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BURMA REFUGEES ...VOA




DATE=7/22/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217488
TITLE=BURMA REFUGEES (L/S VER)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, OR 
U-N-H-C-R, REPORTS BANGLADESH HAS FORCIBLY REPATRIATED 212 MUSLIM
REFUGEES TO BURMA.  THIS IS THE SECOND FORCED REPATRIATION SINCE 
SUNDAY, WHEN MORE THAN 180 REFUGEES WERE DEPORTED.  MORE FROM 
REPORTER LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA.

TEXT:  THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY CALLS THE CONDUCT OF THE BANGLADESH
AUTHORITIES A DISGRACE. 

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN PAM O'TOOLE SAYS THE AGENCY INITIALLY 
THOUGHT SUNDAY'S FORCED REPATRIATION OF BURMESE REFUGEES MAY HAVE
BEEN ORDERED BY SOME LOCAL OFFICIALS ...

                        ///O'TOOLE ACT///

         BUT THIS OBVIOUSLY APPEARS TO BE SOMETHING THAT HAS BEEN
         ORDERED BY FAIRLY SENIOR AUTHORITIES IN BANGLADESH.  SO 
         WE HAVE TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN NOW TO MAKE SURE IT 
         DOESN'T HAPPEN  AGAIN.  APPARENTLY, THERE IS A PLAN NOW 
         FOR ANOTHER REPATRIATION IN TWO DAYS TIME. 

                          ///END ACT///

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY PLANS TO URGENTLY TAKE THE MATTER UP WITH 
THE BANGLADESHI FOREIGN MINISTRY.  AND, IF THE FORCIBLE 
REPATRIATIONS CONTINUE, THE AGENCY SAYS IT WILL GO DIRECTLY TO 
BANGLADESH'S PRIME MINISTER TO STOP, WHAT IT CALLS, "THIS 
UNACCEPTABLE PRACTICE." (EDS: CUT HERE FOR SHORT VERSION)

//OPT// THERE ARE SOME 21-THOUSAND MUSLIM REFUGEES IN TWO CAMPS. 
BURMA HAS AGREED TO ACCEPT 75-HUNDRED OF THEM.  MS. O'TOOLE SAYS 
BEFORE TUESDAY'S REPATRIATION TOOK PLACE, POLICE ASKED VOLUNTEERS
TO COME FORWARD FROM THE REFUGEE POPULATION.  SHE SAYS, HOWEVER, 
THAT ONLY TWO FAMILIES VOLUNTEERED.

                    ///SECOND O'TOOLE ACT///

         NEVERTHELESS, THIS MORNING (TUESDAY MORNING) A GROUP 
         INCLUDING  MANY WOMEN AND CHILDREN AND SICK PEOPLE WERE 
         HERDED ONTO BUSES AND TAKEN TO THE BORDER.  THEY WERE 
         PUT INTO A HOLDING CENTER OVERNIGHT, THEY'D BEEN TAKEN 
         OUT OF THEIR HUTS YESTERDAY.  THE HUTS WERE DISMANTLED 
         BEHIND THEM AND THE PLASTIC SHEETING WAS TAKEN AWAY.

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

MS. O'TOOLE DESCRIBES THE REFUGEES AS DISTRAUGHT.  SHE SAYS MANY 
MUSLIM MEN HAVE FLED INTO THE HILLS TO AVOID BEING FORCED BACK TO
BURMA.  WHILE THESE DEPORTATIONS ARE TAKING PLACE, MS. O'TOOLE 
SAYS MORE REFUGEES ARE ARRIVING IN BANGLADESH.  SHE SAYS THE 
REFUGEES HAVE TOLD U-N STAFF MEMBERS THEY HAD BEEN EVICTED FROM 
THEIR LAND AND PUSHED INTO FORCED LABOR BY THE BURMESE 
AUTHORITIES. (SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/PCF/KL