Refugee mother receives food supplements

Army operations have increased since a rebel group calling itself the God's Army went over the border into Thailand in January and took control of a hospital in Ratchaburi - all 10 members were killed by Thai forces.

Britain is a long-standing critic of the Burmese regime, along with other western governments, though its policy of trying to isolate the generals in Rangoon has yet to show any discernible results.

Future looks grim

Thay Lar Wah: safety concerns

Every week hundreds of young mothers line up in the camp in western Thailand to receive a small food supplement.

It is not much - just some lentils and a few eggs, to help them nurse their infants.

Most of the refugees are ethnic Karen who fled from the advancing Burmese army into Thailand.

A teacher training class

They have been here for several years, and they do not see much prospect of returning home.

Thay Lar Wah, aged 26, used to be a Karen student activist.

Three years ago, he came across the border with his wife.

He refuses to consider returning unless the international community can guarantee his safety.

We have some information about the situation inside - forced relocation, looting, killing, torture and raping

Daniel Zu, Tham Hin refugee camp

The camp's vice-chairman, Daniel Zu, says the reports they still receive from Burma are just too alarming for most of the refugees.

"It's still bad, and from bad to worse ... because we have some information about the situation inside - forced relocation, looting, killing, torture and raping," he says

"All these incidents happening all the time."

In limbo

Faced with almost no prospect of political change in Burma, many of the Karen refugees are now preparing for a long stay in Thailand.

It may be possible to create a safe area inside our land so that we can go back and remain as ordinary people

Wu Lincoln, Karen community leader

In Tham Hin camp, they run classes to give basic teacher training, so that the children do not miss out on their education.

They are accepted by the Thai authorities though they are not really welcome.

Thailand fears that the conflict in Burma will spill over its border - all the more so since the January incursion by Karen rebels.

As a result the Thai authorities have imposed tougher restrictions on the displaced Karens.

Community leader Wu Lincoln wants Mr Cook to help to find a better alternative for the refugees.

Daniel Zu: sympathy with armed struggle

"There's quite a bit of restriction, and so people are quite uncomfortable in this area, and some families, they simply move back into their hellish holes inside Burma," he says.

"Now we are trying to talk about that with Mr Cook ... because there might be some possible solution for creating some kind of safe area inside our land so that we can go back and remain as ordinary people."

The Karen lean heavily on their strong Christian faith to see them through their difficulties.

That faith will be sorely tested with so many now displaced from their villages in Burma, and little hope of an early return.

Most still say they want a peaceful resolution to their conflict with the Burmese government.

Passing the time: A young woman plays guitar

However, Daniel Zu sympathises with those who want to continue the armed struggle.

"We didn't chose to hold arms to have a revolution, but history pushed us to do this," he says.

Like Iraq, the Burmese military regime has shrugged off the sanctions imposed by western governments, and continued to suppress its opponents.

Its victims, who are languishing in camps all along the mountainous border with Thailand, can only hope and pray for a change of heart, among the generals in Rangoon.