Description:
"Two temporary refugee camps established during June 2009 in Tha Song Yang District, Tak Province,
Thailand, to provide refuge for villagers that fled increased conflict and exploitative abuse in Pa?an District
have now been all but entirely abandoned. The camps were home to more than 2,409 refugees as
recently as January 2010; over the last two months, the camp populations have dwindled as small groups
have departed one by one. On March 31st and April 1st, the last residents of the Nong Bua and Mae U Su
sites left in two large groups, of 24 and 102 families respectively. This report details the circumstances of
the refugees? departure, including interviews that indicate refugees left because of a persistent campaign
of harassment by soldiers of the Royal Thai Army (RTA), who pressured the refugees to return to Burma
in spite of warnings that safe return is not currently possible. The report also details the dangers returned
refugees may face, including risks from landmines as well as violent and exploitative abuse by the DKBA
and SPDC Army. This section also includes details regarding the death and injury of two young boys that
accidentally detonated an unexploded M79 round they found outside the village of Mae La Ah Kee on
March 31st 2010. Highlighting the risks returned refugees may face, the boys came from a family that had
been forced out of the Mae U Su site by RTA soldiers at the end of the rainy season 2009."
Source/publisher:
Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG #2010-F3)
Date of Publication:
2010-04-01
Date of entry:
2010-10-12
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf pdf
Size:
521.77 KB 214.07 KB