(part 2) RANGOON PLACES CONDITIONS ON DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE FROM OVERSEAS AGENCIES 29 April 1995 Burma will accept assistance for its development and drug eradication drive in the border region only if this does not threaten national security or the unity and solidarity of the country's various populations. This was the condition set by the ruling military as it considered offers of monetary and material aid by United Nations (UN) specialised agencies and non-government organisations (NGOs). Two UN agencies and several international NGOs have already made overtures to assist in the country's development drive based on a master plan of operation adopted on June 23 last year that would cost some US$ 2.1 billion in the next 10 years. Senior General Than Shwe, chairman of the ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), ordered his officers to inform UN agencies and international NGOs of Burma's attempts to develop the border regions and the different ethnic groups. Eight UN agencies are already involved in the development project since its inception in May 1989. Soon after gaining power through a 1988 coup, the Slorc formed a high-level committee headed by Gen Shwe to develop border areas captured from insurgents and ethnic groups. The committee's work has grown with the signing of cease-fire and peace accords with 14 former insurgent groups that were resettled in their own areas, dubbed as special regions. Burma normally designates a special region for each returning armed ethnic group where it is allowed to keep its own firearms. The government immediately starts development projects in these regions. The oldest and strongest remaining insurgent group in the country's tiniest Kayah state on the Thai-Burmese border abandoned recently its policy of armed revolt and returned to the government fold. A total of 7,790 men belonging to the Karenni National Progress Party (KNPP) that fought successive Burmese governments since August 9, 1948 formally returned to the Kayah state capital of Loikaw last March 21. This development prompted Lt Gen Khin Nyunt, Slorc secretary I, who formally made peace overtures on November 17, 1993, to declare that peace has returned to the whole of Kayah state. Armed conflicts in the whole of the Kayah state have come to an end with the return of the KNPP, said Brig Maung Kyi of the regional control command. The KNPP is the last remaining armed ethnic group in the smallest state that represents 1.73 per cent of Burma's territory of 261,228 square miles. Brig Kyi expressed confidence that from now on development projects in the natural resources rich virgin land of Kayah state would be carried out in full swing. He said Burma has so far pumped in more than two billion Kyat (about US$ 333.33 million) for the development of border regions. In its effort toward national reconciliation, the military declared a unilateral suspension of offensives in the whole country in 1992. It denied involvement in recent attacks against the Buddhist rebel group the Karen National Union (KNU). The KNU, the strongest of the ethnic guerrilla groups along the Burmese border, has been fighting the Burmese government for the past 46 years. The ruling military has vowed to continue the fight till total elimination of all rebels is achieved. Like the others which have signed peace accords with the Slorc, the KNPP will be allowed not only to keep its own arms in their special regions but also to be represented at the convention that is laying down the basics for a new constitution. Lt Gen Khin Nyunt expressed optimism that more insurgent groups will soon be joining hands with the military for the development of their own regions. Over the years, insurgency has hampered peace, progress and development in this country of 43.13 million. The general said Burma spent some 318.12 million in the last five years for border development, of which $101.4 million was spent last year. He said the first five years_the first phase of the development programme_were used for area consolidation and development. The second phase would involve the implementation of the master plan. The first phase covered 14 regions, or 19.1 per cent of the country's territory. These regions have total population of three million, or some seven per cent of Burma's total. Annual population growth in the plan area has been estimated at 1.04 per cent, with a population density of 68 per square mile. (BP) 'LONGEST DAM' OPENS IN BURMA 29 April 1995 A Japanese-funded dam believed to be the longest in Southeast Asia was officially opened yesterday. The five-kilometre-long Nawin Dam in Paukhaung township, 240 kilometres north of Rangoon, was built with an 8 billion Yen ($94 million) Japanese Government Overseas Economic Cooperation Fund OECF loan. Construction began in 1985 but was suspended in 1988 with only a quarter of the work done_due to civil turmoil. Construction resumed in 1992 with the help of eight Japanese engineers and was completed this month. