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MASSIVE RAID ON KAREN REFUGEE CAMPS



FLASH NEWS No. 1
from Karen National Union Information Center 

MASSIVE RAID ON KAREN REFUGEE CAMPS
January 29, 1997

On 28 January 1997, 3 refugee camps with a total of 36,000 people were set
on fire and largely destroyed by an unknown Burmese speaking armed group.
These 3 destroyed camps are Huay Kaloke (Wangka), Don Pa Kiang (Huai Bok),
and Mae La (Bae Glaw) camps, all of which are located on the Thai-Burma
border north of Mae Sot.  The number of casualties is not known yet.

Huai Kaloke Camp - A Preliminary Report:

At about 10:00 pm 28 January 1997 (Thai standard time), an unknown armed
group of about 100 men speaking Burmese entered Huai Kaloke refugee camp and
set it on fire.  This camp is 5 kilometers inside Thailand, about 11
kilometers north of Mae Sot, and 100 meters from a Thai military checkpoint.
How this group evaded Thai security and got into the camp is not yet known,
however the exit was right through the checkpoint.  The following is a
personal account of D. M. who escaped.

The camp leaders were informed of the attack about 15 minutes before the
whole camp was set on fire beginning in the marketplace.  Accoring to the
inhabitants, the intruders entered the shops in the market which was a
little distance away from the main camp.  After they looted everything from
the shops, they fired shots to give the signal to start burning the camp.
The only clinic in the area, which was set up by Medicines Sans Frontiers
(MSF), was ransacked and all the supplies and equipment were taken.  Then
the clinic was set on fire.  One section after another was set on fire.
Finally only the monastery, section 7, and half of section 2 were left
untouched.  The 6 other sections were razed.  A TOTAL OF ABOUT 5000 OF THE
6729 PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS AND DESTITUTE.

Mae La Camp:
According to reports from Mae La Camp (population 25,322), the invaders and
camp residents are still engaged in an armed battle.  Casualties are
expected, but the numbers are not yet known.

Don Pa Kiang Camp:
Reports from Don Pa Kiang Camp (population 3827) indicate that the camp has
been totally burned to the ground.

Karen National Union Information Center 

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