Panatnikhom is about 200km East of Vietnamese refugees border camps. It was established in July 1980 as a processing center for the refugees: Vietnamese, Cambodian, and Laotian. The refugees were transferred from other refugee camps in Thailand for third country resettlement process. Vietnamese Land Refugees (VNLR) were also transported here for processing. Most lived here for about 1 month, longer if they needed medical treatment or depended on the resettlement countries, before flying out to final destination.
As it was, Panatnikhom existed only in our dream for many years we languished along the border. We thought about it more than about anywhere else. It had become part of our journey, albeit very short time.

The photos in this blog are courtesy of several people, with the timeline noted below. We sincerely thank you all of you for sharing these priceless photos

Trinh Huy Chuong, a fellow refugee who was lucky enough to have a small camera to capture the most memorable memory in the short time he was there, from December 1987 to June 1988.

John Launder, a volunteer from Australia who was assisting refugees at Panatnikhom in 1984.

Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Panat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1984 Part 2 - Photos courtesy of John Launder

Photos from Phanat Nikhom Transit and Holding Camp 1983-84 Part 2
The following is a second group of photos taken at Phanat in Dec 83 - Jan 84.

The original post can be view here:

http://johnl-jlreflections.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/nikhom-refugee-camp-1984-part-2-from.html
Some colourful young ladies - Phanat Holding Camp Jan 1984
Sr Ellen (USA) & Mousai COERR Hmong teacher 1984

Sr Ellen and Navy

Quadrangle of COERR French School Phanat
C- Section COERR Teachers - Phanat 1984 - "a going away party"


Fr Ives and Bishop Ramouse (?) Phanat 1984

Sports quadrangle - Transit Phanat 84

Fr Gerrard - dining with "family" - Transit Phanat 84

A COERR English Class Phanat 83/84

"What shall I do?" - Phanat 1984


Tony Nolan (USA) -COERR English teacher lawyer cum typist
Jan 1984

Fr Ives and Fr Neil surrounded by friends Phanat 83/84


Navy and family members Phanat 83/84 - their home for 2 years
Fr Neil and a group of Vietnamese seminarians - Phanat 83/84

COERR Teachers room - Meow giving instructions Phanat 84
Vietnamese Mass Phanat 1984

COERR Hmong English Class Phanat 83/84

"Yours truly" and some friends Section C Phanat
Posted  by 
Posted by at No comments:

Sunday, October 11, 2015

Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1984 Part 1 - Photos courtesy of John Launder

The original post can be view here:
http://johnl-jlreflections.blogspot.com.au/2015/05/nikhom-refugee-camp-1984-part-1-from.html

Phanat Nikhom Refugee Camp 1984 Part 1

From photo slides I took during my short term as a volunteer for COERR Christamas - New Year 1983-84. I will post more as I find and digitise. I would be pleased if there was feedback from any one who recognises themself or a relative or friend. If some one sees a photo that they desire not to be public also please contact me.

John Launder - May 2015
Delivery of supplies by COERR to Phanat Camp 1984

Obtaining supplies

Fr Ives (from France) Phanat 1984

English Class Phanat - Hmong ladies students

Hmong mother and child at English class

Lao family in Phanat 1984

Phanat 1984 - situation?

Heading "home" at Phanat 1984

Hunger for education - Phanat 1984













One serious little face - Phanat 1984
Posted  by 

Posted by at 1 comment:
Subscribe to: Comments (Atom)