Karen (Burmese) continue to take refuge in Thailand as fights escalate
TAK, 29 November 2010 (NNT) – Refugees from Burma continue to pour into Thailand as fights between the Burmese government and the DKBA show no sign of abating.
Thai troops continue patrolling along the Thai-Burmese border at Ban-mae-kon-kaen in Mae Sod District, Tak Province. Meanwhile, over 1,000 Karen of Burmese descent have crossed into the Thai territory to seek shelter in the face of the escalating clash. The political feud in Burma has prompted the Thai authority, border police, and the Thai Army to beef up security along the border.
No bullets have reportedly strayed into the Thai side, while rumors surrounding the crackdown on the DKBA by the Burmese government have caused those who live along the border to stock up on food and water supplies in anticipation of a long drawn-out battle between the Burmese troops and the DKBA.
——————
TAK, 28 November 2010 (NNT) – Over 1,000 Myanmar refugees have once again crossed over the Thai border to seek shelters in Mae Sod district, Tak Province after an exchange of gun fires between the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and the Burmese troops on Saturday night.
The sound of gun fires could be heard constantly during the entire night until morning, forcing over 1,000 Burmese nationals to seek refuge in Thailand. Some of them stayed in a temple, while the rest stayed with their families and friends on the Thai side.
A Burmese refugee said the violence erupted after the Burmese military had received an intelligence report that the DKBA would attack its base. In a pre-emptive strike, the Burmese fired first to keep the Karen army at bay. Most of the refugees said they would return to their homeland as soon as the border tension eased up, expressing concerns over their crops, which had yet to be harvested.
