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UN & BANGLADESH AT ODDS OVER REFUGE (r)



Subject: UN & BANGLADESH AT ODDS OVER REFUGEES

DATE=7/25/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217654
TITLE=BURMA REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, OR 

U-N-H-C-R, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH REMAIN AT ODDS OVER 
REPATRIATING THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM REFUGEES TO BURMA.  LISA SCHLEIN
REPORTS FROM GENEVA THAT WHILE BANGLADESH HAS TEMPORARILY 
SUSPENDED THE FORCIBLE DEPORTATION OF THE REFUGEES, IT INSISTS IT
WILL CONTINUE TO SEND THE REFUGEES HOME.

TEXT:  THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE SITUATION IN BANGLADESH 
HAS  NOT  IMPROVED.  IT SAYS A TENSE STAND-OFF BETWEEN THOUSANDS 
OF BURMESE MUSLIM REFUGEES AND THE BANGLADESHI AUTHORITIES IS 
STILL GOING ON. TWENTY-ONE-THOUSAND REFUGEES ARE IN TWO CAMPS IN 
AN AREA OF BANGLADESH CALLED THE COX'S BAZAAR.  U-N-H-C-R 
SPOKESWOMAN PAM O'TOOLE SAYS THE REFUGEES REFUSE FOOD RATIONS AND
WILL NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO FEEDING CENTERS.

                        ///O'TOOLE ACT///

         THEY'RE CONTINUING THE SIT-DOWN DEMONSTRATION.  THERE'S 
         BEEN QUITE A TENSE STAND-OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW.  
         THERE ARE RIOT POLICE LINED UP ON ONE SIDE AND THE  
         DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING ALONG THE OTHER SIDE.  SO, 
         THEY'RE REFUSING TO MOVE.  THEY WANT WRITTEN ASSURANCES 
         FROM THE (BANGLADESH) GOVERNMENT THAT IT WON'T SEND THEM
         BACK TO MYANMAR AGAINST THEIR WILL.

                          ///END ACT///

//OPT// BANGLADESHI AUTHORITIES HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED THE 
FORCIBLE REPATRIATION OF THE REFUGEES.  BUT, MS. O'TOOLE SAYS 
BANGLADESH INSISTS THAT THE REFUGEES (MUST) EVENTUALLY GO HOME.

                    ///SECOND O'TOOLE ACT///

         ALTHOUGH THE BANGLADESHI OFFICIALS HAVE ADMITTED THAT 
         SENDING BACK MEDICAL CASES -- LIKE THE PARTLY PARALYZED 
         MAN WHO WAS SENT BACK OVER THE WEEKEND, THAT THAT WAS A 
         MISTAKE.  AND THEY WOULD INTRODUCE MEDICAL SCREENING IN 
         THE FUTURE.  THERE'S STILL NO INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD
         ACTUALLY SUSPEND THE REPATRIATION.

                   ///END ACT///  //END OPT//

MS. O'TOOLE SAYS SOME OF THE REFUGEES VOW THEY WILL NEVER RETURN 
TO BURMA WHILE IT IS UNDER MILITARY RULE.  THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY
HAS SENT THREE LETTERS TO THE BANGLADESHI AUTHORITIES  PROTESTING
THE FORCED DEPORTATIONS.  THE LATEST WAS SENT FROM THE ACTING 
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ON WEDNESDAY.  MS. O'TOOLE SAYS NO
FORMAL REPLY HAS, AS YET, BEEN RECEIVED TO ANY OF THESE LETTERS. 
(SIGNED)