Thousands flee Myanmar after clashes at Thai border

[News_Editor]

Thousands flee Myanmar after clashes at Thai border

2010-11-08 20:41:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

BANGKOK (BNO NEWS) -- Several people were killed in eastern Myanmar on Monday after a heavy gun battle that erupted between Karen rebels and the country's army, a day after the nation held its first elections in 20 years.

According to local media, around 300 rebels from the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army attacked Myawaddy city in Karen State, near the border with Thailand. A rocket also struck the Thai city of Mae Sot, injuring several people.

As rebels seized key government offices in Myawaddy, killing at least several people, as many as 10,000 refugees fled into Thailand where they will be taken to refugee camps.

Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva called the clashes an internal problem for Myanmar, which is also known as Burma, and said that 'there will probably be more fighting over the next three months.'

"The Myanmar authorities told me during my visit to the country that they still need to close the border due to concerns over anti-Myanmar government minority groups at the Mae Sot border," Abhisit said.

According to local officials, Thailand is prepared to receive several thousands of refugees "in accordance with human rights principles" until the situation returns to normal.

On Sunday, some 29 million people were allowed to vote at 40,000 polling stations across Myanmar in what was the nation's first election in 20 years.

Polls in the multi-party election opened at dawn and closed at 4 p.m. local time, with no reports of violence or other notable incidents, but the international community has condemned the election as a fraud.

"The November 7 elections in Burma were neither free nor fair, and failed to meet any of the internationally accepted standards associated with legitimate elections," said U.S. President Barack Obama. "The elections were based on a fundamentally flawed process and demonstrated the regime’s continued preference for repression and restriction over inclusion and transparency."

There were over 3,000 candidates from 37 parties in Sunday's election, but with thousands of possible candidates held under house arrest or in prison, the military-backed Union Solidarity and Development Party are widely seen as the favorites to take power.

"One of the starkest flaws of this exercise was the regime’s continued detention of more than 2,100 political prisoners, including Aung San Suu Kyi, thereby denying them any opportunity to participate in the process," Obama criticized and referring to Kyi, who previously won the Nobel Peace Prize.

Obama said: "The unfair electoral laws and overtly partisan Election Commission ensured that Burma’s leading pro-democracy party, the National League for Democracy, was silenced and sidelined. The regime denied the registration of certain ethnic parties, cancelled elections in numerous ethnic areas, and stage-managed the campaign process to ensure that pro-democracy and opposition candidates who did compete faced insurmountable obstacles."

Obama said that elections cannot be credible when the military regime rejects dialogue with opponents and represses basic freedoms of expression, speech and assembly.

"We will monitor the situation in Burma closely in the weeks and months ahead," the U.S. President added. "The United States will continue to implement a strategy of pressure and engagement in accordance with conditions on the ground in Burma and the actions of the Burmese authorities."

Obama further called upon the Myanmar government to free Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, cease alleged systematic violations of human rights, begin to hold human rights violators accountable, and welcome pro-democracy and ethnic minority groups into a 'long-overdue' dialogue.

"Only genuine, inclusive dialogue can place Burma on the path to a truly representative democracy which upholds human rights and builds a better future for its citizens," Obama concluded.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton also criticized the government, saying the United States was 'deeply disappointed.' "The generals who have ruled the country for the past 22 years missed an opportunity to begin genuine transition toward democratic governance and national reconciliation," Clinton said. "The electoral process was severely flawed, precluded an inclusive, level playing field, and repressed fundamental freedoms."

Also the United Kingdom expressed its concern over the elections. "We know the result of these elections is already a foregone conclusion," said UK Foreign Secretary William Hague. "They will not be free, fair or inclusive. More than 2,100 political prisoners remain incarcerated, opposition and ethnic parties have been refused the right to stand and a quarter of the seats are already reserved for the military."

Hague said holding 'flawed' elections does not represent progress, as the Myanmar government had claimed the elections were a switch to democracy. "For the people of Burma, it will mean the return to power of a brutal regime that has pillaged the nation's resources and overseen widespread human rights abuses, including arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances, rape and torture."

