New Delhi (Mizzima) - Members of the ethnic Karen rebel group – Karen National Union – have began moving back into Burma, after Thailand warned them not to set up base in their territory, a source close to the rebel group said.
The source, who did not want to be named, said KNU leaders had recently been told by Thai military authorities in the border town of Mea Sot, to move out of the town and to avoid Thailand’s territory for their activities.
“The Thai authorities issued the notice informally about 10 days ago. The Thai military told KNU to move out of their territory and several KNU members have left,” the source said.
However, the source, said a few leaders had remained in Mea Sot town, but were keeping a low profile.
“Currently, the KNU leaders cannot move around as freely as they did in the past, they need to be more careful,” he added.
The KNU, however, denied any official comment.
KNU, the longest running insurgent group of Burma, which has been waging war against the regime, earlier had strong bases inside Karen state of Burma. But, they suffered a heavy blow after their stronghold – Manerplaw – was overrun by a joint group of the Burmese Army and a Karen splinter group – the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army – in 1995.
Since then, several leaders, including deceased KNU General-Secretary, Pado Mahn Shala Phan, had taken shelter in Thailand’s border town of Mea Sot. Although, the Thai authorities were aware of the KNU leader’s presence, they did not take any official stand against the group, which would force the KNU to leave Thailand.
Occasionally, Burma’s military rulers have news reports in the state mouthpiece, New Light of Myanmar newspaper, accusing Thailand of hosting the rebels, whom they term as ‘Destructive Elements’.
The source said, the current wave of pressure seems unlikely to be Thailand’s policy but the country could be acting on mounting pressure received externally. Thailand, has unofficially hosted the KNU and other ethnic rebels in their territories bordering Burma.
“It is unlikely to be Thailand’s official policy to force the KNU to move out of their territory, but it must be pressure coming from outside,” the source added.
The source, however, added that it was not the first time that members of the KNU and its armed wing Karen National Liberation Army, were forced to stay out of Thailand.
“It is not the first time, but things turn back to normal later,” the source added.
Nyo Ohn Myint, in-charge of the Thailand-based Foreign Affairs Committee of the National League for Democracy-Liberated Areas (NLD-LA) said, those who have long observed Thailand’s policy on Burma, said while they were not certain about the pressure on KNU, they did not rule out the possibilities.
“We heard that the KNU is facing pressure to stay out of Thailand, but we still cannot confirm it,” Nyo Ohn Myint said.
But, he added that he was aware of the KNU leaders moving out of the border towns and from Thailand’s territories.
It was also likely that Thailand had been urged to drive away the Karen rebels from their territory, during the Thai Army Chief’s visit to Burma, he said.
“Thailand might be acting on pressure from the Burmese junta, and the two countries might have reached an agreement during Thailand’s military commander’s visit to Burma,” he added.
Thailand’s Army Commander-in-Chief, Anupong Paochinda, in mid-February visited Burma on a two-day official trip and had met the Burmese Army’s top leader, Senior General Than Shwe.
