When U Than Aung arrived to St. Paul, MN eleven years ago he apparently was the only Burmese in the Stae Capital. Now, with the steady stream of Burmese refugees arriving he has a company of one thousand Burmese immigrats who settle in the city area.
Most of these immigrants are ethnic Karens from eastern Burma who fled their homes in fear of the Burmese army and have been living in Thai refugee camps for several years under difficult conditions.
Adjusting form jungle villages to an American life would be difficult but “The newcomers are being well looked after by the city welfare agencies, the Minnesota Council Churches and the local Karen organization” said U Ba Win, the Karen community leader.