It is not yet clear when election results will be released by the Myanmar government, which has only said they will come 'in time.'

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2010-11-08

[mccw]

I thought the DKBA were on the government side fighting against the Christian Karen. So why would they attack a government held town and take over government buildings? Have they turned against their masters; Or is this a mistake and they meant it was the KNLA rather than the DKBA?

[greasemonkey]

if i am not mistaken, The DKBA are a splinter group from the KNLA, that parted company in something like 1994, and took arms against the goverment, when the KNLA joined the government. There is about 300 DKBA. Ive just read the arcticle on the BBC news site. Suprisingly good arcticle actually. Dont quote me on this info though, Its just what I remember reading ten miniutes ago.

Just out of curiosity, whats with the spelling of regimea. It seems to consistent to be a typo, Just wondering as Ive seen it in other posts.

[webfact]

ONE DAY AFTER ELECTION

Thousands of Burmese flee fighting

By The Nation

More than 12,000 Burmese fled into Thailand yesterday to escape fresh armed clashes in the border towns of Myawaddy and Pyaduangsu, only a day after an election which critics called “a sham perpetuation of military power” in Burma.

Ethnic minorities along the Thai-Burmese border had warned earlier that the junta would launch a major offensive after holding its first election in 20 years, as many armed rebel groups refused to become part of the government-controlled Border Guard Forces.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva yesterday said he anticipated the border situation would be a matter of heightened concern for at least three months during the transitional period following the poll.

“This is the critical period, when the Burmese government and the minorities are testing their powers,” he told reporters.

The Thai government has instructed commanders on the ground to take care of the border and prepare to provide humanitarian assistance to refugees, but to avoid any creating any misunderstanding between the countries, he added.

The clash in Myawaddy between the formerly pro-junta Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) and Burmese government troops killed three people and injured about 20 others, border sources said.

The DKBA commander, Maj-General Saw La Pwe (aka Nakhamway), confirmed in a telephone interview with the Karen Information Centre that his soldiers had captured eight Burmese troops, including two majors.

The DKBA’s Brigade 5 stormed Burmese government posts in Myawaddy on Sunday in an attempt to resist the authorities’ order for them to become members of the Border Guard Forces after the election.

The DKBA took over key strategic positions in the town, including a communication office, a police station, a Thai-Burma Friendship Bridge guard house on the Myawaddy side, a township office and a Military Affairs Security Unit Office, the last of these formerly a Military Intelligence facility.

“We have occupied and taken control of important strategic positions and tax gates. We have also taken 60 Border Guard Forces who have defected to our Brigade 5 under the command of Saw La Pwe,” a DKBA fighter said.

The Burmese government’s troops, in an attempt to recapture the posts, opened fire early yesterday on the ethnic rebels.

Some of the rockets crossed the Moei River and landed in Mae Sot, injuring three Thais. One landed at a Thai Border Police outpost in Tha Sai Luad sub-district, said Pol Lt-Colonel Rinnawat Puwattanatikan, commander of the Border Police’s 346th Company.

Mae Sot district hospital admitted eight injured people, including three Thai nationals, said hospital spokeperson Pattama Phongsri, who added that there had been no deaths on the Thai side of the border.

Local authorities in Mae Sot were preparing shelters for the refugees at a Border Police camp in order to keep them safe and in order, said district chief Kittisak Tomornsak. The shelter can accommodate a maximum of 15,000 refugees, he said.

Abhisit said the refugees would be sent back to their place of origin as soon as the situation returned to normal.

Thailand has sheltered 110,000 refugees in nine camps along the border for more than two decades.

The border market along the Moei River in Mae Sot was closed yesterday, while the checkpoint between Myawaddy and Mae Sot has been closed since August.

The Myawaddy clash will slow down economic activity between the two towns, said a Tak Chamber of Commerce official.

Meanwhile, New Mon State Party, DKBA and Karen National Union fighters joined forces to surround Pyaduangsu township yesterday.

