Burmese activists and refugees in Thailand facing pressures

DVB ( July 4,2003 )

While the Thai government and the SPDC are discussing democratic reforms in Burma, the Thai government is piling more pressures on Burmese democracy activists living in Thailand. The Thai authorities are forcing Burmese activists to close down their offices at Maesariang, in Mae Hong Son District and the activists are also forcibly sent back to the Burmese side of the border.

On the 28th of July, the office of Karen Women Organisation (KWO) was raided and 6 Karen women were also arrested. Then, the offices of All Burma Students’ Democratic Front (ABSDF), NDD and Karen National Union (KNU) were ordered to close down completely, said the activists.

Our correspondent, Naw Nandar Chan describe the situation in Mae Hong Son District as follows:

Naw Nandar Chan : The securities around refugee camps are quite tight. The Thai soldiers are guarding the checkpoints and the security measures are becoming tighter. Before, it was not that difficult to leave the camps, but now, it is very difficult for people inside the camp to come out of the camps and it is also impossible for the people from outside to enter the camp. The NGO staff could only enter the camps when they have the NGO cards with them. We haven’t seen anything oppressive at Chiang Mai at the moment. But the Thai authorities have sent warnings to some offices at the beginning of this month. Some people are not going to their offices but work at home. The offices here are running regularly. At the moment, all the offices in Maesariang have been closed. People have to live in fear. On the 18th of July, they summoned all the activists in charge of their offices at a meeting at Maesariang. At the meeting, they were told to close their offices on the 31st at the latest and to return to refugee camps…some people hold Thai government recognised cards but they are working in fear.

DVB’s Khaing Thazin described the situation at Maesod as follows:

Khaing Thazin : There are not much pressures in Maesod at the moment. The SPDC’s intelligence agents frequented the places. They noted down the addresses and the names of the people at the offices.

DVB-Oslo : Which offices did they visit?

Khaing Thazin : The Karen Women Organization (KWO), Karen Youth Organization (KYO) and Arakan offices.

DVB-Oslo : So, they are pressurising the ethnic nationals to close their offices? How about the Democratic Party for New Socity (DPNS) and National Council of Union of Burma(NCUB) offices?

Khaing Thazin : A Thai intelligence officer summoned a Burmese activist leader and asked him the addresses of small offices and photographs of the activists. There are no pressures or arrests yet at the offices. At the moment, they are not pressurising them to close the offices yet.

DVB-Oslo : There are quite a lot of Burmese workers in Maesod. Are they being arrested?

Khaing Thazin : … They are being stopped and sent back to Burma at the Burmese checkpoints before they reached this side of the border. For those who are working and living here, there are some arrests.

DVB’s Aung Lwin Oo described the situations at Bangkok and Songlaburi areas as follows:

Aung Lwin Oo : I haven’t heard about the massive campaign of arrests mounted by the Thai authorities yet. But the Thai authorities concerned have summoned the activists and discussed matters with them. For example, they asked them what kinds of activities they are doing and the like. They are also warning against protest plans for the 8888 uprising anniversary. They told them not to stage protests on the 8th of August and if they did they would be arrested and the like.

DVB-Oslo : At the moment the SPDC’s FM, U Win Aung is visiting Thailand to discuss Thailand’s road map plan and the like. Is the Thai government asking the Burmese activists’ views?

Aung Lwin Oo : Although the Thai government says that the views of the opposition groups will be considered, but as far as I know, the Thai authorities haven’t contacted and discussed the matter with the activists yet. I have only asked people about the matter and there has not been any informal approach yet, not to mention formal request.

DVB-Oslo : Have there been arrests of Burmese workers in Bangkok?

Aung Lwin Oo : There have been sporadic arrests but there have been no solid campaign to arrest them. Nevertheless, they have put up notices at immigration offices; that illegal workers will be arrested and the like.

DVB-Oslo : What is the situation in Songklaburi? There had been severe crackdowns on Burmese activists in Songklaburi.

Aung Lwin Oo : Since the last crackdowns and arrests, all the offices of the opposition groups have been closed down. The people there have to lie low.

According to the latest report, a Thai soldier raped a 13 year old Burmese girl at Maela refugee camp on the 18th of July. Burmese activists and refugees who live on the Thai-Burma border are still facing dangers and assaults like this regularly.