NCUB PRESS RELEASE NO [11]

[lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Reply-To: "All Burma Students' Democratic Front" <lurie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>

_______________________________________________________________________________
N A T I O N A L   C O U N C I L   O F  T H E   U N I O N   O F   B U R M A
______________________________________________________________________




				PRESS RELEASE NO [11]
			The SLORC offensive in KNU Brigade 4 area

								Date: March 4, 1997

According to the final report on March 2, 1997, State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) Light Infantry Battalion (LIB) 342 and Infantry Battalion (IB) 25 were deployed at Htee Htar and Htee Khee village of Brigade 4 and started relations with Thai
 border officials. Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) troops, in preparation for the SLORC offensive, withdrew from the villages and attacked the SLORC troops by  hit-and-run guerrilla tactics in defense of the area. At 1:00 PM, on March 2, 1997, there
 was a clash between SLORC and KNLA troops not far north of Htee khee village.

On March 2, a porter who was arrested and forced to work by SLORC in their offensive managed to escape by fleeing to the Thai-Burma border. He may have taken some kind of amphetamine (yah mah in Thai). He was later referred to the Thai officials by the KN
LA troops.

Most recently, 1038 women and children refugees from Bong Htee camp have been forcibly sent in trucks by Thai authorities back to Htaw Ma Phyo/Htaw Ma Maung villages in Burma, opposite Ban Takolurng of Amphoe Suan Phung in Ratchaburi province. Thus far, 4
000 refugees have been sent back in the same way by Thai officials, to villages which are a five-hour walk away from Htee Htar village. The condition of these refugees is very insecure; Burmese troops are currently moving south of Htee Htar and there is n
o Thai military presence to protect them.  

 There are about 3600 refugees at Ban Phu Nam Roeng in Kanchanaburi province, which is one hour walk away from Htee Khee. Hopefully, these refugees will not be pushed back into Burma and will be evacuated to a  new site near by Phu Nam Roeng. 

Thus far there have been 10,000 refugees in this region but several hundreds are still hiding and missing in the deep jungle because of  the massive SLORC presence in the region. There will be 23, 000-25,000 refugees in total number including those who in
ternally displaced. 

International aid organisations and NGOs are providing assistance to refugees on humanitarian grounds.       



Information Committee
National Council of the Union of Burma (NCUB)