Ban Rak Thai (บ้านรักไทย) or Mae Aw (密窝村แม่ออ) was settled to be a check point for controlling the jade trade (玉石 หินหยก). Then Mae Aw village (老密窝村แม่ออเก่า) is important for the last army camp close to Thailand in The Shan State (รัฐฉานประเทศพม่า) for controlling the jade trade along Salween River (แม่น้ำสาละวิน) or Salawin in Thai language. They took jades from northern Myanmar past Kayah state and took up river the name "Pai River (แม่น้ำปาย)" to the village named Ban Huayduer (หมู่บ้านห้วยเดื่อ) in Thailand.
Why they is there, if you see map this village close to the thai border and Kayah state (รัฐคะยาประเทศพม่า) border. From village is the valley with stream and river to join Salween river just walk half day (about 8-10 hours) and when Mae Aw have road to connect city, they don't need to pass Kayah State.
It's real after the road had ready connection to Mae Hong Son (เมืองแม่ฮ่องสอน)they transported jade from this village instead.
When they moved Mae Aw village from its Myanmar site to Thailand, it was called New Mae Aw village.(新密窝村 แม่ออใหม่). In 1983-4 the fighting ended and the Thai government renamed it Ban Rak Thai(拉泰村 หมู่บ้านรักไทย).