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Agriculture Minister Lt Gen Myint Aung said the ruling junta has built 51 dams and weirs in six years. (BP) TIME TO GET TOUGH WITH BURMESE BORDER INCURSIONS 29 April 1995 With justifiable, if belated anger, the government has demanded that Rangoon explain repeated violations of Thai territory by a marauding group of ethnic guerrillas which is sponsored by the Burmese military. Branding the border incursions a violation of Thai sovereignty, Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan has called on Rangoon to give Bangkok an assurance they would not happen again. While it waits for a response from the junta, the government might do well to ask the Thai military some equally tough questions about the attacks on refugee camps which are well inside Thai territory. Repeated crossings Since the fall of the Karen National Union bases at Manerplaw and Kawmoora in December and February, the Burmese and their Karen allies, the DKBA, have repeatedly crossed into Thailand to attack and kidnap Karens who have taken refuge from fighting across the river border. According to reports from aid workers the raids have picked up in intensity since April 19 to the extent that they have almost become daily occurrences. Thailand's generals have expressed their extreme fury at these frequent violations of the border but at the same time they seem powerless to stop them. What is most alarming about the attacks is that they are not just mere across the river hit-and-run sorties. Tuesday's attack involved a group of around 200 Burmese and DKBA troops who crossed into Thailand from the north, and attacked Mae Ra Ma Luang camp in Mae Sam Lab district. Unlike the other camps which are close to the river, this is a new camp five and half kilometres inside Thai territory. The army has claimed that since the attacks take place at night there is little they can do to prevent them. Again this not the most reassuring of answers for those of us worried about the security of the country. The target of the Burmese operations is well-known_the refugee camps and the border area, with its long history of fighting is one of the most heavily manned pieces of land in Thailand. Most Thai citizens, who pay a large sum in taxes to ensure the upkeep of the military, couldn't be faulted for expecting their soldiers to perform a little more effectively. Of course, it is not fair to heap all the blame on the military for the problems along the border. Trying to read Thailand's foreign policy in regards to Burma has never been easy given the hundreds of years of suspicion if not outright hostility between the two countries. Historically, the Karens have been regarded as a useful buffer between Thailand and Burma. But now we have Karens fighting Karens, Karens allying with the Burmese and Karens looking to make peace with the Burmese. More recently it was decided by those who plot Thai strategy that Thai-Burmese relations would be better enhanced by engaging Burma economically. And Thai military leaders quickly became some of the most ardent advocates of the policy in both their professional roles as soldiers and in their private lives as businessmen. In pursuance of this policy, refugee camps, with their links to the ethnic resistance groups became an enemy of sorts. Their continued existence was living proof that all was not well in Burma, and then there was also their role as an impediment to the steam-rolling of the resistance groups in east Burmese border areas. Areas which needed to be pacified if mutually beneficial projects like the Tavoy gas line were to go through. But getting rid of the refugees has proved to be better idea in theory than in practice. The Thai military's efforts earlier this year to force refugees across the border while a full scale war was raging drew an enormous amount of bad press and international condemnation. For the thick-skinned military junta in rangoon, international condemnation has never really been much of a factor in policy making. Neither really has concern for the feelings of its neighbours _ remember Hill 491 and the Arakan border flare up. Now Burmese soldiers and their allies are rampaging through Thai territory in pursuit of their goal to crush all resistance to their rule. The Rangoon junta has never been one for civil or principled arguments, although it well understands the power of the gun. When Cambodia's warring groups have taken their scraps into Thai territory the Thai army has been quick to keep them in line with a few strategically placed shells. If would appear some similar principled resolve is needed to reinforce the western frontier and Thai foreign policy as well. (TN) ACTIVIST RETURNS TO BURMA 29 April 1995 An anti-government activist has returned to Rangoon after surrendering at the Burma Embassy in Tokyo, the state-owned New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported yesterday. Banya Zaw, 26, joint