August 11 (NMG): Thai local security forces were stepping up regulations for the visitors to go inside the camp and also issued new regulations for the refugees on August 7 while the officials met the refugees from Mae Khong Khar Refugee Camp near Mae Sariang in northern Thailand, one refugee said.

This new regulation was formulated soon after Burmese anti-government organizations such as Karen National Union- KNU, All Burma Students Democratic Front- ABSDF and Network for Democracy and Development- NDD along with other groups were told on July 18 not to stay in Mae Sariang and they were forced to go settle inside the Refugee Camp.

Thai authorities who were taking responsibility for refugee camp explained the new regulation to refugee camp authorities and in turn, camp authorities would have to explain to refugees who were living in their camp.

Among this new regulations, all type of vehicles want to go inside the camp will now need a permit from township administration officer before they enter the camp.

Apart from this, license registration numbers, color, model and bills of all motor cycles and vehicles own by some organizations and NGOs have to report to the camp security authorities.

The arrest of six members of Karen Women Organization on July 29 made clear that authorities do not want any anti-government activists to stay in Mae Sariang.

In a similar scenario, security measures had been stepped up in Karenni refugee camps all around the border by Thai officials, and some reports said the arrest of activists in Mae Hong Song and all the offices of Burmese organizations had to stay secretly.

Thai authorities were keep patrolling around Mae Siriang city in order to implement their new policy on Burmese anti-government organizations. Some monasteries were also under daily surveillance of Thai military to differentiate the monks who are Burmese or Karen or Thai.

Network Media Group