photo_01: Some of the most lucrative bare-knuckle boxing on the Thailand-Burma border is hosted by the controversial insurgent army, the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA). The DKBA is involved in the trafficking of people and drugs as well as a number of other human rights abuses. They also host tournaments of Thailand vs Burma bare-knuckle boxing.
photo_02: Bare-knuckle kickboxing is the boxing style preferred in Burma and also, historically, Thailand. Knuckles are wrapped in cloth or electrical tape to stop them from breaking rather than to reduce the force of blows.
photo_03: Fights are scheduled for 5 rounds with victory by knockout or voluntary (or involuntary) retirement. Boxers typically receive approximately USD$10 for fighting although fights hosted by the DKBA can pay in excess of USD$100 to fighters.
photo_04: Scheduled fights are Thailand vs Burma, playing on centuries of historical animosity between the nations as well as current inequalities between exploited Burmese migrant labourers and their Thai employers.
photo_05: In a sample of 48 fights and three days of boxing at Mae Pa Village (Thailand), Thais won 32 fights, 6 fights were drawn, and Burmese boxers won 9 fights. Concussion and damage to ribs are the most frequent injuries. Pictured here, the (Burmese) boxer had his leg broken.
Timothy Syrota works as a writer, photographer and documentary director. Timothy?s first book, ?Welcome to Burma and Enjoy the Totalitarian Experience? was published in 2001 (Orchid Press).
Timothy?s photographic work from Burma and the Thailand-Burma border has been the subject of a number of solo exhibitions in Thailand, the UK, and Australia. These have included exhibitions opened by former Australian Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen, Nobel Peace Laureate, Jose Ramos Horta, and former Australian Ambassador to Burma, Professor Garry Woodard. Exhibitions have been funded by the likes of The Dame Elizabeth Murdoch Fund, the Melbourne City Council, Multicultural Arts Australia, and the University of Melbourne Cultural Committee. Timothy has twice been invited to exhibit at the Foreign Correspondents? Club, Thailand (FCCT) and won an FCCT photojournalism prize for his feature photo essay concerning Burmese migrant children on the Thailand-Burma border.
As a photographer, Timothy has worked with Save the Children (Thailand), ZOA Refugee Care, Handicap International, Amnesty International, APHEDA, the World Wild Life Fund, the International Women?s Development Agency, and the International Society for Human Rights.
Timothy has filmed, edited and directed three documentaries on Burma including the currently being released freelance feature documentary, Burmese Dreaming.
Timothy was the vice president of the International Society for Human Rights (Australia) 2001-2004 and founded and co-ordinates the Thailand-Burma Border Migrant Children?s Art Project.
Timothy lived on the Thailand-Burma border from 2004-2008 and continues to spend significant time there in order to facilitate ongoing work in South East Asia.
