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THAILAND/REFUGEES
DATE=3/13/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-211370
TITLE=THAILAND-REFUGEES (S-ONLY)
BYLINE=GARY THOMAS
DATELINE=BANGKOK
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS GROUP AMNESTY
INTERNATIONAL HAS CALLED ON THAILAND TO SHELVE REPORTED PLANS TO
SEND ABOUT 100-THOUSAND REFUGEES BACK TO BURMA ONCE FIGHTING
THERE ENDS. THE GROUP SAYS IT IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT FORCED
REPATRIATIONS OF SOME ETHNIC REFUGEES MAY BE CONTINUING. VOA
SOUTHEAST ASIA CORRESPONDENT GARY THOMAS REPORTS.
TEXT: IN A STATEMENT RELEASED THURSDAY, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL
SAYS AN END TO THE FIGHTING BETWEEN BURMESE TROOPS AND ETHNIC
KAREN INSURGENTS WOULD NOT GUARANTEE THE SAFETY OF KAREN WHO
MIGHT BE SENT BACK TO BURMA.
THE GROUP SAYS KAREN WHO ARE FORCED TO RETURN, MAY STILL BE
SUBJECTED TO MISTREATMENT, OR EVEN EXECUTION, BY BURMESE TROOPS.
AMNESTY ACCUSES BURMESE TROOPS OF WHAT IT CALLS "A CLEAR AND
PERSISTENT PATTERN OF TORTURE, ILL-TREATMENT, AND EXTRAJUDICIAL
KILLINGS OF KAREN CIVILIANS."
THE BURMESE ARMED FORCES HAVE BEEN ENGAGED FOR MORE THAN ONE
MONTH AGAINST THE KAREN NATIONAL UNION, THE LAST MAJOR ETHNIC
GROUP STILL FIGHTING FOR AUTONOMY FROM THE GOVERNMENT IN
RANGOON. THOUSANDS OF KAREN HAVE FLED FOR SAFETY TO THAILAND.
THE THAI GOVERNMENT IS REPORTED TO HAVE DRAWN UP PLANS TO
REPATRIATE ABOUT 100-THOUSAND KAREN REFUGEES TO BURMA ONCE THE
FIGHTING IS OVER.
THAILAND HAS DENIED IT IS ALREADY FORCIBLY REPATRIATING SOME
REFUGEES. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL SAYS IT IS "GRAVELY CONCERNED"
THAT SOME FORCED REPATRIATIONS CONTINUE. HOWEVER, THERE IS NO
INDEPENDENT CONFIRMATION OF THAT CHARGE. (SIGNED)
NEB/GPT/SFT/FC CF
13-Mar-97 6:13 AM EST (1113 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.