1. “When Ban Vinai closed, I wanted to go to the U.S. but my mother-in-law refused, so we had to go to Tham Krabok. It was very hard to watch my two brothers and their families leave for the United States. I wanted to go with them.” - Choua Thao, St. Paul.
2. “In 1992 when the camp closed, I was in a group of about 200 who didn’t have identification and therefore had nowhere to go. I remember standing there, looking around me, my eyes filled with tears, seeing all the empty buildings and abandoned dogs, and wondering what would become of me and my family. It still makes me sad to think about it.” - Vang Fong Xiong, St. Paul
3. Many Hmong families did not want to go to USA and left Ban Vinai (BV) (closed in 1992) to WTK because they were from Hmong families in the USA that there were nyav (giants/monsters) in America “that White people were monsters and ate people. These rumors scared many Hmong parents and elders.” - Dr. Brian V. Xiong, Sunrise Over Wat Thamkrabok
4. WTK, a Buddhist temple located in the Phra Phutthabat District of Saraburi Province
5. Kids played cops and robbers, marble games on dirt floor, gathered around in a small crowded room to watch small TV in someone’s house (not all families had a tv)
6.Hmong from BV moved to WTK, increasing population to 30,000. About 15,000 Hmong resettled in USA between 2004 and 2006, some scattered and stayed in Thailand
Research suggestions:
* Why did refugees move to Wat Tham Krabok (WTK)? Who allowed them to stay in WTK? How was life in WTK? When was it opened and closed?