KAREN STATE, BURMA (MYANMAR) (ANS) -- The Burma Army has launched fresh attacks on civilians in northern Karen State this month, causing the displacement of over 2,100 villagers.

According to the Free Burma Rangers, a relief organization working in the conflict areas of eastern Burma, the attacks are “the largest against civilians in northern Karen State since the Burma Army completed the re-supply of its camps and construction of roads at the end of 2007.”

Over 30,000 people are displaced in northern Karen State, and it is estimated that there are over one million internally displaced people (IDPs) in Burma altogether.

A spokesperson for Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) said, “The Burma Army attacked several villages in northern Papun District, Karen State, on 4 March, according to the Free Burma Rangers. Nine homes and three farm houses were burned down in Ga Yu Der village. The Burma Army also fired eight mortar rounds into Tay Bo Kee village. In both cases villagers fled before the troops came, and are now on the run in the jungle.

“The Free Burma Rangers report that the Burma Army is pursuing those who fled, ‘seeking out villages and pockets of IDPs and destroying homes, food and property.’

“These latest reports follow the recent visit of the UN Special Envoy Ibrahim Gambari to Burma. The ruling military regime, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), rejected the envoy’s proposals to amend the draft constitution to allow Nobel Laureate Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, currently under house arrest, to contest elections. Mr. Gambari failed to meet the SPDC’s Senior General Than Shwe, and the regime refused to allow UN monitors to observe the planned referendum on the constitution in May.”

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), said: “The regime’s brutal offensives against civilians in Karen State, the continuing gross violations of human rights throughout the country, and the failure of the UN envoy’s visit to bring any change at all mean that the time has come for the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to take personal charge of efforts to address the crisis in Burma. He should visit Burma as a matter of urgency to facilitate meaningful dialogue between the regime, the democracy groups and the ethnic nationalities, with the backing of a binding Security Council resolution.

“We call upon the UN Security Council to impose a universal arms embargo on Burma and to refer the Burmese regime to the International Criminal Court to investigate crimes against humanity. We also urge the EU to strengthen its Common Position on Burma next month, by imposing targeted banking sanctions on members of the regime and their cronies. The regime has proven that it is not interested in dialogue or reform, and so it is imperative that the international community now act.”

For more information, please contact Penny Hollings, Campaigns and Media Manager at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on + 44 (0) 20 8329 0045, email pennyhollings@csw.org.uk or visit www.csw.org.uk.

CSW is a human rights organization which specializes in religious freedom, works on behalf of those persecuted for their Christian beliefs and promotes religious liberty for all.

Note to Editors:
1. For more information about the Free Burma Rangers see www.freeburma.rangers.org

Dan Wooding, 67, is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma of 44 years. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com. danjuma1@aol.com.