Thai government threatens to evict 3,000 Burmese refugees

Christian Solidarity Worldwide has called on the international community to intervene as 3,000 refugees face being sent back to Burma where they face forced labour and rape.

The Thai government and local military leaders want to force the refugees back to Karen State in eastern Burma in the next two days.

The refugees have been living in temporary camps along the Thai-Burma border since a military offensive in Karen in June by the Burma Army and militia group the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA).

CSW warns they face "severe" human rights violations if they are made to return.

Around 1,200 of the refugees were previously living at the Ler Per Her IDP camp, just inside Karen State, on the Thailand-Burma border. Christian Solidarity Worldwide said it had received reports that the camp was riddled with landmines and now under the control of the DKBA.

Benedict Rogers, East Asia Team Leader at CSW, called for urgent intervention.

"There is a severe risk that if they return, the Karen refugees will be subjected to severe human rights violations, including forced labour and rape by soldiers of the Burma Army," he said.

"This is an urgent situation which requires immediate international attention. CSW calls on the authorities in Thailand to continue to provide shelter and protection to all Karen refugees.

"These people must not be returned until they can do so safely, and that will only be possible when Burma is free and at peace."