Burmese Refugees Targeted, Hill Tol

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Subject: Burmese Refugees Targeted, Hill Told

                              The Washington Times

                    April  17, 1997, Thursday, Final Edition



HEADLINE: Burmese refugees targeted, Hill told;
Junta said to raid camps in Thailand

BYLINE: Tom Carter; THE WASHINGTON TIMES

 BODY:
    Karen refugees living in Thailand are being squeezed between  Burma's  army 
and Thai economic interests, witnesses told a House panel yesterday.

    The witnesses testified that troops of  Burma's  ruling State Law and Order 
Restoration Council (SLORC) crossed the Thai border on Jan.  28 to attack two
encampments of the Karens, a Burmese minority that has been in revolt against
the Rangoon government since World War II. 
    The panel was told that SLORC troops looted and burned the camps, destroying
a total of 1,300 houses.  Steve Dun, a Karen now studying at Indiana University,
charged that two children, ages 3 and 4, were tossed into a fire during a
subsequent raid on March 28.

    Thai authorities have prevented the Karens from rebuilding their homes and
barred relief agencies from helping them because they are classified as
"displaced," and not refugees, the witnesses said.  Many are sleeping on the
muddy ground as the annual rainy season approaches.

    Some analysts believe the Thai government, with the support of the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees, is preparing to forcibly return the refugees to
 Burma. 

    "The geopolitical situation has changed dramatically in the last 60 days.  .
 . . There is urgent concern for the refugees," said the Rev. Richard Ryscavage, 
director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, which has been working in the area since
1988.

    According to Father Ryscavage, there are 114,800 Burmese refugees in
Thailand, up from 97,000 in September. 
    The panel was told that SLORC troops looted and burned the camps, destroying
a total of 1,300 houses.  Steve Dun, a Karen now studying at Indiana University,
charged that two children, ages 3 and 4, were tossed into a fire during a
subsequent raid on March 28.

    Thai authorities have prevented the Karens from rebuilding their homes and
barred relief agencies from helping them because they are classified as
"displaced," and not refugees, the witnesses said.  Many are sleeping on the
muddy ground as the annual rainy season approaches.

    Some analysts believe the Thai government, with the support of the U.N. High
Commissioner for Refugees, is preparing to forcibly return the refugees to
 Burma. 

    "The geopolitical situation has changed dramatically in the last 60 days.  .
 . . There is urgent concern for the refugees," said the Rev. Richard Ryscavage, 
director of the Jesuit Refugee Service, which has been working in the area since
1988.

    According to Father Ryscavage, there are 114,800 Burmese refugees in
Thailand, up from 97,000 in September. 
    He and other witnesses suggested to the International Relations subcommittee
on international relations and human rights that Thailand is willing to
cooperate with  Burma  because of their shared interest in building a pipeline
to carry Burmese natural gas to Thailand.

     Burma  is expected to be admitted into the Association of Southeast Asian
Nations (ASEAN) in either July or December.

    One witness testified that the Karens, who are overwhelmingly Christian,
believe that they are being persecuted for their religion. Historically, the
Karens have won sympathy for their cause in the West because of their religion. 

    However, Soe Pyne, director of the National Coalition Government of the
Union of  Burma,  said the SLORC "are equal-opportunity oppressors," adding that
most of the democracy movement in Rangoon is Buddhist.

    Rep.  Chris Smith, New Jersey Republican and chairman of the subcommittee,
asked whether the Thai government had changed its policy of granting refugees
safe haven.

    Mr.  Smith said that the Clinton administration and the United Nations
recently allowed or endorsed forced repatriations in Bangladesh, Vietnam,
Cuba

and Haiti.