Thai Catholics assist Myanmar’s Karen refugees

Catholics in a northern Thai province have been supporting thousands of displaced Karen refugees from Myanmar — in stark contrast to the Thai government’s unwelcoming policy regarding refugees and migrants from the military-ruled neighbouring country.

Apr 24, 2021

Karen refugees near the Salween River in Mae Hong Son, Thailand, on March 29. (Photo: Karen Women's Organization)


CHIANG MAI:
Catholics in a  northern Thai province have been  supporting thousands of displaced  Karen refugees from Myanmar —  in stark contrast to the Thai government’s unwelcoming policy  regarding refugees and migrants  from the military-ruled neighbouring country.

Church leaders joined by Catholics in Chiang Mai have welcomed and supported thousands  of Karen refugees with aid after  they fled their homes in Myanmar’s Kayin state and hid in the  forest near the Thanlyin River on  the Thai-Myanmar border.

Bishop Francis Xavier Vira Arpondratana of Chiang Mai said  that the diocesan team of lay volunteers, priests and nuns has been  providing aid to Karen people in  two locations south of Salawin  National Park near the border.

Bishop Vira also appealed to  church groups in Thailand to assist the refugees with aid including money, water, food, medicine  and daily essentials.

Sr Aranya Kitbunchu, president  of the Federation of Religious  Superiors in Thailand, has joined  with Chiang Mai Diocese and  Caritas Thailand in the rescue operation for refugees.

“The refugees are in a desperate  situation: they need food, water,  medicine and other basic services  to survive these difficult times,”  said Sr Aranya, who acts as the  coordinator of volunteers and representatives of religious orders  responding to the refugee emergency since late March.

Fighting between Karen rebels and the Myanmar army has  escalated since the military coup  that ousted the elected National  League for Democracy (NLD)  government of Aung Sang Suu  Kyi on Feb 1.

Amid the upsurge in skirmishes, the military launched airstrikes  coupled with ground attacks in  five areas allegedly controlled  by the Karen National Liberation  Army, the armed wing of the Karen National Union.

The attacks left three civilians  dead and wounded seven others,  forcing more than 10,000 people  to flee their homes and hide in the  forest. Some 3,000 mostly Christian Karen people have crossed  the border into Thailand to avoid  the conflict.

The Thai government of Prime  Minister Prayut Chanocha, a  former military chief, has been  unwelcoming to refugees from  Myanmar. The European Karen  Network alleged that Thai authorities blocked humanitarian aid to  Myanmar refugees and deported  dozens despite the threat of violence in Karen villages. The move  triggered an outcry from human rights groups. ucanews.com

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