23/7/98:FACSIMILE LETTER TO UNHCR I

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written Mon 3 Aug 11:00am 1998 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* ---------------" 23/7/98 Letter to UNHCR Bkk "-------------------- */

FACSIMILE LETTER TO UNHCR, THAILAND (23/7/98)
*********************************************
FROM:
DR U NE OO
18 SHANNON PLACE
ADELAIDE SA 5000
AUSTRALIA.

TO:
MS AMELIA BONIFACIO (FAX:66-2-280-0555)
REPRESENTATIVE FOR UNHCR, THAILAND
P.O.BOX 2-121, RAJDANMERN, BANGKOK 10200

Dear Ms Bonifacio:

I am writing to you to urge UNHCR in Thailand to improve its current
activities with regard to monitoring and support to the refugees from
Burma. According to a report by THE NATIONS on 11th JUne 1998, UNHCR
in Thailand, due to shortage of available staff, will only be involved
in rotational monitoring activities of recently consolidated refugee
camps. I particularly ask UNHCR in Thailand to set up on-site
monitoring offices in at least few of these camps. The underlying
reasons that warrant such increased role of UNHCR in Thailand are as
follows:

1. Earlier this year, the Royal Thai Government in principle had
agreed UNHCR to take a greater role for the protection and support of
Burma's refugees. We are aware that, in previous years, the Royal Thai
Government allowed UNHCR in Thailand to have one roving protection
officer for nearly 100,000 refugees from Burma. I believed it is the
right time for the RTG to give substantive commitment to the
internationally recognized protection of Burma's refugees. In this
context, the RTG allowing the UNHCR to set up on-site monitoring
offices in some of those camps will be the first appropriate step.

2. Although the new Royal Thai Government of Prime Minister Chuan
appears to have more flexible policy in supporting Burmese democrats
in Thailand, the treatments of Burmese refugees and displaced people
at the local level remain unchanged. For example, some of Burma's
exiled-MPs, in spite of their high political profile, have often been
harassed and, recently, were being intimidated to leave Thailand by
local Thai police. Therefore, it is urgent for refugees in these camps
to have on-site protection offices of UNHCR.

3. There have been frequent reports of Burmese Persons of Concern as
well as asylum-seekers in Bangkok are in dire states, because of
limited capacity of Safe Area. The much smaller numbers of refugees
who passed through resettlement examinations couldn't leave Thailand
because they cannot get into Safe Area in Bangkok. By opening UNHCR
offices in those refugee camps, such situation on Persons of Concerns
and asylum-seekers in Bangkok can become improved. Those wishing to
apply for resettlements, eventhough of being smaller chance of
practical success, can nevertheless be given opportunity to apply in
those camps.

4. Finally, as UNHCR and Royal Thai Government in no doubt are aware,
the ethnic minority refugees previously living in smaller camps along
Burma-Thailand border (for example, Salween National Park) have
decided to move to new & larger camps in the hope of receiving
protection and assistance from UNHCR. This move has to be recognized
as the serious commitment that has been made from the part of refugees
in order to receive international helps. The refugees' expectation for
a proper international protection from UNHCR still has to be met. The
UNHCR setting up of on-site monitoring offices in some of these
refugee camps will certainly give a good impression to the refugees. I
therefore urge UNHCR in Bangkok to increase its resources for
protection and assistance of refugees from Burma.

In closing I thank you for your kind attention to this matter.
Continuing supports to our refugees from Burma by UNited Nations and
High Commissioner's offices are greatly appreciated by the Burmese
people.

Yours sincerely,
Sd. U Ne Oo.
Copies to: 1. Secretary Albright,c/-US Foreign Operation Sub-Committee,
                Washington.
           2. Mr de Soto, U.N. DEpt. of Political Affairs,
                U.N. New York.

/* Endreport */
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