AMNESTY INT. REFOULEMENT

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AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
 
 
EXTERNAL                                   AI Index: ASA
03/02/97
 
EXTRA 26/97    Fear for safety / Fear of refoulement
26 February 1997
 
MYANMAR / THAILAND       Thousands of refugees from Myanmar 
 
 
Amnesty International is gravely concerned for the safety of
thousands of refugees fleeing a Burmese army offensive against
the insurgent Karen National Union (KNU).  Ethnic Karen from
villages in the area of the offensive who may not be allowed
to seek refuge in neighbouring Thailand or are returned to
Myanmar are at risk of ill-treatment, being taken as porters,
or possible unlawful killing by the Burmese army.
 
Since 22 February several thousand Karen refugees have fled
from an area in Tanintharyi (Tennasserim) Division where the
KNU Fourth Brigade Headquarters is located, and between the
towns of Mergui and Dawei (Tavoy) as the Burmese army has
advanced. They have sought refuge in two villages in
Kanchanaburi province, western Thailand -- Ban Bong Tee
and Ban Pu Nam Rawn.   
 
On 24 February around 500 men out of a group of Karen people
seeking refuge were not allowed to enter Thailand. Women,
children, elderly and sick people were allowed to cross the
border to Ban Pu Nam Rawn. On 25 February, officers of Thai
Army Region 9 informed refugees at both Ban Bong Tee and Ban
Pu Nam Rawn that they would only be allowed to stay for three
days and that the men would be sent back to the conflict area
and the women and children to a "safe corridor" further south.
Unofficial sources dispute that the "safe corridor" is secure,
given the movements of the Burmese army. 
 
On 25 February about 230 men at Ban Bong Tee were sent back
over the border into the area they had fled. The remaining
around 600 women and children were put onto trucks and taken
to Amphur Suan Pung, located further south in Ratchaburi
Province, opposite the "safe corridor" area, from where it is
believed they may be forcibly repatriated to Paw Ma Pwu
village. Thousands of Karen refugees currently remain at Ban
Pu Nam Rawn, and it is feared that the men will also be
repatriated into an insecure area and the women and children
sent to Amphur Suan Pung for repatriation to Paw Ma Pwu
village. Hundreds of Karen refugees in two camps in
Sangklaburi province, north of Kanchanaburi have also
reportedly been told by local Thai authorities to either
return to Myanmar or agree to be taken to Amphur Suan Pung,
presumably prior to repatriation to the "safe corridor".  Over
the last eight years, Amnesty International has well-
documented evidence of a pattern of forced portering, torture,
ill-treatment and unlawful killings of unarmed civilians
during counter-insurgency operations by the Burmese army
against ethnic minority opposition groups, including the KNU.  
 
        
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
 
The KNU has been fighting against the Myanmar armed forces for
greater autonomy or independence for the last 40 years. In
recent years cease-fire agreements have been reached between
the Myanmar Government and almost all other armed opposition
groups. Although talks have been held with the KNU, these
broke down at the end of January 1997. The government launched
a new offensive against the KNU on 2 February 1997.  Since the
beginning of the offensive an estimated 15-20,000 people have
sought refuge in Thailand, bring the total number of Burmese
refugees to 90-100,000. 
 
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send
telegrams/telexes/faxes/express/airmail
letters in English or your own language: 
 
1.  APPEALS TO THAI AUTHORITIES:
 
- noting that the Royal Thai Government is bound by the
internationally-recognized principle of non-refoulement, which
prohibits states from returning refugees against their will to
countries where they risk serious human rights violations;
 
- expressing concern at reports that the so-called "safe
corridor" cannot be considered safe given the movements of the
Burmese army;  
 
- urging the Thai authorities to halt the forcible return of
Karen refugees and to grant them All necessary protection;
 
- noting that the Thai authorities have already provided
safety and protection to tens of thousands of Burmese refugees
fleeing conflict and human rights violations.
 
1.  General Chaowalit Yongchaiyut
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister
Government House
Nakhorn Pathom Road
Bangkok 10300, Thailand
Telegrams: Prime Minister, Bangkok, Thailand
Faxes: + 66 2 280 1443; 282 5131; 281 2536
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister
 
2.  Sanoh Thienthong
Minister of Interior
Ministry of Interior
Asdang Road
Bangkok, Thailand
Telegrams: Interior Minister, Bangkok, Thailand
Faxes: + 66 2 223 8851
Salutation: Dear Minister
 
 
2.  APPEALS TO MYANMAR AUTHORITIES:
- urging the Myanmar authorities to take immediate steps to
ensure that the Burmese army does not engage in deliberate and
unlawful killings, torture, ill-treatment, or arbitrary
arrests of any civilians, including members of ethnic
minorities.  
 
1. General Than Shwe
Chairman
State Law and Order Restoration Council
Ministry of Defence
Signal Pagoda Road
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Telegrams: General Than Shwe, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear General
 
2. Lt General Maung Aye
Vice Chairman
State Law and Order Restoration Council
Commander-in-Chief of the Army
Ministry of Defence
Signal Pagoda Road
Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Telegrams: General Maung Aye, Yangon, Myanmar
Telexes: 21316
Salutation: Dear General
 
COPIES TO:  diplomatic representatives of Myanmar/Thailand
accredited to your country.
 
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International
Secretariat, or your section office, if sending appeals after
29 March 1997.