July 13 (NMG) – An officer from Border Security Force of Thailand warned refugees in meeting on July 10 not to stage any protest against the relocation of Mae Khong Khar Refugee Camp, said one of the participants of the meeting.

The officer Gordon from Thai Border Security Force ordered the refugees to keep everything in order when the relocation of refugees starts.

Previously, Thai authorities faced a series of protest against the relocation of refugees in the attempt to merge the refugee camps -- Kalopa, and Mae Yaehta, to became the existing Mae Khong Khar camp in 1997-98.

The Officer Gordon added in his speech that the protests will not make any changes to the process of relocation.

However, a member of Karen Refugee Committee (KRC), Saw Htoo Htoo told that because of natural disasters and along with heavy causalities in their camp, the refugees were ready to relocate and they would not protest against the relocation.

“We don’t have plan to protest because current geographical condition of the camp is not favorable to settle down and we faced a series of natural disasters as well. It is better for us to change our camp because the authorities repeatedly told every year to relocate this camp”, Saw Htoo Htoo said.

The meeting was attended by 2000 refugees along with Thailand’s border security forces and officials from forestry department, where refugees were advised not to cut any trees from the forest by the forestry officials.

Mae Khong Khar refugee camp is located near “Salween National Park” of Mae Sarirang township in Northern province of Mae Hong Son, Thailand. Thai authorities used to condemn on the refugees for illegal logging and timbering in that areas.

However, Naw Khey, a former committee member of refugee camp rejected this allegation. “In 1997 and 98 they cut the trees in the forest. They (Thai people) used elephants as well as hired labors to cut the trees. At last they claimed that it was done by the refugees,” said Naw Khey.

"We are refugees and we have to move if the authorities ask us to move. But, we don't like to be accused as thieves", she continued.

Recently, Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Suwit Khunkiti told that his government convinced on the reports concerning refugees were on hired as labors in illegal logging in the Salween National Park, reported in Asian Tribune.

The camp committee said they do not know when the relocation is going be started though Thai government assumed it will take only two months for the relocation of Mae Khong Khar camp. The new location site is just opposite to previous headquarters of the KNU, Marnarplaw, which is now under control by Burmese troops and five kilometer away from Mae Lamu refugee camp in Suu Mwae township, said a member of Karen Refugee Committee.

More than 17,000 refugees sheltered in Mae Khong Khar refugee camp.

Network Media Group