general secretary of the Burmese Association in Japan (BAIJ), handed himself into the embassy on April 21, the paper said. He had joined anti-government groups after the military takeover of Burma in 1988 and left to work in Japan early in 1989, it said. (TN) PM WANTS INTERNAL SOLUTION TO DISPUTE OVER CENTRE 1 May 1995 Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai has urged state agencies to set- tle their difference internally over an army proposal to set up a holding centre to house Karen refugees at the Tak border instead of bringing their conflict to the public. He was responding to Army Commander-in-Chief Wimol Wongwanich- 's criticism of the Foreign Ministry for refusing to share his idea of the holding centre. Gen Wimol said on Saturday he would propose to the Government that a holding centre be set up to house Karen refugees to ensure proper security to protect disappeared persons against across-border attack. The refugees are now scattered at makeshift camps along the Thai-Burmese border, making it difficult for the military to protect them. Gen Wimol said the Interior Ministry understood and supported his proposal but not the Foreign Ministry which still did not understand it. The Foreign Ministry was the country's mouthpiece and it should visit the scene to see the situation, he said. The Foreign Ministry and the National Security Council disagree with the idea of setting up a holding centre at the border for fear the presence of the camp will affect the liv- ing conditions of local villagers. Mr Chuan said both the Defence and Interior ministries would have to discuss this idea further. He believes the camp can be set up if security agencies can ensure it s safety. The border conflict in Tak was not serious enough to require high-level talks between Bangkok and Rangoon, he said. The problem was still within the ability of the Thai-Burmese regional border committee to handle and would not have nay impact on Thai-Burmese relations. He said he had discussed the situation on Friday with Gen Wimol who suggested extra security measures be taken at spots where local manpower was lacking. The Government was ready to provide assistance. The Third army since Saturday has sent ground troops and he- licopter gunship to strengthen security at Tha Song Yang dis- trict where a series of border incursions by the Rangoon- backed Democratic Karen Buddhist Army have taken place in the past week. The Border Patrol Police earlier sent its elite Pawai paramil- itary unit to help special task force police and local police protect the border at Mae Sot, Mae Ramat, Tha Song Yang in Tak and Sob Moei in Mae Hong Son. The BPP clashed for 20 minutes with armed karen refugees who tried to commandeer a villager's pick-up truck for use in at- tacking a Thai village at Ban Tha Song Yang in Tha Song Yang district in Tak. BPP sources said the refugees who claimed to be members of the anti-Rangoon Karen National Union wanted to attack the village, whose residents are Buddhists, in the belief the vil- lagers helped the DKBA. About 200 villagers evacuated the village during the incident and refused to return home last evening for fear of a renewed attack attempt. An Army helicopter gunship was sent to the scene and found only three Karen were involved in the act. The Karen managed to escape into a refugee camp following the clash. ( BP) PRO-SLORC KAREN 'ARMY' THREATENS TO STORM CAMPS 1 May 1995 The Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) vows to continue destroying karen refugee camps in Thailand to force all the refugees back to Burma. The DKBA wanted all Karens taking refugee in Thailand back in Burma before the rainy seasons starts, Capt Tu Na, commander of Mae Ta Wah area opposite Tha Song Yang district to Tak province, said at the weakened. It would use all means to ensure their return, whether voluntarily, through pressure from Thailand or by attacking all karen refugees and began trying to persuade them to come home a few months ago. But they remained in Thailand. "So we had to take violent measures by attacking and setting refugee camps ablaze," Capt Tu Na said. Karen refugees are returning to Burma every day and total more than 10,000 so far, he claims. Troops and Christian Karen are welcome. These people would live in the north of Karen State, especially at the Mya Yi Ngu temple about 50 kilometres west of the Tha Song Yang border district in Tak, he said. The temple accommodates just over 2,000 Karen families under the supervisions of Phra U Sujana (a monk) who is the top leader of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Organisation (DKBO), according to Capt Tu Na. The DKBO was willing to send former Karen refugees back to their homes upon request and to arrange new settlements for other who wanted neither original locations nor to live at the temple, he said. A new settlement is in Kamamaung beside the Salween River. "We are working with troops of the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc). When