night, with a wind-child of 10'C (i.e. no wind), and a "feel-cold" temperature of -54'C!

The initial vertical climb of some 300m immediately dumped us in the deep end - straight up the side of the range's hill up narrow mud path, interspersed with rocks and boulders - tough going with all the water and kit of our backs.

After what felt like 8 hours of forced labour, we got to the plateaux after ~2 hours of climbing, in which we covered less than 2km (!), we stopped for a well deserved lunch - and to lighten our loads for the remaining 500m we still had to climb.

The views up on the plateaux as we headed East was spectacular - difficult to capture on camera.

After another three hours of climbing, we finally arrived at our camp site at an elevation of some 2040m.

Following 1 1/2 hours resting, setting up camp, the guide lead us up the final climb to the peak of Doi Luang Chiang Dao at some 2225m elevation - fortunately without any of the heavy kit. However for some the final 200m and altitude was too much for some and forced them back to camp. The view up there was reportedly amazing.

Back at camp, dinner was warmed/cooked on a portable gas cooker carried up by Mark Plumber (THANKYOU THANKYOU THANKYOU!), with additional warmth and cooking provided by a small fire.

By 8pm, those not already in bed asleep hit the hay - too dark, cold, and the fire had gone out. I had the pleasure of sharing a spacious tent with Simon Bird...

Obviously this "2-3" man tent was designed for small Thai "men" - not us larger Europeans. Despite that, we managed to fit in, as long as we did not stretch our legs out ... or move ...

Around "morning", Simon announced that he was getting up - to go and vomit...badly cooked spicy sausage. On returning, he checked his watch - only to discover that it was only 10:30pm...another 6 1/2 hours until were meant to get up...oh dear...

To summarise the night - not much sleep was enjoyed, except for a few snorers - one young chap was so desperate to escape the barrage of noise that he moved his sleeping bag outside the tent to endure the severe dew - cold, wet, wild tigers, barking deer - anything was better than the snoring...

He did enjoy the beautiful night sky - I had not seen such deep black sky for some 30 years - I think the last time was up in Les Gets at my parent's chalet before the village installed street lights...

However the severe cold limited the enjoyment of the stars to a few minutes at a time while relieving one self...

"Next" day, we (not all...) were up at 5am to hike up to one of the peaks to watch the sunrise - this was a night hike with torches up what seemed 1:1 gradient - steep! Once up on top of the ridge, we sat and waited...and waited - in the cold and wind, watching the sky lighten up...and the clouds rolling in!! We soon realised that this was all we were going to see, so headed home...not before some mad youth took their lives in their own hands...

Despite the barrenness up on the ridge, there were some amazing flowers - "Sedum SuSanae Hamet Crassulaceae"...

Back at camp, breakfast was prepared - except for a rather green Simon. Pringle cans work well for boiling sausages in a fire!

Once feed (or not), camp packed away, and all rubbish ("trash") cleared up, we gathered for a group photograph with our guide.

Unsurprisingly, the trek down was much quicker - but did inflict casualties.

Simon, already delicate, slipped on the mud, hitting is right arm. Fortunately nothing broken, but badly bruised/strained. Kindly the guide and porter were able to carry his pack down for him the rest of the way.

After some 2 1/2 hours, we arrived back at the drop-off/pick-up point, exhausted ... legs, knees, shoulders, toes, feet, arms - all aching.

I know that I am currently unfit, but having climbed a number of mountains in France, Switzerland and Wales, I would say that this climb was by far the hardest I have ever done. The terrain, gradient, and the weight of all our kit/water contributed to the level of difficulty.

That said, when asked if they would want to repeat the "ordeal" next year, Tom and David said yes without hesitation...hum...guess I had better start training for next year...

