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BK Nation: UNHCR stand on [Burmese]



Subject: BK Nation: UNHCR stand on [Burmese] Refugees clarfied

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The Nation (Bangkok)
June 30, 1994
 
UNHCR STAND ON REFUGEES CLARIFIED
by Yindee Lertcharoenchok
 
Burmese refugees in Thailand should be allowed to return home voluntarily on
the basis of final agreements between the Rangoon regime and the various
groups concerned, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said in a
statement after a fact-finding tour of refugee camps along the Burmese
border.
 
"Any voluntary repatriation," it said, should also be conducted under "the
conditions of safety and dignity" and the UNHCR is willing "to both monitor
and assist" in the programme.
 
It is the first time the UN refugee agency has openly stated its policy
towards the repatriation of about 72,000 Burmese refugees spread in various
camps along the Thai-Burma border.
 
The strongly worded press statement was issued on June 21 after a seven day
tour of the border areas and refugee camps in Tak and Mae Hong Son provinces
by UNHCR Chief Ruprecht von Arnim and his team between June 12 and 18.
 
The UN delegates also met Thai officers from the Third Army region,
representatives of private aid agencies and refugee committees and the
refugees themselves who briefed them on the refugee situation along the
border.
 
Von Arnim is the first and highest UNHCR representative ever to make a fact-
finding mission to learn of the refugee situation.
 
The press release has cleared up some confusion that von Arnim's trip was
made in preparation for the UNHCR-assisted repatriation of all Burmese
refugees from Thai soil.
 
"Pursuant to the above mentioned meetings and through its own observations,
this office has determined that a durable solution from the Myanmar (Burmese)
refugees in Thailand could only be envisaged as the result of agreements
between the Myanmar authorities and the various groups concerned, which would
ensure the voluntary repatriation of the refugees in conditions of safety and
dignity to their country of origin," said the statement.
 
"During the course of its mission, UNHCR urged all parties involved to work
towards that end.  The office recognized that this process could be lengthy,
and require both effort and patience on the part of all those concerned. 
UNHCR also informed of its willingness to both monitor and assist in any
voluntary repatriation operation that could eventually take place, once all
elements are in place to allow for such an operation," it added.
 
Burmese and Thai officials in their recent joint border committee meetings
agreed in principle to repatriate the Burmese refugees, all of whom are from
the ethnic Karen, Karenni and Mon minorities.
 
There is also official indication that the refugees would be sent home once
the Burmese junta strikes a ceasefire agreement with the three remaining Mon,
Karen and Karenni guerrilla groups.
 
The moves have prompted a widespread concern among aid and human rights
agencies that the ongoing political turmoil inside Burma is not favorable to
a safe repatriation and resettlement.
 
In separate interviews yesterday, social aid workers who requested anonymity,
said they are very concerned about the refugee situation on the Thai-Burmese
border.  They also said the situation "has worsened" over the past two months
with more Mon and Karen refugees arriving at the border.
 
Most refugees cited similar stories of forced labour, relocation and
harassment by the Burmese authorities as the main reasons for their flight.
 
One worker said there is still a lack of safety inside Burma and commented
that "a ceasefire alone is not enough for the repatriation."
 
The Burmese government, he said, must also guarantee that all the returnees
will be free from all forms of harassment and that the UNHCR and NGOs be
given full access in monitoring the returnees.
 
The Thai government has repeatedly refused to give the UN refugee agency a
presence, access or assistance to the Burmese refugees saying that the UNHCR
mandate and duties are restricted to Indochinese refugees.