all Karen refugees come home, we'll ceasefire and Slorc promises to pull its troops out of border areas. "Karen people will then be permitted to set up their own government to live peacefully and the border will be fully opened for trade with Thailand," Capt Tu Na said. Senior Slorc officials always coordinate work with Phra U Sujana to welcome back Karen refugees, according to Phra U Nya Ni ka, an immediate subordinate of Phra U Sujana. The officials include Slorc's First General Secretary Lt-Gen Khin Nyunt and southeastern Force Commander Maj-Gen Ket Sein. Lt-Gen Toe Hlaing, the Mae Ta Wah camp commander, said many Karen refugees wanted to return to Burma but were blocked by Christian Karen armed forces manning refugee camps. This prompted the DKBA to attack refugee camps to enable the refugees to return. The DKBA needed to negotiate for Thai authorities to push back Karen refugees as it did not want Karens to rob and kill Thais, actions for which the DKBA was been blamed, he said. If Thailand cooperates, the DKBA will stop attacking the camps, he claims. "Our operations will harm neither Thai officials nor villagers as we target only Christian karen armed forces which are staying in Thailand. "As the forces are armed, we have to attack with weapons," Lt- Gen Toe Hlaing said. He said he and Col Bo Pia had led about 500 troops to attack the refugee camp in Huay Manoke village last Friday. The troops burned provincial police checkpoints on Tha Song Yang-Mae Sariang Highway because Christian karen troops had been seen there. Sergeant Thawatchai Wanon was kidnapped during that mission as he was mistaken for a karen, Let-gen Toe Hlaing said. The officer was released after his identity was proved. "Now we want karen National Union Forestry Minister Pado Aung San and KNU military man Col Be Na, who are staying in Ban Nae Woei refugee camp, to back to Burma so all other Karens will follow them. Then civil wars in Burma will end peacefully," he said. Lt-Gen Toe Hlaing claims he earlier asked Pado Aung Sann to return to Burma and Pado promised to consider the request. Upon his return, Pado would be appointed the DKBO leader. But Pado would have to take responsibility for any damage caused by the DKBA's attack in Thailand as he was responsible for other Karen refugees refusing to return home, Lt-Gen Toe Hlaing said. The DKBO was founded with Slorc support late last year and has Buddhist karens as members. Phra U Sujana is the policy leader and Gen Yaw Het is the military chief. It jointed the Burmese government in seizing the Karen National Union's Manerplaw stronghold and other northern KNU bases, including Kawmoora camp which was the second-most important base of the KNU. Because of the DKBO's attack, the KNU retreated southward. Lt-Gen Toe Hlaing said the DKBO set up the DKBA which had Buddhist karen as its troops. The troops used weapons which had been seized from all conquered KNU bases. The DKBO separated itself from the KNU because Buddhist Karen had been forced by Christian karens to live as low-class people, he alleged. Buddhist karens could be only inferior officials and had hard living conditions but Christian karens had high positions, lived in good houses and some did business in Thailand. (BP) KAREN REFUGEES HEAD FOR SAFER CAMP 2 May 1995 Karen refugees from at least three camps in this district have started to leave their shelters for the safety of the Ban Huay ka-lok camp which is further away from the Moei River and closer to the town of mae Sot, causing it to become overcrowed. Mae Sot authorities at the checkpoint to the Ban huay Ka-lok camp said at least 100 refugees from the Huay Ma Nod, Ta Mo Ko and So koh camps had been seeking shelter there every day since the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) started to storm their camps during the past week. The Huay Ma Nod and Ta Mo Ko camps were reportedly burned down by the DKBA. An official said those seeking shelter must first be examined and then guaranteed by people living in the camp before permission would be given for them to take refuge in the Ban Huay Ka-lok camp. Thai authorities yesterday exchanged gun fire with three Karen refugees armed with M16 rifles who were about to set fire to Ban Rai-oy, adjacent to Ban Tha Song Tang. Meanwhile, Mae Sot police yesterday arrested 70 Burmese who were crossing the Moei River into Mae Sot and later sent them back to Burma. (BP) WIMOL'S REFUGEE CAMP PLAN BACKED 2 May 1995 THE Foreign Ministry has no objection to Army Chief Gen Wimol Wongwanich's proposal to relocate Karen refugees at a large camp deep inside Thailand, Army spokesman Col Palangkoon Klaharn said yesterday. His comments came as Thai helicopter gunships deterred renegade Karen fighters from crossing into Thailand despite the rebels' vow to continue raiding refugee camps until all 70,000 Karen refugees return to Burma. Thai military sources in Mae Hong Son Province, who requested anonymity, said their officers saw about 120 troops