Tragic Day Around the World

With the tragic and violent events in Norway, Seattle and Texas over the last 24 hours, I am sadly reminded of how truly frightening this world can be.

Here in Thailand there has been a ongoing tragedy as well unfolding this week. Last week the Thai military lost a Huey helicopter in a dreadful crash near the Myanmar border in an attempt to extract 35 soldiers from a remote jungle area. All five personnel were lost. On Tuesday they sent in a Blackhawk to recover the bodies. It also went down killing all nine aboard. Today the third recovery attempt was made with a Bell 212 helo. It has gone down also killing 3 out of four crew members on board. Royal Thai Army Channel 5 (yes they have their own TV station) is reporting that the crashes are all weather or instrument related and insists that they were not shot down. Truly a sad series of events for these men and their families.

On another note, we have been getting new reports about human rights injustices in nearby Myanmar. Even with as difficult as things have been for me here in Thailand, it is nothing compared to what goes on just across the border a few hours away. I would certainly not want to be facing jail time there. Civilian prisoners there are now being forced to work as porters (human donkeys) during military operations, carrying heavy loads of ammunition and supplies without adequate food or shelter. Those who are unable to carry are used as human shields and mine sweepers. I've spent alot of time talking to the refugee population here, and have seen and heard some horrific stories over the last couple years. Makes me feel pretty lucky sometimes.

I do have some status updates on my own struggle that I will be posting as soon as I have more information. For now and as always, take care of yourselves and each other out there. The world is a pretty scary place sometimes.

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