Thailand is asking a group of Burmese refugees who have established a camp just across the Thai border to move back into Burma.
A Thai army officer says the camp, located in the northwestern province of Mae Hong Son, mainly houses family members of rebel Shan soldiers.
But six Shan civilian organizations issued an open letter calling on Bangkok to reconsider its decision because of continued fighting between Shan rebels and Rangoon's ruling military.
The groups say the camp houses mostly women and more than 200 orphaned children.
The Shan State National Army and the Shan State Army recently agreed to merge and renew their fight for an independent state. The merger nullifies a decade-old ceasefire between the Shan State National Army and Burma's military government.
Information for this report is provided by AP and AFP.
