Border block creates problems to Karen and Mon
refugees
After
the Thai Army closed down the border point due to UNHCR’s
POC (Persons of Concern) in Ban Tong
Yang border camp presenting to the Thai authority that they are not secured,
the refugees who live in Ban Tong Yang and Halockani
camps have faced problems with trading and purchasing supplementary foods.
The
border was shut down since on 1st May, after the Thai authority has
deployed many security soldiers (or guards) in the border point.
Before
POCs arrived into Ban Tong Yang camp, there is no
tight security on the border point. Currently, the Thai border guards deploy
two more checkpoints and extend the border fence. Because of the closing of border, the
refugees could not bring and sell their foods across these two camps and IDPs caused deeply the problem with supplementary food they
have to buy besides the foods supplied by NGOs.
The
Thai authority allows the refugees to cross the border between the two camps
only for two days, Monday and Friday. The borders open from
“Among
the others, we are in trouble. Even we want to buy fuel or gasoline (from Halockhani), we cannot go. Both Ban Tong Yang and Halockhani
camps are relying on each other,” accordingly to in charge of Ban Tong Yang
Camp Administer, Saw Sai Sai.
Since
the existing of Ban Tong Yang camp, the two camps have involved in trading and
purchasing/selling things in order to fulfill the needs of both sides.
Accordingly
to the new order to the border, if the cars want to cross the border, the car
owners have to ask permission to Sangkhlaburi
District Office. And if the Thai people want to cross into Burmese territory (under
the control of
“We
are going to die. We are not allowed to go in and out. In order to settle in
the third country, the POCs proposed to close the
border. They do not know how we have trouble,” he added.
There
are over 3000 Karen refugees in Ban Tong Yang Camp excluding the number of POCs. They are provided with food supplies by TBBC
(Thailand Burma Border Consortium), health care by ARC (American Relief
Committee), and education by ZOA. The
refugees cannot travel and they could not conduct trading with refugees in Halockani camp, which has over 5000 Mon returned refugees
since 1994.
The
5000 returned refugees in Halockani do not get food
supplies for the whole year like the refugees in Ban Tong Yang Camp. They received 4-6 months of food supplies
each year.
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visit Burma News International Web-Site: www.bnionline.net,
in which IMNA is a member.