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Fwd: Burma Troops Raid Thailand Cam



Subject: Fwd: Burma Troops Raid Thailand Camp

fwded by: Philip F. McCracken, III
Free Burma Coalition
(301)649-1776
---------------------
Forwarded message:
>From:	AOLNewsProfiles@xxxxxxx
Date: 97-02-27 10:40:18 EST

<HTML><PRE><I>.c The Associated Press</I></PRE></HTML>

      By ROBERT HORN
      PU NAM RAWN, Thailand (AP) - Burmese troops crossed into
Thailand today to raid a makeshift refugee camp sheltering 2,300
ethnic Karens who had fled a military offensive by the Burmese
army.
      The troops were repelled by Thai defense forces. But
international concern rose over Thailand forcing thousands of other
desperate refugees back into Burma and the war zone.
      In the last two weeks, Thailand has allowed 15,000 refugees to
join more than 90,000 Karen and other minorities who have lived in
refugee camps in Thailand for years.
      But in the last few days, Thai soldiers have sent up to 5,000
Karens back into Burma over the past several days, including
children and old men.
      ``We are deeply concerned by the reports, which we have
confirmed,'' said a U.S. Embassy spokesman who spoke on condition
of anonymity.
      The shift in policy followed a meeting Tuesday between Gen.
Chetta Thanajaro, the Thai military's commander-in-chief, and his
Burmese counterpart, Gen. Maung Aye. Chetta said afterward that
Karen men would no longer be allowed refuge.
      The Karen National Union has been fighting for autonomy from the
military government in Burma since 1949. Human rights groups accuse
the Burmese army of random execution, rape and slave labor.
      Thai military officials do not want Karen guerrillas to operate
from their soil and claim to have received guarantees from the
Burmese for the safety of returning refugees.
      The rebels claim the Thais are working with the Burmese to wipe
them out.
      The U.S. Embassy spokesman said sending the refugees back ``runs
counter to Thailand's traditional policy of providing safe haven to
those fleeing persecution.'' A dozen prominent international human
rights groups jointly demanded that Thailand allow in Burmese
refugees.
      U.S. Embassy officials who tried to drive from the Thai town of
Kanchanaburi to see what was happening to the refugees were turned
back Tuesday by Thai police, the spokesman said.
      The United States has been one of the most vocal critics of
Burma's military regime overall, particularly the restraints the
junta places on pro-democracy demonstrators.
      The Burmese army is using an estimated 100,000 troops to crush
2,500 insurgents of the Karen National Union and allied groups
along the rugged border. The rebels, unable to defend territory and
resorting to guerrilla tactics, have abandoned several bases.
      Nongovernmental organizations say 40 Karen fighters have been
killed in the last week and 200 Burmese soldiers have been either
killed or wounded.
      For decades, the Thais supported the Karen rebels as a buffer
against the Burmese army. But the potential for greater economic
development has warmed relations between Thailand and Burma, also
known as Myanmar.
      A $1.2 billion natural gas pipeline owned by the Burmese
government and French and U.S. oil companies is being built through
Karen territory to sell gas to Thailand. The rebels vow to destroy
it.
      Thai companies also are bidding to develop a deep water seaport
at Tavoy, 240 miles southeast of Rangoon. Highways through Karen
territory linking the port to Thailand are already planned.
      AP-NY-02-27-97 1016EST
      <HTML><PRE><I><FONT COLOR="#000000 SIZE=2>Copyright 1997 The Associated
Press.  The information 
contained in the AP news report may not be published, 
broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without 
prior written authority of The Associated Press.<FONT COLOR="#000000
SIZE=3></I></PRE></HTML>


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