Four hundred Karenni refugees were refouled by Thailand as they sought refuge from oppression and precarious life conditions in Burma.

Below are extracts from an article written by Khun Sam and Sai Silp and published by the Irrawaddy News:

Thai authorities have barred about 400 Karenni refugees from crossing from Burma to Thailand’s Mae Hong Son province, a spokesman for the Karenni National Progressive Party reported o­n Monday [2 July 2007].

Raymond Htoo, who is also KNPP general-secretary, told The Irrawaddy entry had been denied the Karenni because Thai authorities ruled they were not refugees from fighting in Burma’s border region. Raymond Htoo said the displaced Karenni wanted to escape the harsh conditions of life in a new village set up for them by Burmese authorities and the Karenni National People's Liberation Front.

The village was established at a former base of the KNPP. “Living conditions there are very bad,” he said.

About 20,000 Karenni refugees […] are currently living in camps in Mae Hong Son province, according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Thai authorities have stepped up patrols in the area to prevent a possible influx of further Karenni refugees. […]

Burmese and Thai delegations met at the weekend in a session of the Thai-Burma Township Border Committee, with security cooperation and cross-border trade promotion o­n the agenda. The two-day meeting took place in the Mae Jae border district of Burma, near Thailand’s Mae Sariang district.

The Burmese delegation at the meeting urged Thai officials to act against ethnic armed groups operating in Burma’s border area. Thai officials assured the Burmese they would adopt strict measures against border incursions, according to the public relations department of Mae Hong Son province.