Humanitarian workers at the Thai-Burmese border are preparing themselves for a flow of refugees from the violent government crackdown on demonstrations in Rangoon and Mandalay.

When clashes broke out between security forces and demonstrators in the 1988 nationwide popular uprising thousands of students and pro-democracy activists fled to Thailand.

An NGO worker in Chiang Mai told The Irrawaddy on Wednesday that if a similar exodus occurred humanitarian organizations would be prepared to receive the refugees.

Dr Sann Aung, a Burmese elected member of parliament living in exile, told Thailand’s English language daily The Nation that he hoped Burmese who fled the oppression in their country would not face another crackdown in Thailand.

Kitty McKinsey, senior regional public information officer of UN High Commissioner for Refugees Bureau for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, explained in an email message to The Irrawaddy: “Regarding anyone from Myanmar [Burma] who might flee fighting or political persecution, in Thailand they would follow the normal procedure and apply to the Provincial Admissions Boards for registration in one of the nine refugee camps along the Thai-Myanmar [Burma] border.”

According to the Thailand Burma Border Consortium, the biggest humanitarian relief and development agency that supports Burmese refugees, about 160,000 Burmese are living in the nine refugee camps in Thailand. The majority are Karen and Karenni people.

NGOs are concerned about the closure of 19 border crossings between Thailand and Burma’s Karen State as a result of an agreement between Thai and Burmese officials to co-operate in controlling illegal immigration and boost economic activity in the area.