Umpiem Mai refugee camp is situated 2hours south of Mae Sot in Phop Phra district, Thailand, just 10kms from the border with Burma. Home to more than 15,000 refugees the camp was formed in 1999 when Wangka and Mawker refugee camps were relocated due to attacks by the Burmese army whereby large parts of the camps were burnt down (in March 1998, Wangka camp was 80% burnt to the ground and 4 people killed, the camp had also been attacked in 1997 and 1996). The camp is situated on a very hilly terrain with a cold climate and is particularly treacherous in the wet season when moving around the camp becomes almost impossible as paths and often huts are washed away by the storms.

Section 17 where the political prisoners are housed is way up the hill at the back of the camp. A total of 27 former political prisoners were photographed inside the camp – more about the visit can be read here on the blog

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