of the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army perched on the opposite bank of the Salween River yesterday morning. "They stayed on the other said, probably because they saw our helicopters flying nearby," a Thai army officer said, quoted by Associated Press. The officer declined to say how many helicopters the Army has along the border. The Army and the Border Patrol Police began reinforcing their units along the border this weekend, sending additional troops, helicopter gunships and armoured vehicles. Col Direk Yaemngarmriab, commander of the third Army chief insisted his proposal was a correct way to solve the problem of Karen Refugees along the border with burma. But the Interior Ministry and Third Army Region must decide which area is suitable for this purpose. Dr Krasae did not object to Gen Wimol's proposal and understood the camp would not be a permanent holding centre, according to the spokesman. The spokesman said the camp should not be called a Karen refugee centre but should instead be referred to as "a safe area for illegal immigrants". Dr Krasae said there was a possibility of relocating the Karens deeper inside Thailand, but the issue rested with the premier. Dr Krasae will today inspect construction of the Thai-Burmese Friendship Bridge in Mae Sot District of Tak and visit Huay Manok and Kamaw Leko villages in Tha Song Yang District where a series of border incursions by the Rangoon-backed DKBA took place in the past week. "It is good if human rights and national security can go together. if not, as Foreign Minister, I would give priority to national security and the interests and safety of people," he said. Dr Krasae yesterday summoned Burmese Ambassador U Tin Win for talks about military incursions into Thailand and further cooperation. He expressed concern over the incidents and asked the ambassador to convey the message to Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc), he said. U Tin Win was quoted as saying that Burma gave importance to the border development plan to ensure refugees' safety when they returned home. Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said that in considering whether to set up a new holding centre or remove the refugee camps from the border some points needed to be examined. "The point is how to stop the violations of sovereignty. All parties, the Foreign, Interior and Defence ministries and the National Security Council are trying their best to tackle the problem as the world is paying attention to it," he said. The time had not arrived to send refugees back to Burma and Thailand had not decided yet to allow other international agencies to monitor the situation, he said. But Thailand wanted an assurance that incursions would not be repeated. Tak MP Udon Tantisunthorn claims a new holding centre is not necessary as the situation on the border has returned to normal. Mr Udon earlier inspected the border area in Tak Provance where incursions by the DKBA have occurred in recent weeks in an effort to force refugees to return home. He also inspected construction of a Thai-Burmese bridge across the Moei Rover. "The situation at the border has returned to normal after Thai military forces and border Patrol Police were reinforced. Therefore, I don't think the proposed new holding canter is needed," he said. Mr Udon said he had doubts about various non-governmental organizations opposing the return home of Karen refugees talking shelter in Thailand. "The refugees have not done anything beneficial for Thailand but have made trouble by plundering Thai villages. Police general Pote Booyachida said Thailand must retaliate decisively and promptly against future incursion by foreign troops. One company of the Naresuan Police Paratroppers, Third region border Patrol Police and Police Special Operation Forces had been reinforced in border areas to control the situation, he said. Prime Minister Chuan brushed aside reported conflicts of opinion over the proposed recolation of Karen refugees, saying authorities familiar with the problem would be able to find a solution. (BP) MNRC: MON REFUGEES--HUNGER FOR PROTECTION IN 1994 Published by Mon National Relief Committee P.O. Box 1, Sangklaburi, Kanchanaburi 71240 Thailand (91 pages, with color photos, maps, information about Halockhani, background on Mon refugees, analysis of Burmese ethic refugees (reasons for, internal displacement, UNHCR position, international involvement in the issues, protection against involuntary repatriation, press coverage etc.) Introductory Notes from Chairman of Mon National Relief Committee: Both the violent physical attack on the 6000 Mon refugees by the Burmese Army and the immediate inhumane forcible repatriation of these refugees by the Thai government are unforgettable for the Mon people and international committee. Both the peoples of Burma and the international community have been amazed by the cooperation of the Burmese and Thai governments in their recent physical and mental