Burma Issues - Over one quarter of the Karenni population of eastern Burma has been forced from their homes due to years of military oppression, a figure expected to increase as militarisation of the state continues unabated, according to a new report from Burma Issues.

In Karenni State, located in eastern Burma, 81,000 villagers are currently internally displaced, representing 27 per cent of the state’s population. Between 70 and 80 per cent of those displaced are women and children.

“What is needed is Thailand’s immediate action to enable international support for cross-border aid and for the governments of SE Asia, China and India to support a UN Security Council Resolution on Burma”, Khu Thaw Reh, Mae Hong Son Area Coordinator for Burma Issues, a non-governmental organisation working in Thailand, said.

“IDPs in Karenni State face severe food shortages, inadequate shelter, cannot access health care or education services and are vulnerable to violence and exploitation from Burmese soldiers,” said Khu Thaw Reh said.

He urged Burma to move quickly into genuine dialogue with ethnic groups to address issues of human rights and socio-economic grievances.

Unarmed villagers are forced to flee their homes to escape military attacks and human rights abuses perpetrated by the Burmese army, while others are forced from their homes to make way for income generating projects benefiting the military junta. Over the last five years the number of internally displaced persons in Karenni State has increased by 42 per cent, a number expected to increase if the situation continues to worsen, according to Khu Thaw Reh.

Sudan, Colombia, Iraq, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo have the five largest displaced populations in the world. In Sudan nearly 13% of the population is displaced, Colombia 8.5%, Iraq over 6%, Uganda over 6.5%, and in the Democratic Republic of Congo nearly 2%.

“The percentage of the population displaced in Karenni State is twice as high as the level in Sudan which has the world’s largest internally displaced population, however, they receive little assistance or international attention,” Khu Thaw Reh said.

“Displaced people in Karenni State need humanitarian assistance urgently, but they also need a genuine solution to their displacement crisis which involves a significant change to Burma’s political, economic and social systems,” he said.

Living Ghosts: The spiraling repression of the Karenni population under the Burmese military junta, a new report released by Burma Issues, documents the worsening situation for the Karenni people over the past six years, including reduced access to health care and education, the impact of increased growth of poppies and production of synthetic drugs in the state, and the ongoing oppression by both state and non-state armies. This in-depth report is based on interviews with villagers, surveys and observations from Burma Issues field staff collected between 2001 and 2007, and documents the threat to regional and international security.

Bangkok, Thailand, 9 April 2008