Resumption of Fighting Sparks Further Exodus

More than 400 villagers fled late on Sunday night from the town of Valley, which straddles the Thai-Burmese border, following a resumption of hostilities between Burmese government forces and breakaway Brigade 5 of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), according to Thai authorities.

A report released by the Thai government on Monday said that the clash between the DKBA Brigade 5 led by Col Na Kham Mwe, also known as Saw Lah Pwe, and Burmese government forces has prompted about 400 Thai and Burmese nationals in North Valley sub-district, Tak Province, to flee their homes and take temporary refuge in the compound of a local government building a few miles away.


The town of Valley straddles the border from Burma's Kawkareik Township to Ban Valley in Thailand's Phop Phra District in Tak Province, and is made up of Thai, Burmese and Karen people. It lies only a kilometer away from the site of the clash which, so far, has claimed heavy casualties on both sides. An influx of thousands of refugees into Thailand is expected over the next few days, according to the report.

One resident in Valley was wounded by a mortar during the exchange on Sunday, said the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG).

A villager told the KHRG that some locals who attempted to cross into Thailand to escape the fighting have been prevented by the Thai army. Civilians remain at risk as the conflict continues, said the KHRG report.

Deputy Thai army spokesman Sirichan Nathong told The Bangkok Post on Monday that some 150 Burmese nationals who crossed into Thailand following the clashes will probably be sent back later that same day.

A combined force of Thai army soldiers, Border Patrol Police and provincial administrative staff reinforced the border at Phop Phra and led the escaping Karen group to safer places, according to reports.

Several representatives from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the Thailand Burma Border Consortium and some NGOs visited the refugees in Baan Valley and provided them with food on Monday.

Thai human rights groups, including the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand, were due to hold a meeting in Bangkok on Monday to discuss the situation surrounding the border conflict.

irrawaddy