Mizzima: Relief Committee appeals f

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Relief Committee appeals for assistance

March 2, 2000
Mizzima News Group

The Emergency Relief Committee (Kamapalaw Region) made a fresh appeal
yesterday to the international community and Burmese exiles to provide
humanitarian assistance for the Karen refugees who are taking shelter in
Burmese side bordering with Ratchaburi district of Thailand. The nearly
1,000 Karen refugees were displaced from the Mae Pya area in January
this year due to Burmese military offensives against the Karen rebels in
the area.

The faxed appeal letter signed by the relief committee said that three
Burmese military columns attacked the Kamapalaw area last month, where
KNU's 4th Brigade and God's Army were based. On 13 January, the junta
troops intensified their offensives and entered into the Mae Pya area
and as a result more than 1,000 Karens crossed to Thai border at Suan
Phung district in Ratchaburi province, 150 kilometers west of Bangkok. 

However, as the Thai authorities sent back the refugees to Burma side
and most of the refugees had to stay in the jungle in Burma side of the
border. And Thai government later beefed up its security forces along
this sensitive area of Thai-Burma border. Therefore, 1,000 Karen
refugees including 200 children and 60 elderly persons had to stay in
the jungle inside Burmese territory and faced with acute shortage of
food and medicine.

The relief committee was formed on 22nd January to help to solve the
problems of the refugees and to seek assistance and help from the
international community. It is learnt that the committee made a similar
appeal on 23rd January to exiled Burmese community and sought for food,
medicine and monetary assistance for the refugees.

The committee is consisted of nine members: Saw Htee Waa, U Myo Aung,
Daw Myint Myint San (all three members hold Finance), and U Kyaw Maung,
Saw Shee Do, Naw Lu Waa, U Paw Aung, U Moe Oo Lwin and U Kyaw Kyaw Soe
(all six members hold Communication).