Voice of Peacock (ABSDF)

[Absdf102@xxxxxxx]

Articles from the "Voice of the Peacock" Vol.2, No.1

Burmese Dissident Students: No Way Out

	On January 16, a violent clash took place between Burmese dissident students
and Thai securoty guards at the "Safe Area" where Burmese students are
accomodated by the Thai Ministry of Interior (MOI). Three students and two
guards were injured in the incident.
	The camp is situated 115 km east of the Thai-Burma border in Maneeloy
village, Pak Thor district, Ratchburi province. The day after the clash, over
150 students (all the camp residents) planned to march towards Bangkok, But
blocked by local police at Wat Sawang Arom, about three kilometers from their
Maneeloy camp. 
	They made three demands that the safe camp be abolished; that Burmese
students be given temporary asylum in Thailand and that they not be
repatriated to Burma. After the intervention of Ratchburi Deputy Governor
Prason Vithoonkijja, 72 students agree to return to their camp, but the rest
of the group refuse to back down on their demands, claiming that the camp was
unsafe. thai authorities refused the first two demands, but reportedly stated
that the students would not be forcibly repatriated.
	However, a senior Interior Ministry official said in an interview that the
ministry has decided to prosecute the students because they have abandoned
their right to stay temporaily in Thailand. "Strict legal action be taken
against Burmese students who break Thai laws". Foreign minister Thaskin said.
	On January 19, a group of 68 students who refused to return to the camp was
split up and detained in three separate locations in Ratchburi--the Pak Tho,
Wat Pleng police stations and the Ratchburi provincial hall. Finally, 55
students were sent to the Special Detention Center and and other 13 are being
held in police custody while awaiting trial on charges of illegal entry.
	Although the UNHCR has an office in Bangkok, Thai government never accords
refugee status to Burmese dissidents who have fled across the border to
Thailand. This allows Thailand to avoid complying with standard protocol
governing refugees.
	There are over 2500 dissident under UNHCR providence in Bangkok and about
300,000 illegal immigrants in Thailand.
	Thai MOI set up the Maneeloy camp in November 1992 after a cabinet decision
on September 24, 1991 taken in accordance with Section 17 of the 1979
immigration act. Many Burmese dissidents in Bangkok; however, believed that
the camp was initiated by the Thai government as an attempt by the
authorities to solve problems of prodemocracy activities in Bangkok
(especially protests outside Burmese embassy). These activities embarased the
Thai government, who has close biletral relations with the junta in Rangoon.
	In the meantime, the UNHCR was ordered by the MOI to cut the monthly
allowance to Bangkok students, from 2500 baht to 800 baht, and this to be
received only if they entered the camp. Moreover, it was widely reported in
the media that anyone assisting illegal Burmese immigrants in Thailand would
be charged by law and be liable to a 50,000 baht fine, six months in jail or
both. Local and foreign NGOs were also warned not to assist the Burmese
students