Two Burma Army battalions attacked ten villages and displaced about 3,000 people in Toungoo District, Northern Karen State, Burma on November 30.

The villages, along the Yaw Law river valley between Rangoon and Mandalay, each contained some 300-500 people. These people have now fled and are hiding out in the jungle where they struggle for medical care, food, shelter and security. It is estimated that one million people are living as Internally Displaced Persons inside Burma.

There were three clashes between the Burma Army battalions and the Karen National Liberation Army in this area from November 28-30. According to reports, the KNLA suffered no casualties, but three Burma Army soldiers were wounded.

The two Burma Army battalions are now in Per Law and Klaw Mu Der villages and are continuing the offensive.

Whilst offensives by the Burma Army against ethnic groups continue, the regime has reportedly released some 9,000 prisoners. Among them is Min Ko Naing, one of Burma's longest standing political dissidents. However, there remain an estimated 1,300 political prisoners inside Burmese prisons. The leader of the National League for Democracy, Aung San Suu Kyi, has recently had her house arrest extended for another year.

Most opposition groups claim the prisoner releases are a largely empty gesture aimed at gaining political ground at the ASEAN summit held earlier this week in Laos.

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said: Our thoughts and prayers are with those who have recently been forced to flee their homes as a direct result of the attacks from the Burma Army. Sadly they join hundreds of thousands of other people forced to live on the run inside Burma. While CSW welcomes the reported releases of many unjustly-held prisoners, many more remain incarcerated in appalling conditions. We will continue to campaign for religious freedom and democracy for the people of Burma.

CSW is a human rights charity working on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs. We also promote religious liberty for all.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

The two Burma Army Battalions, IB 52 (2 columns under command of

Battalion Commander Aung Kyaw Nyint and Bn 2IC Nay Myo Win), and IB

60 (Under command of Battalion Commander Sai Win Tin and 2IC Maung

Mya Sa), are operating in the eastern Tantabin Township area of Toungoo District, Northern Karen State. 3,000 villagers have displaced from the following villages; Bway Baw Der, Saw Mu Der, Saw Day Der, Per Law, Law Bee Law, Maw They Der, Gwa Htoo Cho, Pwe Buh Der, Wa Mee Per and Klaw Mu Der.