Asia in this last week has seen a string of natural disasters:

* Friday 25/9/2009 - Philippines - Tropical Storm "Ketsana": killed many hundreds and leaving thousands homeless
* Tuesday 29/9/2009 - "Ketsana": upgraded to Typhoon as it hit the coast of Vietnam, causing widespread destruction, death and misery in Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos
* Wednesday 30/9/2009 - Major Earthquake (Mag 8) in Samoa, causing damage and tsunami (okay - not in Asia...)
* Wednesday 30/9/2009 - Major Earthquake (Mag 7.6) in Sumatra, Indonesia, causing damage and tsunami
* Thursday 1/10/2009 - Serious aftershock (Mag 6.8) in Sumatra, Indonesia

and now, Typhoon "Parma" is hurtling towards the Philippines, probably due tomorrow .

And meanwhile, for those in the Northern part of Asia who avoided these natural disasters, the "local" authorities are preparing to join in by reportedly distributing Chemical Laced Mortars.

The question on everybody's mind is - today is 1st October - Chinese National Day. Once the celebrations are over, what will happen?

Over the last few weeks there has been little news of what is going on across the border, generally been focused on commentaries - nothing of substance...until now.

According to this site:

"the Chinese government has asked all Chinese citizens from eastern Burma to return home quickly"

This was apparently broadcast by the Yunnan TV-1 was aired at 11:45 p.m. China Standard Time - not sure whether Saturday or Sunday.

More worrying is that while last month, the Chinese authorities were "inviting" refugees to return to the safety and comforts of their homes in the now Burmese controlled villages, at the end of last week, "on the direct instruction of the Chinese central government with a supporting budget" they started the "construction of three more camps for Burmese refugees"...

It is worth noting that when the Chinese authorities say to come home quickly, this Thursday is the 1st October, Chinese National Day. It is understood that the Chinese authorities requested certain local governments not to mess up their celebrations - so obviously once their party is over, I presume these local governments are free to resume "business as usual"...

So unfortunately it might look like Northern Thailand is about to be flooded with refugees.

The complete transcript from the website is below:

---

In a late night broadcast, Yunnan TV controlled by the Yunnan provincial government said
the Chinese government has asked all Chinese citizens from eastern Burma to return home
quickly, said local observers.

The Yunnan TV-1 broadcast was aired at 11:45 p.m. China Standard Time. The
announcement directed all Chinese citizens to come back home quickly, given Burma’s
political situation is deteriorating, where civil war is likely to break out on the border,
local TV watchers told KNG. Yunnan TV has a total of six channels but the Yunnan TV-1,
satellite channel mainly broadcasts news about Yunnan and neighbouring Burma.

The announcement, especially called on Chinese citizens in the two main States of
Burma— Kachin State and Shan State, bordering Yunnan province as well as the
Burma-Thailand border to come back home, said TV listeners on the border.

Two days before the Yunnan TV-1’s announcement, construction of three more camps
for Burmese refugees was begun at Manghai, Pengjiazhai and Xiaozhai villages close
to the Burma border east of Salween River (also called Saphkung Hka in Kachin) on
the direct instruction of the Chinese central government with a supporting budget.
“The latest move by China reveals the likelihood of resumption of civil war between
the Burmese Army and ethnic armed groups on the border. I think both governments
are in touch and aware because they always have close-door meetings,” a Kachin
military analyst on the border told KNG today.

The Chinese border authorities have been collecting names and making a list of its
hundreds of citizens in the two Dapein River’s (Tahkaw Hka in Kachin) hydropower
projects in Bhamo district in Kachin State since last week. The project sites are also
situated near the China border, said sources from the project sites.

Recently, Yunnan-based radios and TVs announced several times the return home of
all Chinese citizens from eastern Burma including the territory of United Wa State
Army (UWSA) soon after the Burmese troops captured the ethnic Kokang armed
group also called Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA) on August 24,
said the border sources.

The junta is now gearing up for war with the border-based ethnic armed groups—
the Kachin Independence Army (KIA), UWSA, and the Mongla-based National
Democratic Alliance Army (NDAA).

The three ethnic armed groups have rejected the junta-proposed transformation
of their armed-wings to Border Guard Forces. The regime has set a deadline for
the change, which is October 31.

