ＫＲＣ－ＮＥＷＳ(JUL,AUG/1997)．

－ SHOULD PRINT-OUT THE IMAGE DATA FROM HERE NOW.

　　　ＡＵＧＵＳＴ．１９９７

　　　August being the height of rainy season in this region, travels and movements to and inside camp are being hampared by incessant rain and boggy dirt road, but essential food and materials are supplied and matters concerning health and education supported by the Non-Government Organizations.
　　　For refugees the effects of uncertainty and insecurity are more mental than physical. And there is the lingering worry about the future and the concern with the problem of repatriation looming in people' minds.
　　　However, compared to the life of displaced persons in the refugee camps, indications are that life for displaced people inside the Burma Border are extremely harsh and difficult.
　　　People are being shifted and relocated against their will to "control areas" where all walks of village life are being put under close and intence security and observation. Overall, the continuation of the "Four-Cuts" policy by the SLORC is being imposed and carried out with severe restrictions.
　　　There is unending demands of "Fine money" domestic animals for food with daily forced labour topped by bodily abused. For those who fail to conform to order, punishment is swift and harsh. There are innumerable tortures and executions. Houses are looted and burnt routinely.
　　　Unable to stand anymore, large groups of villagers, incruding the old, the weak and the infirm flee into the forest and mountains risking starvation disease and death.
　　　These grave repressive acts are being carried out in the rural areas of Nyaung-lay-bin, Kyank-kyee, Shwe-kin, Toung-oo, Pa-an, Doo-playa, and Tavoy-Mergyi districts. This is pure, unadulterated ethnic cleansing. It is only a matter of conjecture how long these Internally displaced people will survive, given the condition that they had to rely only on forest produce like, bamboo-shoots, roots, fruits, tubers, leaves, and barks, unprotected from the elements without the benefit of medicalfacilities.
　　　The KRC had recently received information of misdeeds by SLORC troops as totaly 2613 houses burnt down. It is for these Internally displaced people that the KRC is most aggrieved and concerned through there's little that can be done. There is fear that with no access to proper shelter, food, and medical facilities, the chance of survival will really be slim.
　　　The KRC appeal to the international community and friendly organizations for understanding and sympathy and to take whatever action necessary to ease this misery and sufferings of the internally displaced persons who number in the thousands.
　　　We thank the Thai people and Royal Thai Government for granting safe refuge to displaced persons within their territory. Profound gratitude is also due to the NGO for their great work in providing the physical needs of our people in distress.

　　　ＪＵＬＹ．１９９７

　　　The month of July being mid-rainy season in this region rain has been falling incessantly, occasionally flooding low lying areas and hindering travels and communications. But the refgees in the camps are not being much affected by the rain as they are being provided shelter and ample food supplies by the various NGO's.
　　　However at this very moment inside the Burma border whole communities are searching for ways to be rid of repressive measures imposed by the SLORC troops. These measures include, shifting and relocating of whole villages by which, estimation is that at least two hundred villages are being affected. There were widespread human rights abuses of unpaid, unfed forced labors, constant demands of cash, material and food animals, physical abuses like beatings and arbitrary arrests and detention, restrictions of movements and communicating. SLORC troops openly stated that village people are responsible for attacks.
　　　Compared to these people, life for the refugees could only be called comfortable given the support and supplies provided by the Aid Group and Agencies. Various Non-Governmental Organizations such as MSF, AMI, ARC, and MHD are helping with Medical Health needs of the refugees. BBC, ZOA, COERR, ECHO, ICS-Asia are providing our camp people with the needs in shelter, food and material, including funding for education and provision of educational facilities.
　　　So with all these Humanitarian efforts in aids and support, combined with their sympathetic understanding and care we surely are in a position to call ourselves"Fortunate".
　　　The Karen Refugee Committee would like to express its sincere gratitude and appreciation to the Thai authorities for granting safe refuge for the displaced persons and to the international aid organization for their great help and sacrifice. We appeal to the Royal Thai Government and to the people of the Kingdom of Thailand to continue their grant of permission for the refugees to remain, untill the day of safe return.

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