The new refugee arrivals are deported back to a remote area/Burma

It was at 8:00 a.m when the heavy rain was raining, three boats were driven to Mae Ra Moo refugees camp, which is situated in Soim Moi, Mae Hong Song river, and took 39 Karen refugees who have arrived in the camp since after April 16th for deportation to He Tu Hta, Burma, which is a remote area between the conflict of KNU and SPDC.

Yesterday a Thai army company commander Chupone from battalion 336 who takes responsibility to control the area of Thu Moi came to the refugee camp and gave an order to the refugees who have arrived after April 16th have to leave. He added that the order came from upper Thai authority, and the reason that the refugees were deported is they are not consider as war refugees.

Since April 16th, 271 new refugees have arrived in the Ma Ra Moo refugee camp, and they have received order to be deported. Today 39 were deported. For the rest, they have to leave soon.

It is the end of our way to go and to be back. We live in Burma we always have to worry by the violation of SPDC's soldiers. It is the poor life that we are facing and hopeless, said a refugee who was deported.

Yesterday Thai soldier came and conducted us to collect for those who are new arrivals. We apologize them not to act deportation but they refuse, said a refugee camp's leader.

This kind of happening is because of the organization such as IOM and UNHCR have not got to speak for these refugees, so it has done like this. However, the camp committees, IOM and UNHCR have to discussion for the rest of refugees those who will be deported, said an authority from NSC.

UNHCR does not like this kind of deportation. Anyone who arrives in the refugee camp should be safe, said UNHCR Michael Booker.           

Abstracted from - Kwekalu (a Karen newspaper)

July 17,2008