New wave of refugees flees Burma

BORDER

More than a thousand refugees have crossed into Thailand following a fresh round of fighting between Karen ethnic rebels and Burmese government forces along the border.

Tak governor Samart Loifa said yesterday 1,129 refugees were staying at a border patrol police base in tambon Mahawan of Mae Sot district.

Most of the refugees fled fighting on Friday night but the latest group of five refugees only entered Thailand yesterday.

The governor insisted the authorities would not send the refugees back to Burma as long as the fighting continued.

''It's very likely that the fighting will be prolonged,'' he said.

''Humanitarian groups and the Thai authorities are doing our best to take care of the refugees by giving them food, drinking water and medical treatment.''

The New York-based Human Rights Watch has called on the Thai government to stop treating refugees fleeing conflict in eastern Burma as ''human ping pong balls'' who are returned to their home country prematurely.

More than 20,000 people have crossed the border into Thailand since fighting erupted in November, and while many returned within days, refugees continue to flee renewed conflict, the group said in a statement.

The Burmese general elections on Nov7 had done nothing to change the government forces' tactics of ''terrorising'' civilians, who need expanded protection when they seek refuge in Thailand, HRW deputy Asia director Elaine Pearson said.

''People fleeing conflict in Burma are being treated like human ping pong balls _ reluctantly allowed into Thailand when fighting flares but then returned to Burma at the first sign of quiet,'' she said.

''Thailand should not return refugees until the risk to them in Burma truly ends, but should allow them to stay in safe areas away from the border with access to protection services and assistance from humanitarian agencies.''

Tensions soared in Burma on polling day when Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) ethnic rebels occupied Myawaddy town in Karen state, opposite Tak, sparking a state army counter-attack and a mass exodus of civilians into Thailand.

Subsequent sporadic fighting at several points along the border, with state troops conducting a major build-up, has caused continued displacement.

Ms Pearson added: ''Sadly, so far neither side in the recent fighting has shown much regard for the civilians caught in the crossfire.''

She said the Burmese people suffered from indiscriminate shelling and rights abuses such as forced labour.