Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – A Karen rights group said today over 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees fleeing Burmese military operations are facing difficulty finding adequate food, shelter and healthcare along the Thai-Burma border.
A joint force from the Burmese Army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) is currently launching military operations in a region of Pa-an District under the control of the Karen National Liberation Army’s (KNLA) 7th Brigade. Karen civilians are fleeing the approaching hostile forces to avoid the possibility of serving as forced porters or being used as human mine sweepers.
However, having fled to Thailand’s Tak Province refugees are now confronted with a whole new set of hardships.
“Some have to hide in the forest without shelter. Some use a piece of plastic sheet for the entire family as a makeshift shelter. The Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) has provided food for these people but it is not enough for them,” Albert, from the Thai-Burma border-based Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), told Mizzima.
Among the displaced people and refugees are children and the elderly. Though KHRG has reported the number of refugees as over 3,000, in a report yesterday the group cautioned there may be many more refugees thus far out of the reach of vital assistance and therefore remaining unaccounted.
Lieutenant General Tanongsak Apirakyothin of the Thai 3rd Army, which is responsible for the security of Thailand’s West and Northwest regions, confirmed to reporters the figure of about 3,000 Karen refugees reaching Thailand and stressed Thailand is doing what it can to assist the refugees.
While KHRG said they have yet to receive any detailed information on the healthcare services being provided to the refugees, most are said to be suffering from fever, the common cold and headaches, as they had to constantly run in the rain. Some are suffering from malaria too, Albert added.
The joint operation in Karen State is said to include Burmese Light Infantry Brigades 338, 339, 201, 202, 203 and 205 under the command of Light Infantry Division 22 and bolstered by DKBA Brigades 999, 333 and 555, according to the KNU. Though information of today’s military maneuverings cannot yet be confirmed, heavy weapons fire was heard yesterday.
The KNU further emphasized that refugees from the conflict remain in dire need of assistance.
“In some places Thai medical units came and provided medical care. But they cannot provide proper medical care to these people as the diseases found in these places are uncommon to Thai medical personnel. Moreover, there is no proper means of resettlement for them in these places. They should give proper shelter to these people instead of leaving them in open areas exposed to the rain”, Major Saw Hla Ngwe, Secretary (1) of the KNU, explained to Mizzima.
In the opinion of Major Saw Hla Ngwe, the DKBA launched this military operation with the intention of expanding the area under their control and increasing their armed strength in a run-up to transforming their force into a ‘Border Patrol’ unit as per the designs of the junta. At the same time, the Burmese Army is encouraging the operation with the intention of sowing further dissension among the Karen people, speculated the Major.
The Karen have been waging war against successive Burmese governments for nearly half a century with the aim of achieving a right to self-determination. The conflict has resulted in more than 100,000 – predominantly Karen – refugees seeking shelter in nine camps along the Thai-Burma border.