Currently, the three ethnic armed groups are also preparing to defend themselves
against the Burmese troops. The offensive by the junta could be soon, according
to sources close to the groups.

This article (see here) has a interesting and detailed review of the current situation.

China’s economic penetration of Burma deepened in the first decade of the twenty-first century
as the West tightened economic sanctions against the regime. Bilateral commerce reached 
$2.4 billion in 2007-2008, accounting for a quarter of all Burma’s foreign trade and a 60 per cent
increase over what it was three years ago (Mizzima News, October 24, 2008). Chinese companies
have invested heavily in the country’s manufacturing, mining, power generation and energy 
sectors, and in 2008-2009 China emerged as Burma’s number one investor, pumping $856 million
into the country, or 87 percent of all foreign investments (Deutsche Presse-Agentur, July 14).

Close relations with Burma have also enabled China to improve its energy security situation.
In March, after several years of negotiations, an agreement was signed to build twin oil and 
gas pipelines from the port of Kyaukphyu in Arakan State to Kunming, Yunnan Province. 
Construction of the 1,200 mile pipelines is scheduled to begin this month, with China footing 
the $2.5 billion bill. When completed in 2013, the pipelines will not only be used to transport 
oil and gas from Burma’s offshore energy fields to the PRC, but also from the Middle East 
and Africa, thereby bypassing the Strait of Malacca, which Chinese strategists view as a 
strategic vulnerability (China Brief, April 12, 2006).

The most important ceasefire group to reject the SPDC’s demand is the United Wa State 
Army (UWSA) which has an estimated 20,000 men under arms. Formerly the shock troops 
of the BCP, China has maintained close links to the UWSA over the past two decades. 
The U.S. government labeled the UWSA a narcotic trafficking organization on May 29, 2003.
Chinese businessmen have extensive commercial interests in the Wa region (both legal 
and illegal) and the area provides a conduit into Burma proper: according to some 
estimates, one to two million Chinese citizens have taken up residency in the country 
and now dominate the commercial life of Upper Burma centered on Mandalay. Over the 
years, China has ensured a steady supply of weapons to the UWSA, including shoulder 
fired surface to air missiles, artillery and anti-aircraft guns (Jane’s Intelligence Review, 
March 2008). Moreover, Beijing has been able to use its influence with UWSA leaders to 
redirect the flow of illegal narcotics produced in the Wa area, including 
methamphetamines, away from China and into Thailand, Laos and Cambodia [2]. 
Nevertheless, narcotics produced in Burma continue to find their way into southwest 
China, fueling a major drug addiction problem there.

Interesting...

One report (here) states that "a war between the Burmese Army and Mongla and Wa ceasefire groups was not going to take place."

This is "because there's no preparation" for battle - which is kind of hard to believe given that the Burmese army is reported to be constantly moving all its divisions around the region, with the addition of new divisions joining in the musical chairs game - all just waiting for the music to stop...

However, at the same time (see here) 'a Lahu militia source claimed yesterday that his unit was instructed to do everything it could to provoke the Wa soldiers to shoot first. “My boss told me that the idea is for the Burmese Army to have an excuse to attack the Wa, as it did in Kokang."'

Meanwhile, "Wa authorities also announced that if clashes occur it will take three-six months to reach Pang Sang".

Basically, a long drawn out gorilla war which the Wa are well equipped and use to...

...but then, so are the Burmese army, who have the additional advantage of owning lots of heavy military equipment.

I guess these "toys" do not come cheap - but then, there are lots of nations all wanting oil and gas and other materials...and guess what?! Burma "just" happens to have lots of oil and gas for sale to anybody who does not ask too many questions and does not follow the over-land pipelines back to where they originate from across the border, "just" in case they work out where they come from...

And next on the "for sale" list - electricity from hydroelectric dams. Again, no questions asked - don't follow the over-land power lines please...just in case you happen to come across the ethnic minority groups that have been "invited" to move out of the way of the newly formed lakes.