FBC-Urgent Appeal on Refugees

[dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Reply-To: "W. Kesavatana-Dohrs" <dohrs@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>



The situation for the Karens along the border is very bad,
and whenever the pressure lets up, the Thai Army refuses to let the refugees
cross or repatriates them.  A public campaign is the only way to
effectively influence Thai policy.  Demonstrations in front of Thai
embassies and consulates calling for refugee protection is 
the best way to go.  Also people with signs or making statements saying
something like "I don't want to be a tourist in Thailand if this is what the 
Thai government is doing".


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URGENT APPEAL FOR ACTION IN SUPPORT OF ETHNNIC KAREN REFUGEES ON THE
THAI-BURMA BORDER
March 19, 1997

Short Background:

As a result of the current military offensive by the Burmese army into the
Mergui/Tavoy District, Tenasserim Division controlled by the Karen National
Union (KNU), thousands of civilians have been displaced.

Refugees documented at the moment have settled in four areas.
1. Thu Ka camp, adjacent to the area between Kanchanaburi and Sangklaburi
towns, Sangklaburi Distric, Kanchanaburi Province.  Approximately 2,000
refugees (in Burma)
2. Pu Muang camp, Kanchanaburi District/Province.
Approximately 2,300 refugees (in Thailand)
3. Htaw Ma Pyo Hta, adjacent to Ratchaburi Province.
Approximately 4,000 refugees (in Burma)
4. Ter Lwee Arca, opposite Hua Hin, Prachuab Kiri Khan Province.
Approximately 300 refugees (in Burma)

Residents of camps 1 and 4 had previously escaped to Thailand and all
refugees were forcibly repatriated on 9-10.3.97 and 15.3.97respectively.

Camp 2 is still in Thailand but males between 15-60 have not been allowed to
enter Thailand or have been forcibly repatriated into active war zones.

Camp 3: Approximately 900 women and children, out of about 4,000 refugees,
were forcibly repatriated from Bong Tee camp in Thailand in late February.
The additional population consists of men, women, and children escaping the
SLORC offensive.

In these areas the Thai 9th army has a clearly stated policy of only
allowing women and children, and has stated that men between 15-60 years old
will not be allowed to enter Thailand.

The attached update on the situation in the area has come through reliable
sources due to the sensitivity of the issue, the source can not be stated.
The US and UK embassies are well informed about the situation and we appeal
to you to contact Burma desk officers at these embassies for a coordinated
effort in the matter.

THIS APPEAL URGES YOUR EMBASSY TO RAISE THIS MATTER WITH THE THAI
AUTHORITIES, INFORMING THEM THAT YOU ARE AWARE OF THE PRESENT SITUATION AND
THAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO ALLOW CIVILIAN MEN, WOMEN, AND CHILDREN, FROM HTAW
MA PYO HTA CAMP, CROSS THE BORDER, FOR SAFETY ON THAI SOIL. 

19.3.97 4pm

It has been reported that the Burmese army is approaching the defending line
of the KNLA from two directions.  

A spokesperson at the office of the Thai Army Commander-in-Chief Gen. Chetta
Thanajaro's office, claimed earlier today when asked about the refugees from
Htaw Ma Pyo Hta, "they are in no immediate danger yet..." and continued,
"...they will be allowed sanctuary on Thai soil when they are in immediate
danger."  They did not, however, specify  whether ALL refugees, including
civilian men, would be granted refuge under these circumstances.

The statement creates two main questions which need to be assured and
specified as soon as possible:
1. Will ALL refugees be allowed sanctuary on Thai soil, civilian men, women,
and children?

2. What does the phrase "imminent danger" mean to the Thai armed forces?

The refugees at Htaw Ma Pyo Hta already consider themselves as being in
imminent danger, which they demonstrated by moving towards the border late
last night, and some continuting across the border this morning.  It has
been reported that the refugees are within shelling range of the Burmese
army mortars at the moment.

With regard to possible future repatriations of refugees, the phrase
"imminent danger" may very well again be applied by the Thai army, thus the
need to imminently receive this clarification from the Thai authorities.

The incident at the Mon refugee camp Hlockhani, in 1994, should be recalled.
A column of the Burmese army entered the camp, arrested several refugees,
and burned the camp to the ground.  The refugees had been repatriated by the
Thai authorities.