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GROUP OF CONCERNED NGOS
RE: FORCED REPATRIATION OF REFUGEES
23 March 1997


We have learned that the Ninth Division of the Thai Army has told the Karen
refugees at Pu Muang camp in Kanchanaburi Province that they must return to
Burma as early as Tuesday.

On the afternoon of 22 March 1997, the Commander of the Ninth Division of
the Thai Army went to Pu Muang refugee camp (please see the enclosed map and
background info on the March 21st update).  He lectured the refugees for
three hours, telling them how good the situation is in Burma now and that he
had been meeting with the SLORC and had been reassured that when the
refugees go back, they will not be harmed.  Then he threatened them by
saying, "If you don't want to go back, where will you stay?"  He told them
they could not stay in Pu Muang.  

The refugees do not want to go back and asked for seven days to try to find
another place to stay.  However the commander of the Ninth Division said
that was not acceptable.  The deadline will be this Monday or Tuesday.  One
NGO worker who came out later reported that the refugees were terrified.   

Human rights organisations have been conducting interviews with civilian
refugees who met with SLORC troops after the troops occupied their villages.
Many villagers initially stayed, hoping that the SLORC troops would treat
them well.  However, in virtually every village (except the villages right
on the Thai-Burma border) the troops looted their houses and took all their
valuables, rice, and livestock.  In many villages, the civilians were forced
to porter their own rice to new military post or to the road from which
SLORC troops transported it into central Burma.  In Chogali, for instance,
villagers are now being rationed back their rice once every three days, and
the portions are not sufficient.  Villagers have also had to serve as
porters, human mine sweepers, and guides for the military.  There have also
been numerous instances of rape and murder.

Foreign officials who have contacted the Thai Army about the possibility of
forced repatriations have been told that the Thai Army will not send the
refugees back against their will.  But the Ninth Division of the Thai Army
has been intimidating and threatening the refugees and obstructing NGO
access to the camp.  One teacher sent out an appeal which ended with, "we
hope to get some kind of help very soon or we will become hostages."

If you could please contact representatives of the Thai government,
including Thai Embassies and Consulates worldwide, and ask them not to
forcibly repatriate the refugees at Pu Muang or anywhere else, it would be
very much appreciated.  Over 2000 civilian lives are at stake if they are
forced back. 


- GROUP OF CONCERNED NGOS
(because of the sensitivity of this issue, we must withhold our names)

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SITUATION UPDATE: REFUGEES AT KANCHANABURI AND RATCHABURI PROVINCES

23.3.97

KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Pu Muang  (in Karen: Noh Pa Doh)
The meeting between the refugee committee and the 9th Army at the camp
(referred to in the last update) went ahead yesterday.  Colonel Manna gave a
3 hour lecture to the refugees outlining the benefits of returning to Burma
under SLORC.  He used a map of the Thai-Burma border and referred to the
success of SLORC's border areas development plan at Three Pagodas Pass.

This has left the refugees afraid of the future.  They now understand the
very temporary nature of their refuge in Thailand.  Cut off from contact
with outsiders, the refugees fear that they could be repatriated without
anyone knowing.


RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Htaw Ma Pyo Hla
Yesterday, 22.3.97, the remaining refugees who had been stuck on the Burma
side of the borderline at Ke Ma Kee and Htaw Ma Maw finally crossed over
into Thailand at 3 a.m.  They walked over the border in total darkness, as
they had been waiting for the order to allow them to cross.

The new site for these people is Ban Huay Sut, which is about 6 kms from the
border, more or less in line with Ke Ma Kee on the Burma side.  There is one
small stream for water needs though the access for vehicles involves driving
up this very stream.  It is not sure that this small water source will be
adequate thoughout the dry season for the number of people there. 

The refugees can make temporary shelters but are not to put up permanent
structures like roofs or flooring.  The Thai Public Health Dept will set up
a clinic and a Border Patrol Police checkpoint has been established at the
entrance of the camp.  Rice and plastic sheeting have been supplied by aid
agencies on the border.  It is thought that the first group which had
earlier come out at Meh Hta Kee (600-700) may be amalgamated with the second
group now at Ban Huay Sut.

It is reported that the 9th Army in the area met with SLORC officers at the
border at Meh Hta Kee yesterday.  It seems that the subject under discussion
was repatriation of the refugees now that the border area has been "pacified".

IT IS VITAL TO CLARIFY THE TERMS UNDER WHICH REFUGEES CAN BE SAFELY
REPATRIATED AND TO ESTABLISH SOME PRECONDITIONS FOR THE PROCESS.  SUCH A
PROCESS MUST INCLUDE INTERNATIONAL MONITORING OF THE STATE OF PEACE BEFORE
ANY REFUGEES ARE PERSUADED TO RETURN TO THEIR VILLAGES. 

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SITUATION UPDATE: REFUGEES AT KANCHANABURI AND RATCHABURI PROVINCES

21.3.97

RATCHABURI PROVINCE

Htaw Ma Pyo Hla
It was reported that the SLORC troops had advanced forward of their
positions held as of yesterday.  They are said to have arrived at the point
called Meh Hta Kee, situated right on the borderline.  To reach this point,
it is alleged by informed sources who know the terrain well, SLORC troops
must have used the old logging road running from Baw Yah Ka Kee to Meh Hta
Kee.  This road runs for some of the way THROUGH THAILAND, as it twists its
way along the top of the border.  The move along the border may have been as
early as 6 p.m. yesterday.  Despite the proximity of the SLOR troops, the
Thai military has 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 was estimated that travelling time for
soldiers on the march from their position at Meh Hta Kee to the remaining
groups of refugees is no more than 2 hours.  At the time of this report, it
still was not clear whether or not all refugees had arrived on the Thai side
of the border.  It is thought that a large group may still be at the border,
but 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 appears to favour a spot not far from the border,
midway between Ke Ma Kee and Htaw Ma May.  It is debatable whether this site
is safe given that the SLORC troops now control the area in the vicinity
right up to the border.  It has been reported that the District Officer's
office and the Border Patrol Police favour another site 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 Ratchaburi Province.  Displaced people had
congregated there fleeing the SLORC operations further south on the
Tenasserim River, particularly from 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 that
there could be as many as 1000 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 4 WD truck and will be impossible
during the rainy season.


KANCHANABURI PROVINCE

Pu Muang  (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 bee posted at the entrance to the camp in Thai, which is
reported to include such regulations 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
	Health workers, organisation workers and newsmen should not talk to the
refugees         directly
	Refugees are not allowed to cut wood or bamboo for shelters or for charcoal

(note: this is not a direct translation from Thai but rather is what the
refugees understand it to say)

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

A medical agency on 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 place 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.
The Thai authorities have confiscated 2 vehicles belonging to the KNU.