The situation of Myanmar refugees living along the Thai border has not changed more than a month after the Thai foreign minister pledged to accept them, people helping the refugees and Karenni refugees said.
Despite the Thai foreign minister’s statement that they would accept the refugees from Myanmar, Thai authorities have pressured the refugees to return to the places where they previously lived, said Maw Pareh Myar, Secretary-2 of the Karenni National Women’s Organization (KNWO).
“In fact, the situation contradicts the reports in the Thai media. But they said they would accept the refugees after making arrangements for humanitarian assistance. There are some contradictions here. For example, the refugees have been often told in various ways that they should return to their own country. But the news reports say otherwise,” she said.
The Thai foreign minister stated on 3 December 2023 that Thailand would accept the refugees from Myanmar along the Thai-Myanmar border, including refugees from the Thai-Karenni border.
However, the Thai foreign minister’s statement on accepting refugees from Myanmar along the Thai-Myanmar border has not yet been implemented, while refugees along the Thai-Karenni border have been pressured to return to the place where they previously lived, according to reports.
A displaced Karenni woman said that Thai authorities have given a final deadline for the refugees temporarily housed on the Thai side of the Thai-Karenni border to return to the Dawnoeku IDP camp by 18 January.
“They are urging us to return when the situation has completely calmed down. Some have gone to the camps where their relatives are. Some have already returned. Some have gone back after they were all told to return. They have told all the refugees there to return,” she said.
The refugees being urged to return by Thai authorities are from the Dawnoeku IDP camp on the Myanmar side. Due to artillery and air attacks by the military, they were forced to cross the border into Thailand.
According to reports, the refugees had to cross back and forth between the Myanmar and Thai sides three times due to fighting, artillery shelling and airstrikes.
The displaced people say it is not yet possible for them to return to the Dawnoeku IDP camp as the fighting is still ongoing.
One IDP said, “The planes have stopped coming. But a few days ago, they fired heavy weapons during the fierce fighting in the Shadaw area. I heard that they also bombed with airplanes. We’ve fled across the border, up and down. It’s been three times already, including this time. Every time we flee down there, we have to put up a tent and take it down again when we come back up. I don’t know what to do this time,” she said.
Although Thai authorities told the refugees to return to the Dawnoeku IDP camp by 18 January, the refugees remain in their current location on the Thai side of the border as they have no other choice.
The Dawnoeku IDP camp hosts nearly 1,000 displaced families with a population of about 5,000 people. These displaced people have fled from different parts of Karenni State following the armed conflicts in the aftermath of the military coup.
In July 2023, the military’s warplanes bombed the Dawnoeku IDP camp, killing one IDP and injuring two others.
In addition, around 800 IDPs were forced to flee to the Thai side when the junta attacked with artillery on 13 and 14 November 2023.
The refugees say they want permission to continue living safely on the Thai side as security is not yet guaranteed to return to the Dawnoeku IDP camp.
Sent by NMG.
