Forum

 of  Burma’s  Community  Based  Organizations  

Call  for  the  International  Community  to  Support  

Refugees  Fleeing  Armed  Conflict  in  Eastern  Burma  
 

In  the  weeks  since  Burma’s  elections  on  7  November,  armed  conflict  has  increased  along  the  
country’s  eastern  border  with  Thailand.  Hostilities  between  the  State  Peace  and  Development  
Council  (SPDC)  Army  and  the  Democratic  Buddhist  Karen  Army  (DKBA)  have  resulted  in  the  
largest  influxes  of  civilians  from  Burma  fleeing  into  Thailand  in  more  than  a  decade.  Despite  
concerns  for  their  safety,  civilians  have  been  sent  back  into  areas  of  ongoing  conflict,  directly  
compromising  their  safety  and  livelihoods.      
 
The  Forum  of  Burma’s  Community  Based  Organizations  (FCOB)  has  actively  been  reaching  out  
to  the  National  Human  Rights  Commission  of  Thailand,  as  well  as  the  international  
governments  though  the  diplomatic  community  in  Bangkok  to  address  this  situation.  With  
armed  conflict  in  Karen  State  likely  to  further  intensify,  more  civilians  will  continue  to  flee  into  
Thailand  in  order  to  escape  from  the  fighting  and  conflict-­‐related  human  rights  abuses,  such  as  
being  forcibly  enlisted  as  porters  or  human  minesweepers  by  the  SPDC  Army.  In  order  to  
ensure  the  safety  of  such  civilians,  there  needs  to  be  a  concrete  plan  in  place  for  Thai  
authorities  and  non-­‐governmental  organizations  to  provide  the  necessary  protection  and  
assistance  to  civilians  until  they  feel  safe  for  them  to  return  home.  There  also  needs  to  be  a  
concerted  push  on  Burma’s  regime  to  cease  all  military  attacks  against  ethnic  communities  –  
the  root  cause  of  this  humanitarian  crisis.  
Action  
We  are  therefore  requesting  Burma’s  diaspora  communities  and  solidarity  organizations  
around  the  world  to  urgently  pressure  their  national  governments  to  assist  in  this  situation.  
We  are  asking  for  organizations  to  meet  with  their  Ministry  of  Foreign  Affairs,  
parliamentarians,  or  other  government  officials  as  soon  as  possible  to  brief  them  on  the  
current  situation.  Governments  should  be  called  upon  to:  
• Call  on  Burma’s  military  regime  to  cease  all  hostilities  and  provocative  actions  against  
ethnic  communities  and  engage  in  tripartite  dialogue  with  ethnic  representatives  and  
the  democratic  opposition.  
• Urge  the  Royal  Thai  Government  to  allow  civilians  
Toolkit  
fleeing  fighting  access  to  temporary  refuge  in  
Thailand  and  facilitate  returns  only  after   • Appeal  letter  to  
conducting  thorough  risk  assessments  that   national  
account  for  ongoing  threats  to  civilians’  security.   governments    
• Briefer  on  the  
• Urge  the  United  Nations  High  Commissioner  for  
current  situation  
Refugees  to  provide  monitoring  of  and  protection  
including  photos  
for  the  civilians  taking  refuge  in  Thailand  and  
• Map  of  conflict  areas  
coordinate  with  local  communities  and  INGOs.  
Organizations  may  also  choose  to  hold  demonstrations  at  the  SPDC  Embassy  in  their  country,  
or  at  other  strategic  locations,  on  10  December,  Human  Rights  Day.    
 
FCOB  is  a  forum  of  over  20  community-­‐based  organizations  on  the  Thai-­‐Burma  Border.  FCOB  
provides  a  forum  for  coordination  and  communication  for  community  based  organizations  
(CBOs)  providing  assistance  to  those  on  the  Thai-­‐Burma  border  who  have  been  affected  by  
military  and  political  instability.