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KSNG journal



The following is a translation of a letter that was received by the KYO-USA
from a Karen student from the border. In the furture we will post slected
letters from Karen students as Karen Studen Network Group (KSNG Journal).


KSNG Journal 3/97-1


        The SLORC and Thai army are working hand in hand in order to
eliminate all the Karen people along the border.  The Thai army has been
releasing report in which it says that there are no more fighting at the
border and the refugees are being forced to enter into Thailand by the
Karen troops.  This is a political maneuvering and misinformation being
disseminated to the international communities by the Thai army.  Even
though the report stated that there is no fighting at the border, heavy
skirmishes between SLORC and Karen troops occurred at least twice on March
22 and 23, 1997, while the Thai Ninth Army Division Commander and his
operational commanders were meeting with their Burmese counterparts at Min
Htaing Kee village.  The Thai army officials themselves are the witnesses
to the ongoing fighting at the border.

        Presently, there are about 3,500 to 4,000 refugees who are grouping
themselves at Huay Su, coming from Htaw Ma Pyo, Htaw Ma Maw and Kae Ma Kee
villages.  Although the Thai 9th army Division is promising international
communities to help the Karen refugees, they themselves have helped
transferring rice sacks that were donated by BBC for the Karen refugees to
the Burmese army at Baw Ya Ka on March 20, 1997, Regardless of its repeated
promise to help accommodate Karen refugees on humanitarian ground, the Thai
9th army Division is fully cooperating with the SLORC in annihilating the
Karen people.  Witnesses reported that some illing refugees who attempted
to go to local hospital for medication were blocked by the Thai border
patrol police at the check point.

        SLORC is conducting its massive offensive against Karen civilians
in order to promote its business ties with companies such as Italian-Thai
Development Public Company Ltd. and PTT of Thailand.  As a result of this
offensives, tens of thousand of innocent villagers became homeless and had
to flee from their villages and become refugees in Thailand.  Many female
villagers are being raped and some of them are tortured to death by the
Burmese army.

        Please help us appeal to the international communities, the Thai
people and the United Nations to help us on humanitarian ground, and to
pressure the Thai government not to repatriate us unless safety is
guaranteed.