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A protest by ABSL against UNHCR's m (r)
Subject: A protest by ABSL against UNHCR's maltreament
Memorandum
To.
Mr. Dennis Mcnamara
Director, Protection Division
UNHCR, Geneva
Switzerland.
Dated : September
20, 1996.
In the wake of military crack down on peaceful
demonstrations in
Burma,
thousands of pro-democracy activists fled to the
neighbouring
countries -
India, Thailand and Bangladesh.
In October, 1988, the Government of India set up
(3) refugee
camps (Two
in Mizoram and one camp in Manipur) for Burmese
pro-democracy
activists who reached Indo-Burma border to take
refuge. Though
State
government provided daily rations, there were
neither health care
nor
medical supply for campers. Besides, warm clothing
and blankets
were not
adequate enough among the campers so that we had
to join various
types
of manual jobs to sort out the said problems. The
most serious
problem
was lack of security in the camps. For example,
the Champhai camp
is
located merely 7kms from the border. One camp
leader was
mercilessly
beaten to death by unidentified persons in 1990
and two capers
were taken
into Burma by SLORC soldiers in early 1991. Later
they were
tortured to
dead in the army camp.
Camp life was so monotonous and lack of freedom
that in mid-1990
campers started leaving the camp. They also
suffered from
depression and
frustration in the camps. However, it was very
difficult for non-
professional peoples like Brumese students and
youth to get even
meagre
jobs for their livelihoods in Mizoram State. So
that refugee
status from
UNHCR in New Delhi.
Now total numbers of Burmese refugees recognized
as "persons of
concern" of UNHCR is about 300. Majority of them
are being
provided
a monthly subsistance allowance of Rs.1200 per
month per person
by the
UNHCR office in New Delhi. However, a dependent
person receives
only
500/- Rs per month. It is very unreasonable and
illogical. Also
many of
our colleagues have been refused to recognize as
persons of
concern after
several interviews. Some applicants have to wait
for almost one
year. But
the result was simply no for some of them.
The attitude of the UNHCR towards Burmese refugees
has changed
since
1993. Some of the UNHCR officials in New Delhi
have been utterly
inhuman in their attitude and treatment towards
refugees who are
under
their protection. Though we were treated like
sub-human or
criminals, we
had to swallow our pride and dignity for the sake
of fellow
refugees and
for our survival in this alien land.
In April-May 1996, some Burmese nationals whose
cases were turned
down by UNHCR staged an indefinate hunger strike
in front of the
UNHCR office in New Delhi. However the UNHCR's
officials did not
offer a satisfactory solution. Instead the
officials brought
Delhi police who
mercilessly beated Burmese refugees who were
undergoing hunger
strike.
Later, they were forced to return to the
Indo-Burma border. The
UNHCR
assured that the Ministry of External Affairs of
India would not
push back
Burmese refugees to Burma.
However, contrary to this UNHCR's assurance, the
Mizoram state
government made an official announcement in
August, 1996, which
said
Burmese nationalities must leave Mizoram before
August 13 or will
be
rewarded heavy punishment. Actually, this was not
the first time.
In
September, 1994 the Mizoram State Government
deported non-Mizos
who
were staying in Mizoram, including 10,000 Burmese
refugees.
Therefore,
UNHCR Delhi office's pressure on Burmese refugees
to return to
Mizoram seems to be ill-motivated and contrary to
the objectives
and
principles of UNHCR.
Moreover, since July of this year, UNHCR officials
have been
verbally
informing to Burmese refugees that UNHCR will
terminate the
monthly
financial assistance of Rs.1200 from October, 1996
onwards. But
without
having adequate professional skills or proper
training, no one
can get job
in this already over populated countries.
Therefore, we cannot
sustain our
day-to-day life in New Delhi without this
subsistance allowance
provided
by UNHCR. Thus UNHCR cannot shirk its
responsibilities towards
refugees unless alternate protective measures are
taken for
refugees whose
Subsistance Allowance is said to be terminated.
Finally, we would like to request you to reform
the attitude of
some
officials in New Delhi office of UNHCR and educate
them to treat
refugees with compassion and dignity.
Our demands
1. UNHCR's officials in New Delhi office should
treat its
persons of
concern with compassion and dignity in
accordance with its
principles.
