Human rights group slams handling o

[ausgeo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Date:	24 Sep 1997 

The Nation 
Human rights group slams handling of Burma exiles 
The Nation 
LONDON-BASED human rights group Amnesty International (AI) has slammed the 
Thai army in its recent monthly report for violating international norms by 
forcing thousands of Burmese ethnic minorities fleeing persecution to return 
to the trouble-plagued country. 
In the report entitled "Kingdom of Thailand: Erosion of Refugee Rights", AI 
accused the Thai army of violating the principle of non-refoulement [the 
principle of providing asylum to refugees] by forcibly returning thousands of 
refugees to Burma earlier this year, where they face widespread human rights 
violations from the military government. 
"The internationally recognised principle of non-refoulement forbids the 
returning of any person to a country where he or she would be at risk of 
serious human rights violations. AI is concerned about the Thai authorities' 
violation of international obligations to protect refugees and fears that it 
sets an ominous precedent for the future of refugee protection in Thailand," 
AI said in the report. 
It added that Thai authorities may have plans to return more refugees during 
the upcoming dry season, which begins in November. 
AI said it was not certain if the Thai army was acting on its own or just 
following orders from the civilian government. 
"Either way, the Thai government is not living up to its duties, for it is the 
responsibility of that government to ensure compliance with Thailand's 
international obligations," the report said. 
According to the report, the 9th Infantry Division of the First Army sent back 
over 4,000 refugees in Thailand's western province of Kanchanaburi and 
Ratchaburi between February and March of this year. Similar incidents also 
occurred in May and June. 
The report said that in the midst of forced repatriation, thousands of 
refugees trying to enter Thailand were barred from doing so by Thai security 
forces. 
"The 9th Division also reportedly designated the end of June as the final date 
when refugees from Myanmar [Burma] could cross the border. They asserted that 
by then the fighting had stopped and it was therefore safe for the refugees to 
remain in Myanmar," the report said. 
While the Thai government regards members of Burma's ethnic minorities seeking 
refuge in the camps along the border as "displaced people", other Burmese 
refugees outside these temporary shelters are considered "illegal immigrants" 
and are liable to arrest, fines and deportation to the border, according to 
the report. 
AI called on the Thai government to abide by the principle of non-refoulement, 
conduct training for military officers regarding international standards on 
the treatment of refugees and asylum-seekers, work with the Association of 
Southeast Asian Nations to promote respect for human rights and take immediate 
measures towards ratifying the 1951 United Nations Convention relating to the 
status of Refugees and its 1967 Protocol.