The sound of gunfire and grenades was heard in Three Pagodas Pass in Kanchanaburi’s Sangkhla Buri district, which is across the river from Pyaduangsu.

The rebel forces torched many government buildings, including a forestry office, in the town before the Burmese authorities struck back, a Thai security official said, adding that the clash had killed one government soldier and injured another.

Four grenades fired from an M-79 launcher landed on the Thai side, slightly injuring a Thai vendor, said Sangkhla Buri district chief Chamras Kangnoi.

Some 1,000 Burmese took refuge on the Thai side of the border at Three Pagodas School, he said.

-- The Nation 2010-11-09

[webfact]

Violence Continues in Myanmar, 10 Explosions at 6.25 A.M.

A TAN correspondent reported that almost 10 explosions, rifles and semi automatics, were heard this morning at 6:25am from the border checkpoint. Around 10,000 Burmese refugees are taking refuge near the border checkpoint, making do with minimal food and toilets.

-- Tan Network 2010-11-09

[webfact]

20,000 cross border from Myanmar conflict: Thai officials

BANGKOK, November 9, 2010 (AFP) - Some 20,000 people crossed from Myanmar into Thailand to escape clashes between government troops and ethnic rebels following Myanmar's first elections in 20 years, Thai officials said Tuesday.

More than 15,000 people had crossed into Mae Sot, fleeing fighting in the Myanmar town of Myawaddy in Karen State, said Tak provincial governor Samard Loyfar.

A second pocket of unrest further south pushed some 5,000 people to seek refuge across the border on Monday, said local Kanchanaburi district chief Jamras Srangnoi, but many had returned to their homes.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2010-11-09

[webfact]

3rd Army Area Commander says clashes between Karen and government forces in Myanmar eases; will return Myanmar nationals who fled fighting back voluntarily /MCOT

[phuketrichard]

if i am not mistaken, The DKBA are a splinter group from the KNLA, that parted company in something like 1994, and took arms against the goverment, when the KNLA joined the government. There is about 300 DKBA. Ive just read the arcticle on the BBC news site. Suprisingly good arcticle actually. Dont quote me on this info though, Its just what I remember reading ten miniutes ago.

Just out of curiosity, whats with the spelling of regimea. It seems to consistent to be a typo, Just wondering as Ive seen it in other posts.

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA ) split from the Karen National Union - whose armed wing is fighting the government - in 1994

The DKBA is allied with the Burmese army

One DKBA faction, known as Brigade 5, rejects government demands to become part of a centrally-controlled border force

Bad news for the Burmese people but did anyone really expect naything to come from this election?

[chainarong]

if i am not mistaken, The DKBA are a splinter group from the KNLA, that parted company in something like 1994, and took arms against the goverment, when the KNLA joined the government. There is about 300 DKBA. Ive just read the arcticle on the BBC news site. Suprisingly good arcticle actually. Dont quote me on this info though, Its just what I remember reading ten miniutes ago.

Just out of curiosity, whats with the spelling of regimea. It seems to consistent to be a typo, Just wondering as Ive seen it in other posts.

The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA ) split from the Karen National Union - whose armed wing is fighting the government - in 1994

The DKBA is allied with the Burmese army

One DKBA faction, known as Brigade 5, rejects government demands to become part of a centrally-controlled border force

Bad news for the Burmese people but did anyone really expect naything to come from this election?

No.not a bl!!!dy thing.

[dunrudin]

The KNLA never joined the junta. The DKBA split from the KNLA and have been subsequently responsible for much of the oppression of their own (Karen) people. This faction (regiment?) have split from the junta.

[animatic]

A telling point is so few decide to seek shelter in other parts of Myanmar,

but mostly try for Thailand. Once reason is, refugees within Myanmar are

often mistaken for rebel fighters and just arbitrarilly killed 'just in case'.

[moetownblues]

The Junta are free to do what they like and the world will not interfer. China supports the Junta and needs them for border security. China is now the most powerful country in the world not only from a military point of view but also an economic point. The West is now a tiny fish in the big pond. America is redundant as a world power and a dying fish on land.