KYO-USA Statement

[KYOUSA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

                                KYO-USA Statement

Resent massive assaults by the Burmese Army against refugee camps north of
Mae Sot  and large scale assaults by Burmese Army units against the Karen
in the south of Mae Sot have driven Karen from their homes and villages
across the border into Thailand only to face counter measures by the Thai
Army forcing the Karens back across the border in to the arms of the Burman
Army.

        The Thai Army in carrying out this mandate indicates clearly the
non-humanitarian nature of the Thai government in dealing with Karen
refugees.  It also points up the belief that the Thai High Command and the
SLORC are in collusion regarding the Karen people.  There is also pressure
from the Thai Army for the Karen to sign a declaration saying they are
volunteering to return to Burma on their own free will.

        Given the long history of the Anti-Karen attitude of the Burman
military towards the Karens stemming from the days of the Karen Revolt in
1949 and the clearly expressed desire in a document drawn up by the
military and the government under U Nu called ?Operation Aung San? ?to
eliminate the Karens,? to which Aung San had no in put as he had been
assassinated along with his Cabinet earlier in 1947, makes this new drives
a further extension of the 4 Cuts program instituted by Gen. Ne Win and now
is being extended by the current junta, SLORC, to raze Karen villages and
eliminate the Karens.
  
        This attitude by the Thai government in allowing its military to
play ball with the Burman Army and SLORC forces the conclusion that they
both want the Karens ?Eliminated.?  Eyewitness accounts from the border
indicate that there is a concerted efforts by the SLORC Troops (Burman
Army) to pillage, murder, rape and line villagers up before firing squads.

        No country, not even a so called ?friendly nation? towards Burma
such as Thailand should at anytime tolerate the Burman Army and SLORC
positions.  This has clearly becoming a case of genocide and collusion to
under any circumstances to participate in these types of actions against
the Karen refugees or for that matter any refugees from Burma.  It calls
for the most forcible of actions not just by the USA, but by the
international community.  The country initiating these inhumane tactics
(Myanmar) must be dealt with by vigorous measures and if Thailand will not
accept this then Thailand will also have to face the music.  The violations
being perpetrated are crimes against humanity and the Thais acquiesce there
in by driving the refugees back into Burma and failing to provide adequate
defense for the refugees is as guilty as SLORC.
  
        A porous border is an open invitation to illegal and inhumane
activity.

         The Karen Youth Organization calls upon the USA, Thailand and all
nations to act to quell these rapacious programs of the SLORC  and the
Burman Army.  If physical force must be used then it must be done for not
to defend the principles of Human Rights makes the Rights of all Humanity
worthless.

Karen Youth Organization
March 5, 1997