11 Shan refugees beaten to death ne

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Subject: 11 Shan refugees beaten to death near Thai border: 

April 18, 1999

11 Shan refugees beaten to death near Thai border

Eleven Shan refugees fleeing to Thailand were captured by SPDC troops and 
beaten to death on April 13 and 14 near a Shan village about 12 km from the 
Thai border opposite Chiang Mai province, local villagers have reported. 
The eleven refugees, including one woman, were among a group of about 300 
refugees who were rounded up on their way from central Shan State to the 
Thai border and detained at the SPDC IB 225 military camp at Na Kong Moo, 
on the road that leads from Murng Ton to Nong Ook, the border crossing 
north of Chiang Dao.

The refugees who were killed were accused of supporting the resistance 
forces of the Shan States Army (South) back in their home villages. They 
were taken from the military camp and beaten to death in the jungle about 5 
kms west of Na Kong Moo by a group of SPDC troops and local Lahu militia.
The victims were taken in groups to be killed. On April 13 the five 
refugees killed were: Sai Nu, aged 27, from Wan Pang village, Nong Hee 
tract, Nam Zarng township; Sai Sor, aged 30, Wan Koon Sarng village, Koon 
Mong tract, Namzarng township; Sai Arya, aged 26, from Wan Koon Na village, 
Hai Seng tract, Laikha township; Sai Tor Ya, aged 25, from Na Oon village, 
Ban Sang tract, Laikha township; Sai Nor, aged 21, from Hai Gooi village, 
Hai Gooi tract, Lang Kher township. 

On April 14, the six refugees killed were: Sai Loon, aged 21, from Wan Long 
Tong village, Na Loi tract, Murng Nai township; Sai Toon, aged 20, from Wan 
Na Keng village, Keng Lom tract, Kun Hing township; Sai Yord, aged 22, from 
Wan Khai village, Keng Lom tract, Kun Hing township; Sai Lon, aged 24, from 
Nong Wo village, Murng Nang tract, Ke See township; and Sai Kham Sang, aged 
29, and Nang Teng, aged 25, both from Murng Kerng township.
The remaining 300 refugees, including about 50 children, are still being 
detained at the military base at Na Kong Moo. 

The refugees have fled from the areas of forced relocation in Shan State. 
About 300,000 villagers have been forced from their homes by the SPDC 
military since 1996 in a massive anti-insurgency campaign aimed at cutting 
off civilian support for the Shan resistance forces. It is estimated that 
well over 100,000 refugees have fled from these areas of forced relocation 
to Thailand during the past 3 years. 

Shan Herald Agency for News