SITUATION UPDATE (r)

[KYOUSA@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Situation update: Refugees at Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces

03-21-97

RATCHABURI PROVINCE


HTAW MA PYO HTA:

The SLORC troops had advanced forward of their positions held as of
yesterday. They have arrived at the
point called Meh Hta Kee, situated right on the borderline. To reach this
point it is alleged by informed sources, that know the terrain well, that
SLORC troops must have used the old logging road running from Baw Yah Ka
Kee to Meh Hta Kee (This road run for some of the way through Thailand, as
it twists its way along the border). The move along the border could have
been as early as 6 PM yesterday. Despite the proximity of the SLORC troops
the Thai military had still been insisting that the refugees were in no
imminent danger.

The remaining refugees who had still not grouped at the borderline were
being urged to move as quickly as possible; these are mainly the groups at
Htaw Ma Maw and Ke Ma Kee. It is estimated that traveling time for soldiers
on the march from their position at Meh Hta Kee to the remaining groups of
refugees, to be no more then 2 hours. As of the time of this report, it was
still not clear whether or not all the refugees had arrived at the Thai
side of the border. A large group may still be at the border, on the Burma
side, near to Ke Ma Kee. There appears to be some confusion as to the exact
place in Thailand where the refugees are expected to go. The 9th Army
appear to favor a spot not far from the border mid-way between Ke Ma Kee
and Htaw Ma Maw. It must be open to question, whether this sits is safe
given the SLORC troops now control area right up to the border in the
vicinity.

It has been suggested that the Nai Amphur?s office and the Border Patrol
Police favor another sit further away from the border.

MEH PYA KEE:

This site is located south of Htaw Ma Pyo Hta area, on the Burma side of
the border, lying adjacent to rachaburi Province.  Displaced people had
congregated there fleeing the SLORC operations further south on the
Tensserim River, particularly form the Ler Pa Doh area.

As of 9-3-97 there were estimated to be some 400 refugees there and
agencies had been allowed access for food and health care.

It is now reported there could be as many as 1,000 refugees there.  If the
SLORC offensive continues southwards it is inevitable that many more people
will flee to this place.  Access is difficult even by 4WD truck and will be
impossible during the rainy season.


KANCHANABURI PROVINCE


PU MAUNG (in Karen--Noh Pa Doh):

The situation at Pu Muang camp seems to have deteriorated  to the point
where it has virtually been sealed off to the outside world.  The residents
are fearful of some sort of repatriation process starting as soon as next
week.

A Notice has now been posted at the entrance to the camp, in Thai, which is
reported to lay down regulations such as:

        No persons entering from the war zone will be allowed to enter the
camp
        Reporters and writers without written permission will not be
allowed to enter the camp
        No donations can be made to the refugees without permission from
the Aai Amphur (District Governor)
        Patients needing to be transferred to hospital in town will be
carefully checked. no attendants will be
              allowed to travel with the patient.
        Health workers, organization workers and newsman should not talk to
the refugees directly.
        No armed man should be found in the camp.  If found, effective
action will be taken.
        Refugees are not allowed to cut wood or bamboo for shelters or for
charcoal.

(this does not represent a direct translation of the original in Thai
language, but rather is what the refugees understand it to say)

It was reported that Thai army officers met with SLORC officers at the
border gate know as Baw Yah Ka Kee (behind the camp) on the 20th (or 19th).
 The exact content of the meeting is not know.  Following this, Thai army
officers informed the camp committee that it wishes to meet with them on
Saturday March 22 . Though the topic for discussion has not been made
clear, the refugees suspect that it may be some attempt to persuade them to
accept voluntary repatriation.

A medical agency at the site has been able to improve the water situation
by installing a tank and having dirty bathing water drain away from the
lake.(the only source of drinking water).

Another agency was told today that they would not be given permission to
supply thatch to shield the refugees from the by now blistering sun.

The residents of this place seem to have reached a desperate state and are
appealing to the world to heed their plea for protection and to prevent the
Thai authorities from forcibly repatriating them. As their ways to get
information out of the camp are gradually eliminated, they feel that they
will be forgotten. Almost no one can travel in and out of the camp freely.