Refugees too distrustful of government to go home

Refugees too distrustful of government to go home

Thursday, 23 May 2013 17:39 KP

Following a series of attack on Shan State Army (SSA) Task Force 701 base on Sino-Burma border by the Burma Army two weeks ago, which sent thousands of refugees to China, although the fight was over, people are still fearful to return home as they distrust the army, said local news sources from Namkham.

Refugees stranding at a Sino-Burma border

“People return to their homes in day time, but dare not spend the night, so in the evening they cross back to China for rest. Let alone the people who live on the other side of the Mao (Shwe) River, even for people in the town of Namkham, it is a nightmare at night. Bomb blasts and gun fires would occur here and there. Moreover, Burma Army is also reinforcing its troops in the area with troops from Mandalay. This impact on the people’s life and they are suffering mentally,” said Sai Ai Mon, a member of Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) Namkham branch.

It has been reported that the commander of Burma Army’s area command met with the refugees and unsuccessfully persuaded them to return home.

Meanwhile, the Burma Army is also reinforcing its troops in the Loi Hohso area bordering between Namkham Township and Kachin State, which has sent people from Wan Sawn, Kunkeng, Kawng Nawng, Samtan, Wanmai, Hinlong further 6 villages to Xiao Yun Pan village in China, added local sources.

Related to the above news sources, SHAN has reached out to the SSA Task Force 701 commander Lt-Col Zawm Mong who said, “As we are relocated between east and west of Kachin Independence Army, if the Burma Army decides to use force, they [Burma Army] will first encounter the KIA troops either from east or west. It is not yet clear if the Burma Army will attack any time soon. On the other hand, KIO and Burma Army are preparing for a peace talk. The army may not want to put the peace talk at risk.”

Receiving bags of rice donated by supporters

Meanwhile Sai Ai Mon said 2 Shan political parties from Namkham are actively joining hands to get support and relief aid to the refugees for their daily survival.

“Shan Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) and Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) are collecting rice, cooking oil, salt, medicine, clothing and other utensils in the town. Those supplies will be delivered to the refugees on 24 May. Burma Army is also said to have distributed rice 5 pey (16 liters) per family to some villages, which were seized from SSA Task Force base. And 1 bag (60 liters) of rice per household are also being distributed through the Border and Rural Development Program. The government even has promised to repair the houses which were destroyed during the fighting. People say, many of the houses were destroyed after the attacks. However, whatever the government is trying to amend and heal the wounds by this kind of support, people will not believe them”.

Similarly, young people from Muse also have been collecting donations from the town, said a young man from Muse.

“Since 13 May, we have been visiting door-to-door toke-su (fundraising) for the refugees in Muse. People are generously offering donations. Within 5 days, we have raised 2 million Kyat ($2,200). We have already delivered 12 bags of rice to the refugees. Now we are collecting the funds. Although the army has told the refugees that now they can return home, people will do so only if there is a certain organization that can give them a guarantee for their safety. Some houses have been looted in which they lost between $ 2,000–$ 3,000. Some also said to have lost national identification (ID) cards. Some people complain the loss of ID cards in tears,” said a Muse native Ai Sai.

Due to the attack on SSA Task Force base 701 in Namkham Township on Sino-Burma border by a 400-strong force under the control of Military Operations Command #16, people from Nawng Ma and other villages in the region have fled to China for their safety at the time of reporting.

Credited to SHAN