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UN & BANGLADESH AT ODDS OVER REFUGE (r)
- Subject: UN & BANGLADESH AT ODDS OVER REFUGE (r)
- From: moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Fri, 25 Jul 1997 22:20:00
Subject: UN & BANGLADESH AT ODDS OVER REFUGEES
DATE=7/25/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217654
TITLE=BURMA REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: THE UNITED NATIONS HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES, OR
U-N-H-C-R, AND THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH REMAIN AT ODDS OVER
REPATRIATING THOUSANDS OF MUSLIM REFUGEES TO BURMA. LISA SCHLEIN
REPORTS FROM GENEVA THAT WHILE BANGLADESH HAS TEMPORARILY
SUSPENDED THE FORCIBLE DEPORTATION OF THE REFUGEES, IT INSISTS IT
WILL CONTINUE TO SEND THE REFUGEES HOME.
TEXT: THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS THE SITUATION IN BANGLADESH
HAS NOT IMPROVED. IT SAYS A TENSE STAND-OFF BETWEEN THOUSANDS
OF BURMESE MUSLIM REFUGEES AND THE BANGLADESHI AUTHORITIES IS
STILL GOING ON. TWENTY-ONE-THOUSAND REFUGEES ARE IN TWO CAMPS IN
AN AREA OF BANGLADESH CALLED THE COX'S BAZAAR. U-N-H-C-R
SPOKESWOMAN PAM O'TOOLE SAYS THE REFUGEES REFUSE FOOD RATIONS AND
WILL NOT SEND THEIR CHILDREN TO FEEDING CENTERS.
///O'TOOLE ACT///
THEY'RE CONTINUING THE SIT-DOWN DEMONSTRATION. THERE'S
BEEN QUITE A TENSE STAND-OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS NOW.
THERE ARE RIOT POLICE LINED UP ON ONE SIDE AND THE
DEMONSTRATORS CHANTING ALONG THE OTHER SIDE. SO,
THEY'RE REFUSING TO MOVE. THEY WANT WRITTEN ASSURANCES
FROM THE (BANGLADESH) GOVERNMENT THAT IT WON'T SEND THEM
BACK TO MYANMAR AGAINST THEIR WILL.
///END ACT///
//OPT// BANGLADESHI AUTHORITIES HAVE TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED THE
FORCIBLE REPATRIATION OF THE REFUGEES. BUT, MS. O'TOOLE SAYS
BANGLADESH INSISTS THAT THE REFUGEES (MUST) EVENTUALLY GO HOME.
///SECOND O'TOOLE ACT///
ALTHOUGH THE BANGLADESHI OFFICIALS HAVE ADMITTED THAT
SENDING BACK MEDICAL CASES -- LIKE THE PARTLY PARALYZED
MAN WHO WAS SENT BACK OVER THE WEEKEND, THAT THAT WAS A
MISTAKE. AND THEY WOULD INTRODUCE MEDICAL SCREENING IN
THE FUTURE. THERE'S STILL NO INDICATION THAT THEY WOULD
ACTUALLY SUSPEND THE REPATRIATION.
///END ACT/// //END OPT//
MS. O'TOOLE SAYS SOME OF THE REFUGEES VOW THEY WILL NEVER RETURN
TO BURMA WHILE IT IS UNDER MILITARY RULE. THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY
HAS SENT THREE LETTERS TO THE BANGLADESHI AUTHORITIES PROTESTING
THE FORCED DEPORTATIONS. THE LATEST WAS SENT FROM THE ACTING
HIGH COMMISSIONER FOR REFUGEES ON WEDNESDAY. MS. O'TOOLE SAYS NO
FORMAL REPLY HAS, AS YET, BEEN RECEIVED TO ANY OF THESE LETTERS.
(SIGNED)