Photo via otkrytie.ru

Burma: civilians displaced in fresh attacks as UN envoy visit fails

The Burma Army has launched fresh attacks on civilians in northern Karen State this month, causing the displacement of over 2,100 villagers, reports Dan Wooding, founder of ASSIST Ministries.

According to the Free Burma Rangers, a relief organization working in the conflict areas of eastern Burma, the attacks are “the largest against civilians in northern Karen State since the Burma Army completed the re-supply of its camps and construction of roads at the end of 2007.”

Over 30,000 people are displaced in northern Karen State, and it is estimated that there are over one million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Burma altogether.

A spokesperson for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said, “The Burma Army attacked several villages in northern Papun District, Karen State, on 4 March, according to the Free Burma Rangers. Nine homes and three farm houses were burned down in Ga Yu Der village. The Burma Army also fired eight mortar rounds into Tay Bo Kee village. In both cases villagers fled before the troops came, and are now on the run in the jungle.

“The Free Burma Rangers report that the Burma Army is pursuing those who fled, �?seeking out villages and pockets of IDPs and destroying homes, food and property.’

“These latest reports follow the recent visit of the UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Burma. The ruling military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), rejected the envoy’s proposals to amend the draft constitution to allow Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, currently under house arrest, to contest elections. Mr. Gambari failed to meet the SPDC’s Senior General Than Shwe, and the regime refused to allow UN monitors to observe the planned referendum on the constitution in May.”

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said: “The regime’s brutal offensives against civilians in Karen State, the continuing gross violations of human rights throughout the country, and the failure of the UN envoy’s visit to bring any change at all mean that the time has come for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to take personal charge of efforts to address the crisis in Burma. He should visit Burma as a matter of urgency to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the regime, the democracy groups and the ethnic nationalities, with the backing of a binding Security Council resolution.

“We call upon the UN Security Council to impose a universal arms embargo on Burma and to refer the Burmese regime to the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes against humanity. We also urge the EU to strengthen its Common Position on Burma next month, by imposing targeted banking sanctions on members of the regime and their cronies. The regime has proven that it is not interested in dialogue or reform, and so it is imperative that the international community now act.”

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[03/15/2008]

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