2. UNHCR's officials should accept that it is
untimely to
terminate
financial assistance to Burmese refugees who
have never been
provided adequate professional or proper
trainings.
3. Appointment time for newly applicants should
be scheduled as
soon as possible and results should be come
out without
delay.
4. Those who have been recognised as persons of
concern of
UNHCR studying further education outside
Delhi should be
assisted rather than cutting of their
Subsistance Allowance.
5. Since Lump sum amount (15,000/- Rs. per
person) is not
enough
for a proper self-reliance programme, UNHCR
should
reconsider
its pressure on refugees to give up their
Subsistance
Allowance and
withdraw one time-grant (Lump Sum). We view
that it will
make
more troubles to the refugees.
6. As the basic commodities are skyrocketing (At
least 5 times
higher
than 1990), Subsistance Allowance should be
increased from
1200/- Rs. per person per month to 2500/- Rs.
7. The cases of UNHCR's recognized Burmese
refugees who were
not provided Subsistance Allowance and those
who were
rejected
should be reviewed and reconsidered.
Signed/-
Burmese refugees in India
1. Mr. Min Nang Bu-54
2. Hla Saw --
3. Benjamin Seng Nung --
4. Myint Aye Bu-187
5. Aung Dun Bu-180
6. Za Kup Mang Bu-220
7. Shar Aung Bu-12
8. Sehu Bu-228
9. Nan Oo Bu-197
10. Myint Thein Bu-171
11. Sanpai Bu-186
12. Khin Mg Yee Bu-40
13. Lai Lian Thara Bu-
14. Lal Laum Thang Bu-173
15. Kyaw Than Bu-3
16. Sang Zel Bu-262
17. Thein Myint Bu-86
18. Win Aung Bu-19
19. Soe Aung Bu-200
20. Kyo Nyo Bu-8
21. Soe Myint Bu-127
22. Aye Ko Bu-241
23. Khar Mang Bu-217
24. Nyi Nyi Lwin Bu-9
25. Za San Oo Bu-85
26. Mal Saun Liane Bu-80
27. Tuan Sang Bu-208
28. Biak Kung Bu-248
29. Bawi Lian Bu-250
30. Zo Zum Bu-74
31. Val Tial Tuan Hre Bu-144
32. Biak Vum Bu-155
33. Mang Za Ming R-4590
34. Khawliannghawra --
35. Tuan Tawk Luai --
36. Ngun Ceu Bu-150
37. B.S. Tin Mang Bu-132
38. Mah Iang Bu-194
39. Pa Hniang Bu-264
40. Melisa R-4017
41. Mang Ceu Bu-223
42. Sui Chin Bu-226
43. Sung Zi
44. Khuang Cin Par Bu-140
45. Victor Biak Lian Bu-83
46. C. Lian Khuma Bu-123
47. Aye Win R-4036
48. Khual Chung Bu-257
49. Za Khar Bu-276
50. Shin Indasara R-4502
51. U Sandawara Bu-174
52. Ba Aung Bu-59
53. Moe Choke Bu-21
54. John Biak Lung R-6432
55. James Cung Cung
56. Lai Lian Thang R-3883
57. Zabik R-4541
58. Lung Thang R-4595
59. Kan Thing Bu-262
60. Dehu Bu-228
61. Sa Lia Ta Dung Mang Bu-210
62. John Kip
63. Zonunmawi Bu-130
64. Maung Aung Kyaw Bu-119
65. No Kio Bik Bu-112
66. Salai Thawng Lian R-
67. Tial Aui Sang --
68. Salai Van Kip Thang Bu-118
69. Salai Owis Duli Ceu Bu-192
70. Salai H.Vung
71. Maung Chun Khar
72. Salai Sang Zel Bu-262
73. Awng Wa Bu-218
74. Awng Lawt
75. Seng Awng R-
76. Aung Aung R-4070
77. Mr. Mang Bu-189
78. Salai Samuel
79. Thla Ceu Lian
80. Hram Nei Luai Bu-167
81. Ral Bawi R-4645
82. Tiul Par Bu-227
83. Thang Lian Bu-68
84. Let Lam Bu-252
85. Thang Le Bu-
86. Tin Maung Oo Bu-58
87. Mung Aung Kyaw Bu-201
88. Soe Win Bu-58
89. Tun Tun Oo Bu- 22
90. Min Min Tun Bu- 22