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Australia Condemns Rangoon Over "Br



Subject: Australia Condemns Rangoon Over "Brutal" Karen War

                             Reuters World Service

                        March  2, 1997, Sunday, BC cycle


HEADLINE: Australia condemns Rangoon over "brutal" Karen war

DATELINE: CANBERRA, March 3

 
   Australia on Monday condemned the Burmese military regime's "brutal war"
against minority ethnic Karens and urged Thailand to continue protecting the
thousands of refugees who have fled across the border.

   "The government condemns the Burmese government's brutal war against the
Karen people living near the border with Thailand," Foreign Minister Alexander
Downer told parliament.

   Australia, through its embassy in Rangoon, had repeated its call for the
Burmese military to immediately withdraw and to seek peace with the Karen

through negotiations.

   "Our embassy in Rangoon has conveyed my call on the Burmese government to
withdraw its forces immediately and seek to resolve its differences with the
Karen through negotiation and dialogue," Downer told parliament.

   The latest offensive by Burmese troops against the Karen National Union
rebels, fighting for greater autonomy, forced thousands of Karen civilians to
flee into Thailand last month.

   Three Karen refugee camps in Thailand were recently attacked, leaving an
estimated 10,000 people homeless, Downer said.

   The U.S. State Department and human rights groups have accused Thailand of
forcibly repatriating refugees. Thailand has denied the allegations.

   Downer said Australia's embassy in Bangkok had been assured it was not Thai
policy to forcibly repatriate civilians, but he had sought clarification.

   He also said he raised the issue with Thai Foreign Minister Prachuab
Chiayasarn during talks in Canberra last week. 
   "He assured me that Thai authorities are taking steps to improve the safety
of the refugees, such as moving them away from the border area," Downer said.

   "I urge the Thai authorities to continue their policy of providing security
to refugees escaping conflict."

LANGUAGE: ENGLISH

LOAD-DATE: March 03, 1997