Japan Activists: Bombard the Thai

[carol@xxxxxxx]

Subject: Japan Activists:  Bombard the Thai Embassy!

With faxes, phone calls and letters, that is.  Activists in Japan who wish
to lodge a protest with the Thai government may contact the Thai ambassador
at the following address:

H.E. Mr. Chawat Arthayukti
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
Royal Thai Embassy
3-14-6, Kami-Osaki
Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 141

Tel:  (03) 3441-1387, 7352, 7688
Fax:  (03) 3442-6750, 6828

A group of us will pay a visit to the embassy on 3/27 as part of the
Revolution Day commemoration and deliver the following letter, to be signed
by Tokyo-based Burma activists.  Please join us in speaking up for the Karen
and speaking out against their repatriation!

Metta,

Carol + Aung Thu

* * *

Dear Mr. Chawat:

Today is Revolution Day, a commemoration of the day in 1945 when the Burmese
people rose up in unity against the Japanese Imperial Army that had occupied
the country since 1941.  Although Burma succeeded that year in defeating one
military regime, the Burmese people are still fighting to overthrow another:
the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC).

Since January the SLORC has waged a military offensive against the Karen
people to punish the Karen National Union for hosting a conference of ethnic
leaders, the outcome of which was a statement expressing solidarity with the
democracy forces led by Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.  It is no surprise that
SLORC's brutal actions have prompted thousands of Karen to cross the border
into Thailand, where historically they have been granted refuge.  What is
alarming is that Thailand has now reversed this policy and plans to forcibly
repatriate the Karen refugees, even if they risk being killed by advancing
SLORC troops.  Why?  It has been reported that some Thai military officers
and businessmen want the refugees repatriated so that they can proceed with
their joint deals with SLORC, including the road to Tavoy, the port on the
Andaman Sea, the oil and natural gas pipeline, and the Friendship Bridge
between Mae Sot and Myawaddy.

The lives of thousands of innocent human beings cannot be sacrificed to
enrich a few soldiers and businessmen on both sides of the border!  We
therefore implore the Royal Thai Government to:

1.	Refrain from repatriating the Karen refugees until:
* SLORC stops violating the rights of Burma's peoples;
* SLORC stops looting villages and committing violence against villagers,
including rape and murder;
* SLORC engages in a tripartite dialogue with the democracy movement led by
Aung San Suu Kyi and ethnic groups;
* International relief and monitoring agencies are allowed unobstructed
access into Burma as well as the Thai-Burma border areas; and
* Repatriation is guaranteed to be implemented in full accordance with the
standards of international practice.

2.	Recognize the new arrivals as refugees and accord ALL refugees access to
monitoring and aid agencies in accordance with international standards.

Please remember that refugees from Burma will continue to flood Thailand so
long as the current genocidal regime is in power.  It is therefore in
Thailand's best interests to pressure SLORC to engage in a dialogue with
Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy and with the leaders
of the ethnic minority groups.

We thank you for considering our views and conveying them to the Royal Thai
Government.

Very truly yours,