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SCMP-Exiled students go along with



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: SCMP-Exiled students go along with resettlement

South China Morning Post
Friday, October 29, 1999

BURMA
Exiled students go along with resettlement
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE in Bangkok

Exiled Burmese students have pledged to co-operate with a resettlement drive
speeded up by Thailand in a climate of rapidly worsening relations with
Rangoon, the United Nations said yesterday.
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees said students also had promised to
respect Thai laws following an armed siege at the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok
this month.

"They have pledged their full co-operation," UNHCR regional representative
Jahanshah Assadi said.

"The initial feedback is that there will be quite a few interested in
resettlement."

In talks between the UNHCR and students at the Maneeloy camp on the
Thai-Burma border yesterday, many exiles expressed sorrow for the embassy
siege and an incident in which UNHCR workers were locked up.

"They are quite apologetic, in good faith. They were saddened by what had
happened," said Mr Assadi, who added many students feared they had a
tarnished reputation.

Thailand warned the exiles on Tuesday they should not abuse its hospitality
after fleeing the jurisdiction of Burma's military Government.

About 1,000 students were liing at Maneeloy camp and would be registered for
voluntary resettlement, the UNHCR said.

A further 900 have registered as refugees in Thailand but are not in contact
with the agency.

Eight to nine hundred more are expected to head for the Maneeloy camp soon

Eight governments had agreed informally to accept students, including the
United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and several European states
without a long tradition of accepting refugees, Mr Assadi said.

Diplomats had shown support for the students, he said.

"Already the signs look quite good."

Thailand has said it would like all the students classified as political
refugees to be sent to third countries within three years.

"We hope that is a target, not a deadline," said Mr Assadi, who said he had
held productive talks with Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan, who has
left for Geneva and talks with UN officials.

The UNHCR has stressed that resettlement is voluntary and that it already
has helped resettle 2,000 Burmese refugees who fled to Thailand.