Refugee exodus throws Tai border into chaos

Press, 23 April 1979, Page 9

Refugee exodus throws Tai border into chaos

NZPA-Reuter Aranyaprathet (Thailand) The situation on the Thai- ; Kampuchean border became 'more chaotic yesterday with (refugees fleeing advancing I Kampuchean troops from one side and others being sent back from Thai sane- | tuary by the Thai authorities. At least 15,000 Kampu- , cheans fleeing a Vietnamese- ! led advance in the north- ' west of their country crossed into Thailand on Saturday, and many ' more refugees were reported ' coming across yesterday in . an area about 20km south of the eastern frontier town of 1 Aranyaprathet, but numbers and details were unknown, ' local officials have said. 1 Meanwhile, refugee offi- ' cials quoted the police_ as ‘ saying that between 5000 f and 6000 Kampucheans who 1 crossed the border into Thai- > land last Thursday north of 1 Aranyaprathet were sent ; back into Kampuchea early i this morning. 1 The refugee crisis, creating a confused situation ( along the border, has arisen . following a drive by Viet- ( namese-led forces of the £ new Kampuchean Administration against Khmer Rouge ( troops loyal to ousted prime t minister, Pol Pot. Officials estimate there could be between 50,000 and •. 100,000 people trapped be- , tween the advancing troops , and a 50km stretch of the ‘ south-east Thai border near ’ Aranyaprathet. The 15,000 or more who swarmed across on Saturday < crossed into Thailand at ; Klona Wa, about 40km t

south of Aranyaprathet. They were believed to include Khmer Rouge soldiers and civilians. Details of how they crossed and how they were being detained were not immediately available. Roads leading to the area were blocked off yesterday. Thai authorities have been refusing permission for the masses of people strung out along the border to cross into the country. But military sources and officials conceded earlier there was no way they could be prevented from entering Thailand if there were a concerted bid. The group of 5000 to 6000 who were reported to have been sent back yesterday included at least 3000 women and children. Thailand’s broad policy has been to refuse admission to soldiers of either side in the Kampuchean conflict while admitting some, civilians on humanitarian grounds at least, temporarily. The Prime Minister (General Kriangsak Chamanand) said last week no Kampucheans would be sent back against their will. The Army Commander-in-Chief (General Prem Tinansulandonda) said: “If the refugees are sick, we will give them medical treatment. If they are hungry, we will feed them. And when they have recovered, they will be pushed back across the border.” The fate of almost 5000 other recent arrivals appeared to be hanging in the balance.