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Mae Ye Hta



This statement explains the position of the Burmese Border Consortium (BBC)
regarding the relocation of Karen refugee camps in the Salween National Park
and Wildlife Reserve.

In 1995, after several refugee camps were burnt down by the DKBA, the Thai
Government was widely criticised for failing to adequately protect the
refugees. In response the Thai authorities announced a camp consolidation
plan in which many of the smaller, more vulnerable camps would be relocated
to form larger camps which, it was argued, could be more easily protected.
The plan included the consolidation of the then existing 17  Karen refugee
camps in Mae Hong Son and Tak Provinces into just 7 or 8 main camps. The
consolidation started in 1995 and by the end of 1997, 7 camps had already
been closed and relocated. Although the refugees would have preferred to
continue to live in small camps and not be moved and the NGOs would have
preferred to preserve the small camp structure, these closures were
generally accepted as being an unavoidable consequence of the security
situation. There was no major objection from any of the parties involved.

The closure of Mae Ya Hta(K1), U Da Hta(K2), Khlo Pa(K3) and Mae Sa Guep(K4)
and their transfer to Mae Ra Ma Luang (K7) was part of the original 1995
consolidation plan and a number of deadlines for the move, starting with K1,
were set from that time.In 1995,1996 and 1997 the NGOs were instructed
several times to prepare, but for various reasons the Thai authorities
postponed the camp moves.

In December 1997 the National Security Council informed the NGOs that there
was now an urgency to relocate these camps as quickly as possible in the
wake of the Salween logging scandal. The BBC was supplying all the food and
relief items to these four camps and Malteser Hilfsdienst Germany (MHD) was
taking care of their medical and sanitation needs.The NGOs were asked to
cooperate with the moves.

The NGOs have always taken the position that it is the Thai Government's
prerogative to decide on locations for refugee camps provided that the sites
are suitable (access, space and water provision) and that they are secure.
It was our judgement that from a humanitarian point of view, there were no
grounds to oppose these moves. The NGOs were concerned however that the
relocation be done in a humane way and be properly planned (in the past some
refugee camps have been forced to move by the army at short notice and
without proper provision). The NSC and MOI assured us that it was their
intention to go ahead with the move and offered to involve us in the
planning process. We accepted this offer in the belief that it would be
better if the moves were carried out with the involvement of NGOs, the Karen
Refugee Commitee (KRC) and the MOI, rather than by the army acting alone.

During December 1997 and January 1998 the NGOs met with the MOI, Thai Army
and KRC officials to plan the move in detail. The move was scheduled to take
place over a 6 week period from Feb 12th until the end of March. The BBC
would provide all transport, moving the refugees gradually, camp by camp
enabling plenty of time for them to prepare and to move all their
belongings. Meanwhile large quantities of bamboo and thatch were ordered for
delivery to K7.

During the planning process it became clear that the refugees were being
advised that they had the right to stay where they were and that they would
continue to receive assistance from the NGOs if they refused to move. They
were also being given false alarmist information about the security and
supply situation in Mae Ra Ma Luang. It was apparent that the Thai
authorities were determined that the refugees would move and that there was
little choice if the refugees wanted to avoid confrontation with the Thai
army. The NGO view was that it was in the refugees best interests to
cooperate with the move. We were committed to trying to ensure that
conditions in K7 were acceptable and that the Thai authorities honoured
their commitment to ensure security for the camp.

The NGOs and officers of the KRC therefore visited the camps scheduled to
move, to explain the situation to the refugees. We gave them our best
assessment of the possible consequences of refusing to move and encouraged
their cooperation. A good deal of care, effort and time went into this.
However when the BBC sent in 80 trucks on the 12th February, the refugees
refused to move. The events were witnessed by the MOI and Thai Army
officials as well as NGOs, the UNHCR and a large number of press and media.
During the next three days, intense negotiations went on. Given the serious
nature of the conflict, considerable restraint was exercised by all, but at
the end of the process the refugees still refused to move. The refugee
leaders announced that the refugees would rather go back to Burma than move
to K7. The refugees were told by the Thai army that if they did not move all
further assistance would be cut off and the Army would return on 1st March
and arrest anyone still there. The Camp leader signed a statement witnessed
by UNHCR and MHD, that they would leave the camp. 

The Thai authorities informed the NGOs that as of 1st March, no NGOs would
be given access to this camp. The BBC had already provided food supplies to
last until the end of February and could not now get approval for any
further deliveries. MHD was asked to leave the camp at the end of February. 

Meanwhile the Thai officials moved to camps K2, K3 and K4 to oversee the
moves there. Initially the same resistance was met but after more lengthy
negotiations some refugees volunteered to move. Of the approximately 8,500
refugees in these three camps, 1,530 refugees were transported by BBC to K7
and another group of 354 ethnic Karenni were moved to Karenni camp 5 in Mae
Hong Son Province. Reports indicate that those who moved were well received
in K7 and Camp 5 and are settling in quickly. The NGOs again have no further
access to camps K2,K3,and K4.

The other 6,000+ refugees in K2/3/4 chose not to be moved by BBC. Our latest
information suggests that another 500 of these may now have moved to K7 by
their own means, around 2,800 have moved unofficially into Ban Sala(K5a) and
Mae Kong Kha(K5b) camps, some are presumed to have crossed back into Burma
and some may have moved to K1 in the mistaken belief that this camp will not
have to move. Others are in hiding in the surrounding forest or in local
villages.

This is an unfortunate situation and the NGOs are concerned for the
well-being of these refugees. We are concerned that many of them were given
misleading information about the move and as a result of their resistance
now find themselves in danger and with no assistance. The Thai Authorities
insist that the move must be completed and the NGOs no longer have access or
means of providing assistance to any of the groups who have remained in the
Salween National Park. Our advice to the refugees is still to cooperate with
the authorities and our advice to the authorities is to keep the door open
for the refugees to move to the approved sites where thay can continue to
receive assistance.