Nearly 1,800 Karen flee Myanmar fighting - Thailand

[Coventina]

Source: Reuters

MAE SOT, Thailand, June 8 (Reuters) - Nearly 1,800 ethnic Karen, most of them women and children, have fled to Thailand from Myanmar where the army has launched an offensive against Karen guerrillas, a Thai army commander said on Monday.

A total of 1,741 Karen have entered Thailand from eastern Myanmar since fighting erupted close to their camp on June 3, said Lieutenant General Thanongsak Aphirakyothin, whose unit operates along Thailand's western border.

"They fled because of danger and fear of capture and forced labour by the Myanmar army," Thanongsak told reporters. "Most of the refugees are women and children."

Exiled groups said 3,295 people had fled the fighting.

Myanmar's army began its offensive against the Karen National Union (KNU) on June 3 and fighting continued on Monday, KNU commander Kyaw Ny told Reuters.


Read more: http://www.reuters.com/article/asiaCrisis/idUSBKK485549