"I remember when I was little, I came back and forth with my family. "The people who remained (in Mae Sam Laep) became integrated -- they built up a new village, but a lot of trading was reduced as there weren't people (living across the river anymore)," K'nyaw Paw said.Today, several stores along the waterway are shuttered and padlocked. From the village, a Myanmar military outpost can be spotted on the other side of the river.On the river, children play in the water, while women bathe or do their washing -- an idyllic, peaceful sight in contrast to the violence of the air strikes that happened just a couple of kilometres away.Despite the life she has created in the village, Hkara still dreams of returning across the river to a Myanmar that is safe for her people. "I don't want to die here," Hkara told AFP. "I always say I want to go back and die in my town."

Source: The Star April 02, 2021 14:03 UTC