abuse of the thousands of innocent human beings in Halockhani and will no doubt be still wondering what have been the real motive and motivation behind such a unity between these two regimes. All in all, we are still seriously concerned for the well-being and safe existence of the Mon and other Burmese refugees who are seeking havens on the Thai-Burma border. We cannot yet afford to set our minds at rest because we have not been given reason to believe that such this unity of the two governments has stopped. Amazingly enough, on the very day the Thai government and Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council signed the memorandum of understanding for exploitation of the massive natural gas in the Mon territory in Burma, the 6000 Mon refugees were finally pushed back to their unsafe shelters in the Burmese territory by the Thai Army. Frankly we are still wondering whether the interests of the two governments rest upon the miseries of the Mon people? Should this be true, it is not only a crime against humanity but also a sin against the teachings of the Lord Buddha for those rulers from the two sides to have so fiercely squeezed the thousands of the innocent subjects between them. As a Buddhist Mon priest, with my utmost grief I wonder why the Thai and Burmese rulers who are both Buddhists have with such rancour abused the Mons -- the people who once introduced both the Burmese and Thai peoples to the teachings of the Lord Buddha. With our deepest regrets we the Mon people nowadays learn that Thailand has also forgotten the not-too-distant past, the time when the Mons enjoyed sovereignty and prosperity and maintained a long lasting cordial relationship with Thailand. According to the teachings of the Lord Buddha, there are basically three kinds of evil that lead to ultimate failures of those who are subject to them: loba (avarice), dosa (anger) and moha (ignorance). These three kinds of evil are interdependent and inextricable. When the one leads, the two others follow. That is, when one has so much greed for something, then one loses one's wisdom to know right from wrong and becomes so angry at anyone whom one assumes as an obstacle in the way of it. The Lord Buddha also teaches the four virtues of nobleness that lead to ultimate successes of those who practice them: metta (loving-kindness), karuna (compass ion), mudita (sympathetic joy) and upekkha (equanimity). These four virtues of nobleness are also personified in Buddhism as Four Guardians of the world. We, all Buddhists, should always bear in mind these teachings of the Lord Buddha and should endeavour to lesson the three kinds of evil on one hand and promote the four virtues of nobleness on the other. The Thai government should sympathize with the plight of the people of Burma under the rule of a ruthless brutal military dictatorship and in the turmoil of the long-term ongoing civil war in that country which are the main causes for the Mon and other Burmese ethnic refugees to have come to seek for sanctuary under its sovereignty. These refugees are at the mercy of the Thai authorities. They owe debts of gratitude to Thailand for its kindness and sympathy to them at the time they are in trouble and as such they will be loyal to Thailand. They will always respect the Thai laws and sovereignty during their refuge in Thailand. And they will ne er forget the debts of gratitude they owe to Thailand. They are just awaiting such a time they can afford to leave Thailand and return home safely. Sincerely, Ven. Wongsa Pala Chairman, Mon National Relief Committee from The Nation on 3.5.95 NATION: BURMESE REFUGEES TO BE MOVED FURTHER FROM BORDER 3.5.95/ The Nation The government yesterday agreed to scale down the number of Burmese refugee camps from 16 to two and to relocate them 10 kilometers from the border with Burma , said Interior Minister Sanan Kachornprasart . Sanan said the Third Region Army would be responsible for setting rules at camps which would be temporary sanctuaries for the Burmese . Currently, the Burmese are sprawled out on 16 areas along the border in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces , having fled fighting between Burmese government troops and ethnic guerrilla groups . Yesterday's decision came shortly after a series of border incursions by the newly formed Democratic Karen Buddhist Army [DKBA] aimed at abducting Burmese sheltering in the refugee camps. Thailand protested against the incursions which in some cases resulted in the loss of lives . Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai even gave the go ahead for the Army to pursue aggressors and retaliate. Meanwhile, Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said it would now be the responsibility of the Army to deal with tensions along the border because diplomacy had failed to put an end to the incursions. Surin said the Interior and Foreign ministries and the Army would discuss measures to control security at the camps. He added they would apply the administrative model to the camps that Thailand used with Cambodian refugees. " The Army would be responsible for setting the location of the camps and it would cooperate with the Interior Ministry in providing security at the camps, " Surin said. Foreign Minister Krasae Chanawongse yesterday visited Huay Manok village in Tak's Tha Song Yang where six Burmese camps were located . " The Foreign Minister has agreed in principle with the scale- down initiated by the Army and the Interior Ministry . It means the six camps in Tha Song Yang district would be integrated and to be located on a 2,000 rai plot of land in Mae La , in the same district," Krasae said. The integration would facilitate the effective control of the camp by the authorities concerned. Thailand gained experience at handling similar large -scale refugee camps during the heady years of the Cambodian conflict when the country sheltered 100,000 refugees , Krasae said . " With such methods , it would be easy camps for the authorities concerned to control the camps and save money." the foreign minister said. Those comments appear to contradict his earlier statements that the integration of the camps would be costly and force the government to allocate a larger budget for the project. The prime minister said the Defence Ministry has deployed additional personnel to stem the flow of refugees into the country. "The government is willing to support coordination among the ministries concerned and it will consider how to help in terms of budget," Chuan said. Krasae said Thailand would send the Burmese back when they are ready to return . He added that any proposal for their return must be discussed between both government to ensure their safe passage. NATION: KNU CHIEF APPEALS TO PM FOR HELP IN INITIATING 3.5.95/ The Nation Mae Sot - Karen guerrilla leader Gen Bo Mya has reiterated his call for Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai to initiate peace talks between his embattled Karen National Union [KNU] and the Burmese junta. In a letter to Chuan dated April 15, Bo Mya said his group declared a unilateral ceasefire on March 24 to move closer towards peace talks . He said he expects the military junta the State Law and Order Restoration Council [Slorc] to reciprocate with " a productive response " but " so far we have received no response form Slorc about the peace talks." It was the second time Bo Mya has urged the Thai government to help convene peace negotiations between the KNU and Slorc. The Karen leader sent a letter dated Feb 18 to Deputy Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan urging him to find the means to initiate talks. The KNU, which lost its headquarters based at Manerplaw and the strategic stronghold of Kawmoora to the Burmese army in January and February , had until late last year dropped its demand that the peace talks be held outside Burma and that they involve Rangoon and an umbrella delegation of ethnic and opposition groups. The talks , tentatively scheduled for December , were stalled by Slorc's unexpected military offensive on Manerplaw. " In order to get closer to peace, we took the initiative by instructing our armed take effect , beginning from March 24 , with much expectation from Slorc for productive response .So far , we have said in his letter to Chuan, a copy of which was obtained by The Nation . "Hencewith, we expect Your Excellency to take the initiative for further progress , if possible , to materialize meaningful peace talks ," he added. The Karen general said his group would have no choice but to renew its armed struggle against Rangoon if Slorc continues to demand the KNU's " unconditional surrender" . He warned that the Burmese junta must be held responsible for the consequences of such a demand . " Slorc seems to us only unconditional surrender, which by no means can we or shall we accept. So we have no alternative but to pursue the resistance struggle, as surrender is out of the question for the Karen National Union," he said. "For this, Slorc must bear the responsibility for the consequences that follow ." KNU secretary - general padoh Ba Thin confirmed during an interview over the weekend that Slorc has yet to respond to the KNU's overtures , conveyed in two letters sent through " some middlemen." The letters , sent to Slorc leader Lt Gen Khin Nyunt and dated 27 March and April 4, indicated the KNU's willingness to enter into a dialogue in Burma. Three people appointed to an advance team to pave the way for the official talks were named in the letter. The letters stemmed from an emergency meeting of the future military and political strategies following the fall of their northern strongholds. Appointed were Maj Gen Maung Maung , a KNU joint secretary , Padoh Klee Say, joint secretary of Dyuplaya district ; and Shay Wah, an army officer at general headquarters, to the advance team slated to travel to Rangoon to reach agreement on a time and location for the peace talks, according to Ba Thin