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The Nation - 7,000 refugees relocat



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: The Nation - 7,000 refugees relocated

The Nation - Oct 9, 1999.
Headlines

7,000 refugees relocated

THAILAND and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have completed the
relocation of over 7,000 displaced Burmese from Huay Kalok camp to another
site as part of a move to prevent future attacks against the residents there
by pro-Rangoon armed groups.

Authorities have relocated the displaced people, most of whom are ethnic
Karen, to Tak's Phop Phra district, a statement from the UNHCR said
yesterday.

The new site is 13 kilometres away from the border and well protected by the
terrain, according to the authorities.

The process of relocation, which began on Aug 23, was jointly conducted by
the Thai government and the UNHCR. It was completed on Thursday, three days
ahead of schedule, according to the statement.

According to Thai officials and the UNHCR, Huay Kalok was too close to the
border for the safety of its residents.

Huay Kalok was attacked and burnt to the ground twice, in January 1997 and
March 1998, by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, a splinter group that
sides with the military government in Rangoon. It was alleged that Burmese
government troops had also taken part in the raids.

The Thai army came under heavy criticism for not providing adequate security
for the refugees in the camp, and the Foreign Ministry issued a strong
statement condemning the attacks.

Over 100,000 Burmese refugees, most of whom are ethnic Karen, are living in
camps along the Thai border. They have fled fighting between armed rebel
groups and government soldiers.