BURMA GOVERNMENT POLICY TOWARDS THE KAREN INTERNEES

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP82-00457R008500570007-3
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: S
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 16, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 24, 2000
• Sequence Number: 7
• Publication Date: September 5, 1951
• Content Type: REPORT

Approved For Release 2000/05/22 : CIA-RDP82-00457R008500570007-3 Cc j 07
CLASSIFICATION , IMPL L - 'FT. r.
OT C3Ar3 ON'Y 25X1A
CENTRAL . NTELLIGENCE AGENCY REPORT NO.
FORMATION REPO
COUNTRY Burma
CONFIDENTIAL
DATE DISTR.,
SUBJECT Burma Government Policy Towards the Karen Internees NO. OF PAGES
NO. OF ENCLS.4:
SUPPLEMENT TO"
REPORT NO.
l . As a resu? t of instructions issued by the Prime 2Iinisteer, Thakin MU, a
meeting was held on 24 July to consider the future policy of the Burma
Government towards Karen internees from the armed services and the police.
Present at the meeting were Thakin I'll, "U WIN (Minister for Hone Affairs
and Minister for Defense), MAMN BA SAING (Minister for Karen Affairs),,
and officials from the Pome an'I Defense Ministries.
2. Thalk-in NU stated that the nresent situation warranted a review of
Government nolicy concerni ng the internment of Ccarens from the armed
services and the police. It was decided that stops should be taken
forthwith to close down- t!,e internment camps and to review the case
of each Karen at. present in detention.l Accordingly,, the Minister for
Defense and 2Rini;st.er for K.ry.ren Affairs were empowered to set up a Board
whose task would be to examine each case and submit recorr endations.
It was also decided that the Board world make use of three categories
in making their recorm-endation . They were:
White : To be norn3 tted to return to their position in the Armed
Services or the Police forthwith.
Gray : To be discharged with full arrears of pay.
B 1 aclc : To be he? d for further inctui ry or court martial..
The Board would be instructed to complete its work within three months
and thereafter the Internment Camps would be closed dorm.
events must remain a speculation.
-Coanr?wnt. This is a refreshing sign of realism in Government
no1 i cy vis-a-vis the Icarens. Approximately seven hundred and fifty
soldiers, sailors, airmen, and police have been interned in I.ngoon
alone since the outbreak o4 the Karen rebel, inn in early 1949. There
is no evidence to suggest that this move on the nart of the Govern-
ment is connected withi General 17 `?rIN's temporary absence on leave.
Fe is known +o disfavor any suggestion of accommodation with Icarens
but in the absence of positive evidence, any connection between the
PJSI7l3
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AIR FBI
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No Change In Class.
Approved For Release 2000/05/22 : CIA-RDP82-0
T CD NO.
[] Declassified
I ?0Oe c~gW.-3 TS S
_ uth.: tff 7C.2
Plain! AUG 91j
CLASSIFICATION +0 OONFIDENTIADIIMOL OF1'ICTAL: OBEY
Iep ber
1951