Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is an international human rights organisation, which has conducted many fact-finding visits to the Karen, Karenni and Shan areas on the Thai-Burmese border since 1989. During this visit to the region, CSW focused on three major concerns: the new Thai policy of moving Burmese refugees into the Thai border camps; the effects of the proposed Weh Gyi dam on the Upper Salween River; and allegations of the use of chemical weapons by the Burma Army against the Karenni people. This report documents the testimonies and evidence obtained by CSW during this visit.

Refugee situation: At present the only refugees/displaced people in Thailand to be affected by the new laws are the so-called "People of Concern" (POCs), who have already applied for repatriation in a third country. About 1200 people come within this category in Thailand, and have already – by March 31 – been moved to   border refugee camps. Those in central and northern Thailand have been relocated to No Po camp in Umphang district, and those in the south to a holding camp in the Songlaburi district. It has been suggested that pro-democracy and Burmese resistance groups are likely to be the next targets, but no timetable for this has been announced. Weh Gyi Dam: The proposed Upper Salween

Weh Gyi Dam will cause untold suffering to tens of thousands of Karenni citizens living in the area if it is built. The dam project is likely to displace 25% of the population and flood 35% of Karenni territory, turning much of it into a huge inland sea.

Chemical weapons: While reports of the use of chemical weapons have not yet been proved conclusively, CSW found compelling circumstantial evidence of the use of chemical weaponry by the Burma Army against the Karenni, specifically in an attack on Karenni soldiers at a camp about 10km west of Mae Hong Son on February 15, 2005. Direct evidence for such an attack requires the isolation and identification of the chemicals used, along with photographic evidence that is both location and date specific and certified (the minimum requirements by the UN to prove their use) – which, given the nature of Burma's ruling junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), is almost impossible to obtain. However, we believe the evidence presented to us to be of sufficient gravity to be placed on the record in this report, and we urge the international community to investigate the matter further.

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