VZCZCXRO5485
RR RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #1625 0750924
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 160924Z MAR 06 ZDS ZUI RUEHSD #0292W 0970658
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 7218
INFO RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2271
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 1498
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1610

UNCLAS BANGKOK 001625 
 
SIPDIS 
 
C O R R E C T E D  C O P Y (ADDING SENSITIVE CAPTION) 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
SIPDIS 
 
GENEVA FOR RMA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREF PREL PINS TH BM
SUBJECT: REFUGEES ARRIVE FROM SITE OF BURMA'S NEW CAPITAL 
 
1, (SBU) Summary.  About 1,000 Karen refugees have recently 
arrived from Burma at a refugee camp in northern Thailand, 
reportedly as a result of SPDC military activities aimed at 
creating a security cordon around its new capital at 
Pyinmana.  Consistent with long-standing policy, the Thai 
have kept the border open to these new arrivals.  A USG 
determination for refugee resettlement purposes that the 
Karen National Union (KNU) is a terrorist entity could 
undermine our ability to argue for a continuation of this 
policy should that ever become necessary.  End summary. 
 
¶2. (U) UNHCR Bangkok and NGOs recently provided Embassy with 
reports of new ethnic Karen refugee inflows from Burma. 
UNHCR and NGO estimates vary, but it appears that since the 
end of 2005, about 1,000 persons have arrived in the Mae Ra 
Ma Luang Camp located near the Thai-Burma border in the Mae 
Sariang District of Mae Hong Son Province.  About half have 
arrived since early February.  According to the long-time 
head of the Thai-Burma Border Consortium, the lead Burma 
refugee assistance agency, this is the largest influx of new 
arrivals in several years. 
 
¶3. (U) UNHCR believes these persons were displaced as a 
result of the construction of Burma's new administrative 
capital at Pyinmana in southern Mandalay Division near Karen 
State and the SPDC's desire to have a security corridor 
around the large site.  It reports that there are Karen 
villages under KNU control in the jungles and hills to the 
south and southeast of Pyinmana in Toungoo and Papun 
Districts.  The SPDC is reportedly forcing the villagers to 
leave their homes, burning houses, and killing suspected KNU 
supporters.  Another cause of the movements may be Pyinmana 
construction-related forced labor and portering requirements 
imposed by the SPDC on the Karen.  UNHCR reports that the KNU 
is not confronting the SPDC militarily in these areas but 
defending itself as it retreats.  According to ICRC 
(protect), the Karen National Liberation Army's 2nd Brigade, 
which operates in the Papun area, appears to have broken 
ranks with the rest of the Karen Army and stopped observing 
the "gentlemen's agreement," cease-fire in an attempt to 
retain control of traditional Karen territory.  The new 
arrivals in Mae Ra Ma Luang are being housed, fed, and 
provided medical care by NGOs in the camp. 
 
¶4. (U) The Thai Army has allowed these new refugees to enter 
Thailand, though according to UNHCR, a group of 34 was 
arrested and confined for a short period when the Army became 
concerned about the high number of arrivals.  UNHCR 
intervened on the group's behalf and the Karen Refugee 
Committee (KRC) subsequently told UNHCR that the KNU and 
Karen elders worked with the Thai Army to secure their 
release.  The 34 persons are now in Mae Ra Ma Luang Camp. 
 
 
¶5. (U) The KRC has informed UNHCR that another 400 persons 
are on the way to the border and that more may follow though 
numbers are uncertain.  The area in the immediate vicinity of 
Pyinmana is not heavily populated.  According to Embassy 
Rangoon, sources inside Burma cannot confirm that the SPDC is 
forcing large numbers of villagers to relocate.  However, the 
Burmese military commonly forces villagers to relocate, and 
Embassy Rangoon has received numerous reports that citizens 
have been forced to move from areas in the immediate vicinity 
of the new capital.  Since the new capital is located near 
traditional Karen lands, the increased military presence in 
the region could have precipitated the flight of ethnic Karen 
villagers who fear abuse by the military. 
 
¶6. (SBU) Comment.  The continuation of Thailand's policy of 
an open border for the Karen refugees, some of whom are 
likely KNU members, is welcome.  A determination by the USG 
for refugee resettlement purposes that the KNU is a terrorist 
group and that KNU members as a result are ineligible for 
U.S. resettlement could undermine our ability to argue that 
the Thai should keep the border open to similar new arrivals 
should the Thai become worried about the new influx and 
reconsider their policy.  End comment. 
 
¶7. (U) This message was coordinated with Embassy Rangoon. 
BOYCE