တုိင္းရင္းသားအသံ

Burma Mon, Wa refugees flee to Thailand

Text of report by Norway-based Burmese Democratic Voice of Burma website, on 24 April

Hundreds of Mon refugees are fleeing into Thailand as tensions are rising after the New Mon State Party (MNSP) decided not to become a regional militia unit as demanded by the military government.

Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) Correspondent Ko Maung Too filed this report:

[Begin recording] [DVB] The NMSP decided not to become a militia unit on Thursday [22 April] and clarified its decision at a press conference yesterday. Since then we understand that the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Army has reinforced its troops guarding bridges in Mon State, including the Ye Bridge.

Meanwhile, Mon people in Ye Township have started to flee across the border for the Halockhani Camp inside Thailand.

[Nai Chay Mon] Many people from areas deep inside Burma are fleeing to Halockhani Camp. We were able to provide temporary shelter for 225 mothers and children at a middle school inside Halockhani Camp. That was all we can do.

[DVB] That was Nai Chay Mon, representative of the NMSP. He also said that the NMSP revolutionary troops and the SPDC Army are vigilantly watching each other.

[Nai Chay Mon] Some of our offices have been closed down. Presently, our two sides are watching each other.

[DVB] That was Nai Chay Mon who also added that there were more than 225 refugees and many more were arriving and there was an urgent need for emergency assistance.

[Nai Chay Mon] The Mon relief group could only supply rice for the 225 refugees who have to buy other needs to feed themselves. I have asked for help from people whom I believe can assist and I hope they will help us to the extent they can. [End recording]

That was a report by Ko Maung Too.

Meanwhile, Wa refugees are also reported to be fleeing across the Thai border.

Wa refugees from Mong Ton in southern Shan State are fleeing for Chiang Dao in Chiang Mai Province of Thailand, according to local representatives.

The United Wa State Party (UWSP) rejected the demand of the SPDC to become a Border Guard Force. Since then the SPDC Army has stepped up war preparations in the area and Wa people, fearing conflict, have fled across the border, according to refugees in Thailand.

Originally published by Democratic Voice of Burma website, Oslo, in Burmese 1430 24 Apr 10.

(c) 2010 BBC Monitoring Asia Pacific. Provided by ProQuest LLC. All rights Reserved.

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