BKK Post, March 18, 1998. REFUGEES

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

March 18, 1998. REFUGEES

Karen camps face threat of attack
Supamart Kasem 
Mae Sot, Tak

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) plans to attack Karen refugee 
camps on the northern border after seven of its troops were killed in a 
Thai army shelling on its camp on Sunday, according to intelligence 
sources.

The army fired 33 artillery rounds into a DKBA jungle camp inside Burma 
on Sunday after DKBA guerrillas lobbed 10 mortar rounds at the Mae Hla 
refugee camp in Mae Sot, wounding one Karen refugee.

The sources said this was the first time in three years Thailand had 
used heavy weapons to retaliate against violations of its sovereignty by 
forces in Burma at the Tak border.

The last time Thailand did so was in February 1995, when Burma fired 
more than 1,000 shells across the border during its attack on the 
Kawmoora Camp of the Karen National Union opposite Mae Sot.

Bilateral relations turned sour after both sides exchanged fire.

Col Chatchatpat Yaem-ngarmriab, chairman of the Local Thai-Burmese 
Border Committee (TBC), warned Burma in his aide memoir that Thailand 
would maintain its right to fight back against future intrusions.

In his memoir, Lt-Col Saing Phone of Myawaddy accused Thailand of having 
violated Burma's sovereignty by firing 33 shells into its territory.

Thailand had earlier sent a protest note to Burma after pro-Rangoon DKBA 
guerrillas crossed the border to attack the Huay Kalok refugee camp in 
Mae Sot on March 11.

Two pregnant women and a boy were killed and more than 30 wounded in 
that attack.

The army said it had already deployed troops to deal with fresh attacks 
by the DKBA.

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