Word: tachileik
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...They insist they want to go to Kentung, in Burma's eastern Shan state, to live with Tip's family. With trepidation, we agree to try to get them there. With traffic heavy on the bridge into Burma, the four of us cross unnoticed into the border town of Tachileik, which is a good thing, since the girls lack the requisite ID papers to enter their homeland. Fearing problems at checkpoints if we go to Kentung by road, we buy the two girls airplane tickets. It is with relief that we watch the plane take...
...still in Tachileik, where they have taken shelter with an older friend. It is not a happy ending. And many could argue that we did the wrong thing, that by paying money for the girls, we were only perpetuating the trade, that helping them take only one step toward freedom was not enough. But at least Lek and Tip have some choices this time...
...still in Tachileik, where they have taken shelter with an older friend. Perhaps it's better that they didn't return home. Their mothers sold them once; would they have tried again? It's not a happy ending. And many could argue that we did the wrong thing, that by paying money for the girls we were only perpetuating the trade, that helping them take only one step toward freedom was not enough. But unlike Pim, Lek and Tip might, at least, have some choices this time...
...Taking Lek and Tip over the border turns out to be easy. Both girls insist they want to go to Kentung to live with Tip's family. They would feel safest there. With trepidation, we agree. While we arrange visas for ourselves, they pick up a pass to Tachileik, the Burmese border town opposite Mae Sai. With the heavy traffic across the bridge, the four of us cross unnoticed. Fearing problems with checkpoints if we go by road, we buy the two girls flights to Kentung. It is with relief that we watch the plane take...
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