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Urgent Action Appeal









URGENT ACTION

EXTERAL  (for general distribution)      
AI Index: ASA 39/02/95 Distr.: UA/SC

This is a limited action. Please restrict appeals to 20 per section.

UA136/95		Health concern			14 June 1995

Thailand		Maung Kyan, Mon refugee, early 30s
___________________________________________________________

Amnesty International is gravely concerned that Maung Kyan, an ethnic Mon 
refugee from Myanmar currently held in the Immigration Detention Center 
(IDC) in Bangkok, Thailand, may not be receiving the medical care that he 
urgently needs.

Maung Kyan lost both arms and both eyes in a land-mine explosion over 10 
years ago. He, his wife and their two young children arrived in 1994 from 
a refugee camp on the Myanmar/ Thailand border, and Maung Kyan was regis-
tered as a "person of concern" with the United Nations High Commissioner 
for Refugees (UNHCR) Thailand. In October 1994 he had a cornea been neces-
sary for him to be monitored for signs of the crones being rejected and 
must be maintained on anti-rejection medication. Efforts were also about 
to be made to see if it would be possible for him to be fitted with 
artificial arms (prostheses)

However, on 19 April 1995 Maung Kyan, his wife and two children were 
among 12 people arrested by police as "illegal immigrants" at Wat Prok, 
a Thai Mon temple in Bangkok. They were initially detained at Yannawa 
Police Precinct prison with ordinary criminal offenders in very hot 
conditions. Various organizations and individuals made repeated calls 
for his release or transfer to a more suitable location on humanitarian 
grounds and the case received much publicity. Amnesty International, 
which had a delegation in Thailand at the time, and other concerned organi-
zation, believed that the authorities would agree to Maung Kyan and his 
family being transferred to the Maneeloy Student Safe Area in Ratchaburi 
province where he could receive the treatment he needs. 

UNHCR reportedly requested permission from urgently on humanitarian 
grounds.Amnesty International has now learner that, almost two months 
later, Maung Kyan and his family remain in detention at the IDC in 
Bangkok. he is separated from his wife in detention, as men and women 
are segregated in the IDC and are locked in 24 hours a day. Maung Kyan 
has not been officially charged with "illegal immigration".  (Correction:
Maung Kyan is now housed in a room with his wife and childern, together.)	
							


BACKGROUND INFOMATION

There are currently around 70,000 Burmese refugees seeking sanctuary in 
Thailand, many of them menders of ethnic minorities such as the Mon and 
Karen living in refugee camps in border areas. Thailand has nit acceded 
to the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, and has not 
established comprehensive procedures for determining refugee status. 
As a consequence, refugees found outside of established camps are frugally 
arrested and detained for "illegal immigration". Although the UNHCR in 
Thailand is able to register as "person of concern" some of the people 
who apply to it for assistance, this does not provide adequate protection 
against detention for "illegal immigration".

International standards dealing with the protection of refugees and 
asylum seekers state that the detention of refugees and asylum-seekers 
should normally be avoided.

RECOMMENDED ACTION: Please send telegrams/faxes/express and airmail 
letters either in English or in your own language:

- expressing grave concern that Maung Kyan, an ethnic Mon refugees 
registered as a "person of concern by UNHCR who lost both arms and sight 
in both eyed and who has recently undergone a cornea transplant, has been 
detainee since 19 April  in the Immigration Detention Center (IDC) in 
Bangkok and may not be receiving the medical care and attention that he 
needs; 

- urging that Maung Kyan and his family be transferred out of the IDC to 
the Maneeloy Student Safe Area in Ratchaburi as a matter of urgency, so 
that he can be cared for by appropriate organizations in suitable condi-
tions;

- urging the Thai authorities to take all possible steps to assist Maung 
Kyan as quickly as possible on humanitarian grounds;

APPEALS TO

1)   Sanan Kachornprasart 
Minister of Interior
Ministry of Interior
Asdang Road
Bangkok 10200, Thailand 
Telegrams: minister of Interior, Bangkok, Thailand 
Faxes: 66 2 224 6191/ 66 2 226 1066/ 66 2 226 4371
Salutation: Dear Minister

2)   Chuan leekphai, Prime Minister
Office of Prime Minister
Government House
Nakhorn Pathom Road
Bangkok 10300
Thailand
Telegrams: Prime Minister Chuan Leekphai, Bangkok, Thailand 
Faxes: 66 2280 1443
Salutation: Dear Prime Minister

COPIES OF YOUR APPEALS TO:

and to diplomatic representatives of  Thailand accredited to your country 

PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat 
or your section office, if sending appeals after 27 July 1995.

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