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THAI FOREST OFFICIALS KILL 3 KAREN



Subject: THAI FOREST OFFICIALS KILL 3 KAREN REFUGEES

 MAE SOT, Thailand, Aug 7 (Reuter) - Three ethnic Karen refugees from Burma
were shot dead and another was wounded when Thai forestry officials
allegedly mistook them for illegal log poachers, refugee and police sources
said on Wednesday. 

    The victims, from the Mae La camp on the Thai side of the border with
Burma, were shot on Sunday before attempting to cross the Moei river back to
Burma, a Karen refugee source said. 

    The Moei river forms the border between the two countries. 

    A police source confirmed the incident and said the refugees were shot
by mistake. 

    More than 70,000 Burmese refugees of Karen ethnic origin have been
living in sprawling camps in Thailand. Many ethnic minorities have fled to
Thailand to escape alleged human rights abuses by Burmese troops. 

22:50 08-06-96