THE EXODUS TO THAILAND

Map of ROUTES OF EXODUS TO THAILAND

The refugee flow into Thailand from the relocation areas of Central Shan State has been even greater during 1997 than in 1996. This appears to be because the refugees fleeing in 1997 include not only those that have been newly relocated, but also those that were relocated in 1996, who have been unable to continue eking out a living in hiding or in relocation sites for a second year. The increased brutality of the SLORC/SPDC troops in and around the sites during 1997 and the many extrajudicial killings, has also terrorized many into fleeing.

Refugee flows into Thailand during 1996

In April-May of 1996, whole communities of relocated villagers fled to Thailand, either by truck or on foot. There were three main crossing points into Thailand for the refugees. The most commonly used was the route across into Nong Ook, in northern Chiang Mai province. At the height of the relocation period, in April, local people reported that several hundred Shans were crossing each day. On one day, it was reported that over 1,000 Shans had crossed over.

Another popular route was across the mountains west of Fang. Local witnesses reported that up to 150 people were crossing over in April and May. The route across from Ho Murng into Mae Hong Son was also taken. In April and May, local authorities in Ho Murng reported that over 100 were crossing each day.

Given these figures, it was estimated that a minimum of 20,000 Shans crossed over during April and May, 1996. However, even during the rainy season, refugees continued to come over, and numbers increased at the end of 1996 after the rains.

Refugee flows to Thailand in 1997

Refugees arriving in Thailand in 1997 reported that up to 80% of the populations in their areas had fled to Thailand as a result of the relocations.

"There are more people coming this year than last year. Only about 50% are left in Murng Kerng." (KHRG interview with villager from Murng Kerng, August 30, 1997)

"Out of the people who have been forced to move, about 80% have come to Thailand. Only about 20% went to the town." (KHRG interview with monk from Lai Kha, August 31, 1997)

As in 1996, the main influx of refugees arriving in Thailand through the three main border crossing points (into Mae Hong Son, and into Nong Ook and Fang in northern Chiang Mai province) began in the early part of the year. Refugees arriving at the Thai border north of Chiang Mai in March and April 1997 reported coming in convoys of 3-4 trucks from central Shan State, each truck carrying 30-50 people. Throughout April, the towns and villages inside Burma on the main road to Nong Ook, such as Murng Ton, and Bong Ba Kem, opposite northern Chiang Mai province were filled with hundreds of refugees camping in the schools and temples, on their way to Thailand. Even as far away as Tachilek, in April one of the temples was reported to be filled with over 200 refugees from the Kun Hing relocation area.

The flow of refugees crossing between March-July 1997 over the main border crossing points, based on interviews with members of border communities, was estimated by SHRF as follows:

Numbers decreased steadily after July, following the onset of the rainy season, but during and after the rains, there was still an average of about 1,000 refugees coming to the Thai border each month.

Given the estimated figure of 20,000 Shan refugees coming to Thailand in April and May 1996, plus at least a further 10,000 fleeing steadily throughout the rest of the year, together with the estimated 34,000 in March-July 1997, and at least another 6,000 in the second half of the year, this means that approximately 80,000 Shan refugees have fled to Thailand in the last two years.