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KYAR KYAUK LOH SHIN GYI KOE, SHIN G
- Subject: KYAR KYAUK LOH SHIN GYI KOE, SHIN G
- From: saw-aung@xxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 16 Mar 1998 22:54:00
The above Burmese saying means a person is afraid of tiger and in
desperation look up to the spirit for help, but it happen to be a bad
spirit
and it was worse than the tiger.
The same thing happened to the Burmese minority refugees who were
fleeing their homeland and took refuge in Thailand. They were so afraid
of the Burma Army who tortured, raped, enslaved and killed them and
burned their village that in desperation they flee to Thailand to take
refuge. The Thai Army, instead of helping the refugees and protect them,
create every possible means of environments so that refugees can not
stay and take refuge in Thai soil. Thai Army know very well that due to
extensive human right abuse by the Burma Army that it has become
impossible to live decent life as human being in refugee home land.
Let me review a few instances how the refugees who ran for their lives
and end up in the camp only to be maltreated again by the Thai Army.
When Burma Army mounted major operation against KNU forces in
Southern Part of Burma, thousand of Karen villagers fled across the
border to take refuge in Thailand. Many of
them were pushed back across the border, back to Burma. Those who
stayed on Thai soil were not allowed to build even makeshift shelter so
that they can rest and sleep a little better. Instead, refugees have to
sleep and rest on the ground with plastic sheet over their head for
roofing. It was very hot in the daytime and cold at night. The
condition
is so unbearable that many refugees especially very young and very old
lost
their lives.
When Hway Kaloke refugee camp was attacked and torched by the Burma
Army the first time, there was no security force to guard the camp, so we
should not blame any body. This time when Hway Kaloke was attacked
and torched the second time, there was Thai Security Forces guarding
the camp. Where were they during the attack? There was no resistance
and the intruders sprayed their weapons at will, killing two people and
injuring scores of them. When the smoke was cleared Thai Security
Forces took control of the camp and prevented NGO from entering the
camp. The NGO had to wait till the higher commander has inspected the
camp.
On another development up the North, the Shan refugees who ran for
their lives met with hostile Thai Army. Thai Army did not allow NGO to
reach Shan refugees to even feed them.
Besides being hostile to the refugees, Thai Army forced many of them
back to Burma, and still threatened to force back many more.
There is no question on the sole authority of the Thai Government and
the Thai Army in their sovereign state. They can do what ever
appropriate for their sovereign state. But considering how much the
refugees have suffered extensively under the Burma regime, the Thai
Army should have the humane heart and mercy on the fleeing human
beings. The Thai government do not have to spend money to feed the
refugees, the NGO does. The refugees do not pose security threat for the
Thai citizens, but the Burma Army and DKBA do. The Burma Army
and DKBA crossed the border countless times to attack refugees as well
as the Thai citizens, and even Thai security forces. There had been no
forceful resistance or retaliation from the Thai Army for those attacks.
The only enforcement from the Thai Army was forced repatriation of the
helpless refugees. To save their face, Thai Army forced refugees to sigh
the agreement that they are willing to go back home to Burma.
By judging the above mentioned incidents and instances, one only has to
draw conclusion that, first, the Thai government and the Thai Army put
priority on business ties with the Burma Military Regime than human
lives and sufferings. Secondly, the Thai Army does not have the combat
experience, capacity and number to match the more seasoned but
undisciplined fighting force of 400,000 Burma Army.
Hence the fate of refugees in Thai soil seems to be totally dictated by
the
Burma Military Regime. And the Thai Army is doing everything to
please its Burmese counterpart. After the attack on Hway Kaloke refugee
camp, Thai Army commander General Chetta Tharajaro said that the
attack was the internal conflict among the ethnic Karen. The attack in
fact is the disrespect and intrusion of the Thai Sovereignty by the Burma
Military Regime. The Burma Army still have the mentality of centuries
old Burmese Monarch and still try to create mini-empire within the
Union of Burma. Time has changed, but Burma Military rulers have
not.
I think it is time for the Thai Government and Thai Army to review their
relationship with the Burmese Regime and encourage the democratic
process to materialize in Burma. Only when democratic government
prevail in Burma that the military personals of Burma Army will be
reduced and divert their energies to rebuilding the country and the
economy. Only then the refugees will go home willingly and there will be
no more cross border attacks on Thai territory by the Burma Army.
Due to the extensive human right abuse, many Western nations and
major financial institutions have refused to extend helping hand to
Burma which otherwise could help improve the country?s economy.
Therefore, it has become very clear that Burmese Military Regime cannot
improve the Burmese economy in the near future. Furthermore a poor
country
with a huge army can definitely pose a threat to its neighbor. Ayudaya
was razed to
the ground during Burmese Monarchy days and one can not say for sure
that it will not happen again.
In conclusion, I earnestly appeal to the Thai Army not to make the
refugees the scapegoat to please the Burma Military Regime but to really
protect them when they are in desperate need of help. I truly
believe that your kindness in the past and in the future will reward you
with love and respect not just from the refugees but also from the global
community.
Best regards,
Saw Aung Khin
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