Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06BANGKOK4932
2006-08-11 08:28:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Bangkok
Cable title:  

KAREN NATIONAL UNION AND KAREN NATIONAL LIBERATION

Tags:  PREF PGOV PREL TH BM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO7738
PP RUEHCHI
DE RUEHBK #4932 2230828
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 110828Z AUG 06
FM AMEMBASSY BANGKOK
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0902
INFO RUEHGO/AMEMBASSY RANGOON 2865
RUEHCHI/AMCONSUL CHIANG MAI 2288
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1701
C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004932 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL TH BM
SUBJECT: KAREN NATIONAL UNION AND KAREN NATIONAL LIBERATION
AARMY ACTIVITIES IN REFUGEE CAMPS IN THAILAND

REF: A. BANGKOK 3948

B. RANGOON 925

C. CHIANG MAI 110

D. STATE 107330

Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER MARK LAMBERT, REASON 1.4 (B,D)

C O N F I D E N T I A L BANGKOK 004932

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

GENEVA FOR RMA

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/09/2016
TAGS: PREF PGOV PREL TH BM
SUBJECT: KAREN NATIONAL UNION AND KAREN NATIONAL LIBERATION
AARMY ACTIVITIES IN REFUGEE CAMPS IN THAILAND

REF: A. BANGKOK 3948

B. RANGOON 925

C. CHIANG MAI 110

D. STATE 107330

Classified By: POLITICAL OFFICER MARK LAMBERT, REASON 1.4 (B,D)


1. (C) This message is intended to supplement Ref a, which
was a response to Ref d request for information about Karen
National Union (KNU) and Karen National Liberation Army
(KNLA) activities in refugee camps along the Thai-Burma
border. The information in this message was recently
provided by UNHCR and UNHCR requests that the information be
handled carefully.


2. (C) As stated in ref a, the Karen camp committees, which
are influenced by the KNU, have traditionally been
responsible for the administration of justice in the camps,
though UNHCR has begun to assume a larger role in this area.
UNHCR documents state that these justice systems apply some
procedures, penalties, and remedies that are not in
conformity with Thai law nor international human rights
standards. In addition, these systems are politicised and
not impartial given the KNU's influence with the camp
committees. They also do not give sufficient attention to
the rights of women. For example, at the direction of the
KNU, persons have been detained without due process and
criminal punishments have not been carried out due to the
position of the person who committed the crime.


3. (C) A UNHCR Field Office has received reports of four
executions in the camps in the past three years carried out
at the direction of the KNU. One of the reasons apparently
was suspicion that the persons were spies or traitors. The
families of those executed were placed under pressure by the
KNU not to report to the Thai police or UNHCR. UNHCR
believes that these types of actions are intimidating to
other refugees in the camps.


4. (C) UNHCR states that there is anecdotal information,
difficult to document, of KNU recruitment of child soldiers
in the camps. Following a study of the issue, UNHCR learned
of isolated cases in several camps, but has no information on
systematic recruitment.
BOYCE