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media release - Thailand



For Immediate Release
March 4, 1997

PRESS RELEASE:
THAI MISSION LEAVES FOR BORDER

Bangkok, Tues. - Spurred by grave concerns over the safety of a
fresh wave of refugees from Burma fleeing to the border,  a team of
Thai human rights activists and academics left on a fact-finding
mission to the provinces of Kanchanaburi and Ratchburi early this
morning.

At least 10,000 new refugees from Karen ethnic areas have sought
asylum in Thailand as result of the recent onslaught launched by
Burma's State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) army nd the
Slorc-organized Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) against the
Karen National Union (KNU).

Ongoing reports of the situation received from the media and other
organizations have generated grave concern domestically and
internationally over the safety and well-being of the refugees. 
The Coordinating Committee of Human Rights Organizations in
Thailand (CCHROT) and the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in
Burma (TACDB) have jointly organized the fact-finding team in
response to these concerns.

The mission will make a statement to the media upon their return at
a press conference, details as follows:
     Date :    Wednesday, March 5
     Time :    3 p.m.
     Venue:    Lumphini Room, Imperial Hotel, Wireless Rd, Bangkok

Proceedings will be conducted in both English and Thai.