BKK Post, April 1, 1998. THAI-BURME

[burma@xxxxxxxxxx]

April 1, 1998. THAI-BURMESE BORDER / REFUGEES

Greater UN role welcomed in taking care of Karens
But must be seen as displaced persons
Wassana Nanuam

The army welcomes a greater role for the United Nations High 
Commissioner for Refugees in taking care of Karen civilians sheltered in 
camps along the Thai-Burmese border provided they are classified as 
displaced persons, according to Col Chongsak Panichkul, deputy chief of 
the army's Directorate of Civil Affairs.

With their status of displaced persons, the Karens are subject to 
repatriation once the situation in Burma returns to normal.

Except Cambodian and Laotian refugees, Thailand has never allowed the 
UNHCR direct handling of those fleeing from Burma who have been 
sheltered in border camps in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces though the 
agency has occasionally visited the camps.

Giving the UNHCR a greater role in caring for refugees from Burma is 
seen as Thailand's shift of policy.

Col Chongsak said Amilia Bonafacio, a UNHCR representative in Thailand, 
yesterday met with the army chief, Gen Chettha Thanajaro. The UNHCR 
agreed to Gen Chettha's proposal that the Karen camps be moved 10 
kilometres deeper inside Thailand to keep them away from attacks by 
heavy weapons and other forms of harassment.

Mrs Bonafacio expressed sympathy for the Thai government and the army 
which had to take care of the Karens, saying they were prone to 
criticism that they cared more for the refugees than their own people.

Col Chongsak said the UNHCR was ready to fund the building of refugee 
camps and public utilities.

The Karens now housed at the 19 camps will be resettled at eight new 
camps. Authorities are looking for suitable sites to ensure the new 
camps won't pose a threat to the environment.

Col Chongsak said able-bodied Karen males would not be pushed out of the 
camps. They would be allowed to make their own decisions, he said, but 
if they decided to stay, they would have to follow camp regulations 
strictly.

The officer stressed all able-bodied Karen men who decided to stay on 
would be kept under a close watch, and they could not leave the camps to 
engage in battle.

"Those who want to fight must leave Thai soil. We will not let anyone 
use Thailand as a base or place for assembling of forces to attack 
others,' he said.

"The army and the UNHCR will jointly handle new arrivals. We will accept 
all, including able-bodied men. But they must be disarmed and must not 
return to join fighting in Burma again. The army will wipe out all 
weapon caches on Thai soil. Those who do not strictly comply with the 
regulations will be punished and repatriated,' he said.

Col Chongsak said Gen Chettha also told the UNHCR representative to make 
sure the refugees would not be allowed to stay too long in Thailand. 
They must be sent back home though their repatriation would depend on 
the situation in Burma.

"The army has tried its best, but it may not satisfy all Thais. But, as 
a member of the world community, we can't afford to stay alone,' Col 
Chongsak added.

Gen Chettha, meanwhile, stressed the need to relocate Karen camps deeper 
into Thai territory so as to put an end to repeated cross-border 
harassment of those loyal to the mainstream Karen National Union by 
guerrillas of the pro-Rangoon Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

He said the Interior Ministry would be responsible for managing the new 
camps, while the military would handle security.

The camps must not be used as a sanctuary for any armed men, Gen Chettha 
stressed.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kobsak Chutikul yesterday said 
Rangoon had guaranteed a safe release of Nick Cheesman, an Australian, 
and his companion, Ngamsuk Rattanasathien, who were abducted by DKBA 
forces near the Moei river last weekend.

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