Thailand?s new refugee rules leave thousands in fear and suspense... "When Sandar Win, a former activist in Burma?s opposition National League for Democracy, fled to neighboring Thailand in January she hoped to continue her political struggle there. But she hadn?t kept up with events in Thailand and had certainly not read Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra?s refugee policy statement, made in June 2003: ?Thailand will not allow any groups to use our territory for political activities against neighboring countries.? Instead of finding asylum as a political refugee under the protection of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Sandar Win stepped into limbo. Thaksin had followed up his foreboding message by introducing new regulations curtailing the UNHCR?s power to grant refugee status to new arrivals from Burma. Sandar Win is one of about 9,000 who now have no UNHCR protection and are technically illegal immigrants..."