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Warrants out for raiders
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<font size=4><b>Warrants out for raiders <br>
</font></b><font size=3>THE Interior Ministry yesterday issued arrest
warrants against the five hardline Burmese students who shocked the world
last week by seizing the Burmese embassy for 25 hours, charging them with
eight criminal trespasses. <br>
According to Pol Maj Gen Chakthip Kunchorn na Ayuthaya, the eight charges
are: <br>
-Conducting a robbery with guns and grenades. <br>
-Coercing people to do something which was against their will by using
arms. <br>
-Unlawful detention causing people to lose their freedom. <br>
-Forcing officials to unwillingly conduct malfeasances by threatening to
use violence. <br>
-Importing and possessing explosives without permission from the
registrar. <br>
-Possessing rifles, ammunitions and explosives for which the registrar
cannot grant permission. <br>
-Possessing rifles and ammunitions without permission. <br>
-Carrying rifles in the city and public areas without permission. <br>
Chakthip said these warrants will be distributed to every border
checkpoint and Immigration Police office nationwide. <br>
Police have been able to identify only two of the five armed students:
Kyaw Ni or Johnny, Myint Thein or Beda. <br>
However, Chakthip said police would definitely able to identify the other
three from witness accounts. <br>
''We will not be able to bring these Burmese students to trial if they
have escaped into Burma since we do not have an extradition agreement
with Rangoon. Therefore, we can only rely on existing diplomatic
channels,'' said Chakthip. <br>
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</font><font size=5><b>7,000 refugees relocated<br>
</font></b><font size=3>THAILAND and the UN High Commissioner for
Refugees have completed the relocation of over 7,000 displaced Burmese
from Huay Kalok camp to another site as part of a move to prevent future
attacks against the residents there by pro-Rangoon armed groups. <br>
Authorities have relocated the displaced people, most of whom are ethnic
Karen, to Tak's Phop Phra district, a statement from the UNHCR said
yesterday. <br>
The new site is 13 kilometres away from the border and well protected by
the terrain, according to the authorities. <br>
The process of relocation, which began on Aug 23, was jointly conducted
by the Thai government and the UNHCR. It was completed on Thursday, three
days ahead of schedule, according to the statement. <br>
According to Thai officials and the UNHCR, Huay Kalok was too close to
the border for the safety of its residents. <br>
Huay Kalok was attacked and burnt to the ground twice, in January 1997
and March 1998, by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, a splinter group
that sides with the military government in Rangoon. It was alleged that
Burmese government troops had also taken part in the raids. <br>
The Thai army came under heavy criticism for not providing adequate
security for the refugees in the camp, and the Foreign Ministry issued a
strong statement condemning the attacks. <br>
Over 100,000 Burmese refugees, most of whom are ethnic Karen, are living
in camps along the Thai border. They have fled fighting between armed
rebel groups and government soldiers. <br>
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