Mae Sot

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Mae Sot
แม่สอด

Statistics
Province:	Tak
District office:	16°42′47″N 98°34′29″E / 16.71306°N 98.57472°E / 16.71306; 98.57472
Area:	1,986.1 km²
Inhabitants:	120,569 (2008)
Pop. density:	60.71 inh./km²
Geocode:	6306
Postal code:	63110
Map

Mae Sot (Thai: แม่สอด) is a town in western Thailand that shares a border with Myanmar to the west. It is notable as a trade hub and for its substantial population of Burmese migrants and refugees. The town is part of the larger Tak Province and is the main land gateway between Thailand and Burma. As a result it has also gained notoriety for its trade in gems and teak, as well as black market services such as people trafficking and drugs. Neighbouring districts are (North from clockwise): Mae Ramat, Mueang Tak and Phop Phra. The Moei River serves as a natural border between Mae Sot and the Burmese town of Myawaddy.

Contents 1 Gateway to Burma 2 Economy 3 Burmese refugees 4 Administration 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Gateway to Burma

Mae Sot is the location where Asian Highway AH1 links between Thailand and Burma; thus it is one of the most important gateways to Burma, along with Three Pagodas Pass. The Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge crossing the Moei River was constructed in 1997 completing the link between the two countries.^[1] At the entrance of the bridge is the immigration office which is open from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

As a gateway city, Mae Sot has its own domestic airport. But due to high fuel costs, some airlines such as Phuket Air have cancelled their flights between Bangkok and Mae Sot.

Every year, Tak Chamber of Commerce organizes a friendship bicycle rally to Myawaddy.

[edit] Economy

Trade with Burma constitutes the largest porition of Mae Sot's economy. It has an established market for commodities such as wholesale gems and teak. Most of the towns service industries are supported by Burmese migrants who fill positions within sweat-shops and factories throughout the region. The town also suffers from a black market in illegal smuggling, people trafficking and narcotics. The Thai-Myanmar friendship bridge, is the primary gateway for trade with Burma. The border region, located several kilometres from central Mae Sot includes the Rim Moei Market that deals in imported goods and woodwork.

Mae Sot also serves as a minor tourist destination, primarily used for those wishing to visit Myawaddy in Burma or as a stopover on the way to Amphoe Umphang, popular for trekking.

[edit] Burmese refugees

The town has a substantial population of Burmese refugees and economic migrants. The exact number of Burmese in Mae Sot is unclear but estimates say that over 100,000 exist in addition to the 106,000 already recorded in the official census. In recent years the ongoing refugee situation has attracted NGO's and International aid agencies to set programs in the town and surrounding areas.

One of the most notable organisations is Mae Tao Clinic located just outside the west of the town. It was established by the Burmese/Karen Dr.Cynthia Maung to offer free medical services to Burmese who do not qualify for treatment at the local Mae Sot Hospital. The centre is funded independtly and is supported by teams of volunteers on an ongoing basis^[2]

Mary's Meals, the well-known campaign of charity Scottish International Relief, began rebuilding schools destroyed by the cyclone in May 2008. Mary's Meals had recently set up feeding shelters in the border refugee camps and are now successfully feeding several thousand children and families a day. Mary's Meals operates by providing a free school meal thereby encouraging hungry children to gain education as well as food. A mailout to Mary's Meals' supporters immediately after the cyclone produced a generous response and the schools where Mary's Meals are being provided are now well on their way to reconstruction. (from Jackie Scott-Mandeville, Mary's Meals, 25 August 2008)

The Mae Sot region has around 70 migrant schools that have started spontaneously to meet the needs of the 30,000 children who have crossed the border with their parents from Burma. The students are a mix of refugees and economic migrants. Of this number only 7000 currently are attending these schools. The schools range in size from from 20 to over 650 students (Hsa Thoo Lei School). These schools receive no support from the Thai government and rely solely on resourcefulness and international support.

[edit] Administration

The district (Amphoe) Mae Sot is subdivided into 10 subdistricts (Tambon), which are further subdivided into 86 villages (muban). The town (thesaban mueang) Mae Sot covers the whole tambon Mae Sot. Tha Sai Luat and Mae Ku are townships (thesaban tambon), each covering parts of the same-named tambon. There are further 9 Tambon administrative organizations (TAO).

No.	Name	Thai name
1.	Mae Sot	แม่สอด			6.	Tha Sai Luat	ท่าสายลวด
2.	Mae Ku	แม่กุ			7.	Mae Pa	แม่ปะ
3.	Phawo	พะวอ			8.	Mahawan	มหาวัน
4.	Mae Tao	แม่ตาว			9.	Dan Mae La Mao	ด่านแม่ละเมา
5.	Mae Kasa	แม่กาษา			10.	Phra That Pha Daeng	พระธาตุผาแดง

There are plans to create a new province centered in Mae Sot, covering the 5 border districts of Tak province.^[3] Additionally the town is planned to be converted into a metropolis, covering the tambon Mae Sot, Mae Pa and Tha Sai Luat.^[4]

[edit] References

• Tak Chamber

[edit] External links

• Mae Sot travel guide from Wikitravel
• Mae Sot - Little Burma
• Asian Highway
• A Town Like Mae Sot
• BLSO-Mae Sot based burmese NGO
• Youth E-Service (YES): Projects of helping to reduce digital illiteracy at the border of Thailand and Burma.

v • d • e Amphoe of Tak Mueang Tak · Ban Tak · Sam Ngao · Mae Ramat · Tha Song Yang · Mae Sot · Phop Phra · Umphang · Wang Chao