Thai-Burma border update

After receiving abuse from their senior officers, three Burma Army soldiers deserted to Phop Phra district on the Thai side of the border at the end of last month. The soldiers were from the Burma Army Light Infantry Battalion 61 operating in the Waw Lay area, Myawaddy Township in Karen State. According to local military sources these are the first…

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees office in Mae Sot told refugees at Umpiem Mai camp their registration depends on permission from the Thai government even if the UN agency is willing to grant UN refugee status to people. Staff from the UNHCR Mae Sot office were in Umpiem Mai refugee camp on May 16 to explain the refugee…

Democratic Karen Buddhist Army leader, held a press conference for Thai and Burmese journalists on May 1 to hit back at accusations made by Thailand’s Deputy Prime Minister, Chalerm Yubumrung, that he is a major drug dealer. The Thai deputy prime minister made the claims on Thai television on April 20. An annoyed Brigadier General Saw Ler Pwe claims he…

Since ceasefire talks between the Karen National Union and the Burma government refugees in camps in Thailand are facing an uncertain future. Rumors about repartition plans and funding cuts by international donors have all added to the tension. Last week as many as 100 protesters took to the streets to voice their concerns over refugee registration. Around 100 new refugees…

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army released a statement defending their Commander-in-Chief Brigadier, General Saw Ler Pwe, who was listed on a most-wanted list of drug traffickers this week by the Thai government’s Narcotics Control Board. Karen News is led to understand the DKBA leader, Brigadier General Saw Ler Pwe (also known as Na Khan Mwe), is furious at the Thai…

A fire that broke out around midday at Umpiem Mai camp, in Tak province destroyed a third of the camp – more than a 1,000 houses, three mosques and two nursery schools. The humanitarian organization, the Thai Burma Border Consortium, Burma state on their website. “Patients evacuated from the clinic are now taking shelter in the food warehouse. Some people…

A huge fire has destroyed as many as 1,000 houses at Umpiem Refugee Camp, 87km south of the Tak town of Mae Sot. A teacher at the camp explained to Karen News that the fire has destroyed large sections of the camp. “Section 9,8,7 and 6 are all gone, completely burnt. It’s dry and windy and the wind has turned…

The Thai Foreign Minister, Mr Surapong Tovichakchaikul, led a group of visited Burma, border town of Myawaddy to meet with Karen State Chief Minister U Zaw Min on 3rd February. Speaking to the media the Mr Surapong said discussions at the Myawaddy meeting concentrated on migrant workers, border trade, preventing important trade crossing from being closed and increasing goodwill between…

The Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge, linking Burma and Thailand border town was reopened early today after been closed since July 2010. Border authorities from both countries attended the bridge reopening ceremony with as many as 200 locals. In a symbolic gesture balloons were released from the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge near Rim Moei, Mae Sot district. In Myawaddy Town, on the the…

An unknown armed group is forcing residents of a Three Pagoda Pass town, Kyain Seikygi Township to pay taxes. Residents say armed group demanded taxes or cash payments from business owners and rich people at Three Pagoda Pass Town. The group approached the residents by letter, phone or face-to-face. A businessman (who asked not to be named for fears for…