BKK Post, February 26, 1998 BORDER

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

February 26, 1998
BORDER

Hundreds starving after fleeing Burma
No help coming from govt or private bodies
Subin Khuenkaew 
Mae Hong Son

Hundreds of ethnic minority people who recently escaped from fighting in 
Burma into Thailand are now starving with many children suffering from 
diarrhoea and malaria.

The human train of suffering surged over the border on Monday and took 
refuge near Pang Yon, a village in Tambon Na Poo Pong, Pang Ma Pha 
district, after fighting erupted between Burmese troops and Shan rebels 
near the border, said a Thai border official.

Most refugees are facing food and water shortages, said the official who 
added many of the children are suffering from acute diarrhoea and 
malaria which have spread through their temporary shelter.

So far there has been no help from government or private organisations, 
the official said.

"The refugees are waiting for help from state and private organisations. 
They lack food and water. Many children have fallen ill."

Meanwhile, border sources said about 100 Burmese soldiers from the 525th 
Battalion on Monday entered Thailand at Thong Na village in Tambon Na 
Poo Pom, about two kilometres from the common border.

The group reportedly sought permission from the village headman to pass 
through to a Burmese village, but the request was turned down.

The group retreated into Burma after learning a Thai border patrol unit 
was heading towards the border village, said the sources.

A Shan State Army source said yesterday about 180 of its guerrillas had 
launched attacks on Burmese soldiers at a checkpoint near Ho Mong town 
on February 11, killing two and seriously wounding five others.

The guerrillas wanted to seize some government-controlled areas in Ho 
Mong so they could retrieve firearms hidden in the town, the source 
said.

The rebels reportedly hid a large quantity of war weapons in Ho Mong 
before their former leader, Khun Sa, surrendered to the Burmese junta 
two years ago.

The surrender was reportedly made under a deal that Khun Sa had to end 
his armed resistance to the government and give up drug trafficking.

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