Politics Burmese refugees to be mo

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Subject: Politics  Burmese refugees to be moved to new, safer site


Politics 
Burmese refugees to be moved to new, safer site

TAK -- Some 20,000 Burmese refugees in Mae Sot and Phop Phra districts of Tak
province will soon be moved to a new, safer site near Up Pang district to keep
them from being targeted by armed ethnic rivals. 
National Security Council (NSC) secretary-general Khajadpai Buruspat said the
NSC decision to merge the two camps into one was taken to reduce the number of
holding camps along the Thai-Burmese border and hence maximise protection for
them. 
Located near the Mae Sot-Um Pang Road, Khajadpai said the 817-rail camp will
provide easier access for Thai border authorities and non-governmental
organisations going there to help the refugees. 
Speaking after inspecting the new site, the official said he expected the
refugees not to cause any problem. He added that measures would be taken to
help Thai villagers living the vicinity of the camp. 
The refugees, mostly Karenis loyal to Karen National Union (KNU) leader Gen Bo
Mya comprise more than 9,000 from Ban Huey Kalok in Mae Sot and 10,000 from
Ban
Mor Ker in Phob Phra. 
Last year, in a spate of attacks on the refugees camps along the border, their
relatives were either abducted or killed by Burmese armed intruders
believed to
be Buddhist Karen crossing into Thailand. 
However, Khajadpai said he was optimistic that the dry-season fighting between
Burmese military troops and KNU fighters will not affect Thai villagers as
much
as it did last year. 
The Nation