Thai Security Raids Homes of Karen Leaders

2009 October 27
tags: Burma, Human Rights, Junta, KNU, Thailandby peacerunningThai soldiers and police entered the homes and offices of more than 10 leaders of the Karen National Union (KNU) and its military wing, the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA), around 6 a.m. On Tuesday morning, a KNU source said.

Wife of Col Ner Dah Mya, the son of late KNU leader Gen Bo Mya, has been detained after police found powder for making explosives at his house, KNU sources said.

The purpose of the raids is not clear and The Irrawaddy has been unable to get independent confirmation.

Leaders whose homes were raided included: Gen Tamla Baw, the chairman of the KNU; Zipporah Sein, the general secretary of the KNU, and Saw David Takabaw, the vice-president of the KNU.

The Thai officers were looking for ammunition but found nothing at the homes of the other KNU and KNLA leaders, who were not arrested, sources said.

Many exiled community and political organizations’ offices and migrant schools in Mae Sot are closed for security reasons. Rumors circulating in Mae Sot suggest more raids will occur.

Observers said Thai authorities have stepped up pressure on KNU and KNLA leaders since early this year.

Burmese exiled leaders in Mae Sot predict that Mae Sot’s security conditions will worsen and become more dangerous after the Burmese military-sponsored 2010 election.

An exiled Burmese leader said the junta’s Karen allies that split from the KNU—the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army and the KNU/KNLA Peace Council—are working with the Burmese government’s Military Security Affairs to threaten opposition groups based in Mae Sot.

The KNLA has been fighting the Burmese government since 1948.

After junta forces captured their headquarters at Mannerplaw in Burma in 1995, the KNLA has attacked junta forces using small units based in temporary jungle camps in eastern Burma near the Thai-Burmese border.

In March, Thai authorities told KNU leaders not to engage in military activities while on Thai territory and ordered them to obtain permission when they wanted to enter Mae Sot.

At the 15th Asean Summit in Cha-Am in Thailand this weekend, Burmese Prime Minister Thein Sein told Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva that Burma will not allow anyone to use Burmese territory to attack Thailand.