The Abhisit Vejjajiva government continues to forcibly repatriate border crossers, including those fleeing fighting in Burma. The Irrawaddy reports that “[m]ore than 200 Karen refugees were forcibly sent back into Burma from Thailand on Saturday despite unstable conditions and fighting near their villages…”. It adds that the “Thai army forced refugees sheltering at a Buddhist temple and a Thai school in Pop Phra-District in Thailand’s Tak Province back across the border, telling them the situation had become stable.” Many of those forced back were afraid to return to their villages and stayed close to the border.
The report adds that some “600 Karen refugees still remain in hiding at relatives’ homes on the Thai border as they are afraid they will be forced back.” The most recent fighting on the Burma side was on 22 and 23 December when the Karen National Liberation Army launched attacks on junta troops.
The current government’s policies on the Burma border are clear: force people back.
1 Comment