Groups urge Karen rethink
Human rights activists are calling on Thailand to shelve a plan to send Karen refugees back to Burma because of concerns over their safety.
The activists made their call after learning the army was preparing to move the refugees at Nong Bua and Usutan temporary shelters in Tak’s Tha Song Yang district back to Burma.
The army cited the end of fighting between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and Karen National Union near the border with Thailand for their decision to send the Karen home. They also said the refugees were willing to return.
More than 3,000 ethnic Karen fled the fighting between the two groups into Thailand in June last year and the number has dwindled to about 1,800. But Surapong Khongchantuek, of the senate subcommittee on law enforcement on stateless people and displaced persons, raised safety issues due to landmines along the Burmese border.
“The fact is those border areas are littered with landmines and there is clear evidence that both the refugees and their cattle have already been hurt by the mines,” Mr Surapong said.
“While we care very much for the Haitian victims by sending them all necessary assistance, we should not forget or neglect the fact that a great number of forlorn refugees are living without hope inside our territory.”
The refugees at Nong Bua camp have appealed to Thailand not to deport them to Burma as many live landmines are scattered around their home towns, a source in the camp said yesterday.
The source said the refugees wanted to prolong their stay and wanted the landmines to be cleared.
BKK post
