UN Agency appeals for refugees

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			UN Agency Appeals for Refugees
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                         GENEVA (AP) -- The U.N. refugee agency appealed

                         Friday for access to thousands of Burmese

                         Muslims who have crossed into Bangladesh during

                         the past two months.



                         The U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees has

                         asked Bangladesh for permission to check on the

                         5,000-7,000 new arrivals, UNHCR spokeswoman Pam

                         O'Toole said. The agency has not received a

                         reply, she said.



                         ``We are not being given access to these

                         people, many of whom are being jailed and/or

                         forcibly returned,'' O'Toole said.



                         Many of the new arrivals have said they had

                         left Burma for purely economic reasons, but

                         some have told reporters they are fleeing

                         forced labor and torture in military-ruled

                         Burma, she said.

			 [18 July 1997, CNN News]

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	News and Information Dept
	All Burma Students' Democratic Organisation (ABSDO) [Australia]

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