Thousands flee camp as Burma Army attacks
by Daniel Pedersen on Jun.08, 2009, under Battles, Burma reportage, Northern Thailand, People, The Karen
Ler Per Her abandoned when SPDC, DKBA bombard village
Free Burma Rangers
Karen State, Burma
June 6, 2009
Displaced Karen - Photo: Steve Sandford
Some 3,295 people have fled Ler Per Her camp as Burma Army and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army soldiers started the bombardment of the camp at 11.30am on June 6.
Hundreds of soldiers surrounded the camp which is on the Thai-Burma border, north of Mae Sot, and refugees are crossing the border into Tha Song Yang district in Tak province, Thailand, to escape the attack.
Those in the camp had already fled attacks from the Burma Army in eastern Karen State numerous times and had established homes there, which now have to be abandoned.
Since October 2008 over 60 families have arrived in Ler Per Her, 40 of those from within the last week from Htee Per village. They fled because of Burma Army/DKBA activity and because the Burma Army was looking to recruit over 800 soldiers from the area.
Soldiers have already arrested and forced villagers from Pa-an District and Myawaddi Township to porter supplies for this campaign.
The attack is being led by Light Infantry Battalions 81, 201, 202 and 205, supported by some 300 soldiers from DKBA 999.
Those who have fled across the border are in Mae U Su, Noh Bo and Mae Salik and are in urgent need of shelter, medical assistance, food and clothing. An FBR team in association with Partners Relief and Development are bringing desperately needed supplies.
So far PRAD has delivered 30 pots, 25 large tarps, mosquito repellant, food, rolls of plastic sheeting, two trucks of clothing and medicines for 200 cases of each of the following illnesses: malaria, diarrheal diseases, respiratory illnesses, wound care and painkillers.
The leader of the camp confirmed that women and children had left the camp by June 5 leaving the older people and men. He asked for prayer for his people.
The Free Burma Ranger’s (FBR) mission is to provide hope, help and love to internally displaced people inside Burma, regardless of ethnicity or religion. Using a network of indigenous field teams, FBR reports on human rights abuses, casualties and the humanitarian needs of people who are under the oppression of the Burma Army. FBR provides medical, spiritual and educational resources for IDP communities as they struggle to survive Burmese military attacks.
For more information, please visit www.freeburmarangers.org
ENDS
5 Comments for this entry
Leave a Reply
"Secret Genocide is a scholarly book on the plight of the Karen of Burma. Author Daniel Pedersen writes about the secret genocide of the Karen people at the hands of the Burmese junta, who use murder, rape, forced labour and torture to quell their enemies. Decades after the Karen took up arms against Rangoon; there is no telling when - or if - their struggle for a secure homeland will finally be accomplished"
Read and add comments at the book's blog
Secret Genocide by publisher Maverick House. >>> Read prologue.
June 8th, 2009 on 4:21 p
KNU Statement on SPDC-DKBA Combined Forces’ Offensive
http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/06/08/knu-statement-on-spdc-dkba-combined-forces’-offensive/
June 8th, 2009 on 4:22 p
http://www.kwekalu.net/imagedaily/kch.html
June 10th, 2009 on 10:50 p
The Karen National Union warmly welcomes a statement by Ivan Lewis, British Foreign Office Minister responsible for Burma, that the participation of all ethnic groups is “crucial” for national reconciliation in Burma. The Minister also stated that: “The full and equitable participation of Burma’s ethnic groups in the political process has to be the key to a durable, sustainable solution to its problems.” The statements took place in a Parliamentary debate on Burma held in the British Parliament on 9th June.
http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/06/10/knu-welcomes-british-government-call-for-spdc-to-enter-into-dialogue-with-ethnic-groups/
June 10th, 2009 on 5:29 p
FBR REPORT: DKBA troops threaten to shell Thai villagers if they do not supply food in support of attack on refugees
Karen State, Burma
10 June, 2009
http://www.freeburmarangers.org/Reports/2009/20090610.html
June 11th, 2009 on 2:36 p
The RPG of Combine troops attack in Thailand_KIC_-
http://democracyforburma.wordpress.com/2009/06/11/the-rpg-of-combine-troops-attack-in-thailand_kic_/