NCUB CONCERNS FOR REPATRIATION OF K

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Subject: NCUB CONCERNS FOR REPATRIATION OF KAREN REFUGEES IN KANCHANABURI AREA

            NCUB CONCERNS FOR REPATRIATION OF KAREN REFUGEES 
                          IN KANCHANABURI AREA

                                                           March 24, 1997

The National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB), is extremely
concerned of reports that the Commander of the Thai Ninth Army
recently lectured refugees currently fleeing from the State law
and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) military offensive in the
Karen State.

According to sources on the border, the Commander explained to
the Karen refugees that he had been assured by the SLORC that
there would be no harm if the refugees go back.

"If you don't want to go back, where will you stay?" He was
reportedly quoted as saying in a lecture that lasted for three
hours on March 22nd.

"Karen refugees have been fleeing into Thailand in order to
escape not only from the recent fighting but also from large
scale human rights abuses including political oppression, forced
labour, porterage, torture, arbitrary arrests, rape, looting,
disappearance and extra-judicial killing committed by the SLORC,
said Moe Thee Zun, Joint General Secretary of the NCUB.

The NCUB earnestly appeals to the Royal Thai Government not to
repatriate the Karen refugees as the situation in our country is
very dangerous for unarmed innocent civilians. We also request
the Royal Thai Government to ensure the security of innocent
civilians as they have done in the past, especially those who
have managed to escape from this current offensive.


Information Committee
National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)