31/3/98:REGARDING REFUGEES IN SALWE

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

/* Written Tue 31 Mar 11:00am 1998 by drunoo@xxxxxxxxxxxx in igc:reg.burma */
/* -------------" Concerning Refugees in Salween Nat.Pk "----------------- */

Concerning with Refugees in Salween National Park
*************************************************

There have been reports on Burmanet about the precarious situation
of Karen refugees who refuse to move out of the Thailand's Salween
National Park. Also learnt from a recent posting by the Burmese
Border Consortium, an NGOs which has engaged in support work for the
refugees at the border since 1984, is that such moving of the Karen
refugees are a part of planned consolidation of the smaller camps
into larger ones. All report indicate there are resistance from
refugees, owing to various concerns, to move into new camp site. As
we are well aware, the protection issues (i.e. the Royal Thai
Government granting of refugee status to the refugees in the camps),
the Karen National Union's cease-fire talks with Burmese army
(which unfortunately stalled since early 1997), the ethnic minority
people's federal movement and Burma's pro-democracy campaign are
politically inter-connected. Following is an assessment on the
current situation regarding the refugees etc.

THE JUSTIFICATION TO MOVE

Though there've been immediate concerns about security and other
facilities at the new camp sites -- which we must not fail to seek
improvement of these in immediate future -- there are some factors
favouring for refugees to move to the new & larger sites. One of the
reasons is that the larger camps inside Thailand will provide a good
access to UNHCR. It is true that, in recent years, the NGOs such as
BBC are able to go freely to smaller refugee camps dotted along the
border in order to provide most basic assistance (mainly rice and
fish-paste). We simply should not expect the UNHCR to do the same.
As the world's largest humanitarian relief organization, the UNHCR
will need more established settings to do its work.

The other factor favouring the refugee to move is in order to
separate between the freedom fighters and refugees. It is possible
that the KNU freedom fighters may cross back and forth of the border
as refugees population may necessarily include their family members.
While nobody, including the United Nations, should dispute the Karen
National Union's right to rebel against the Burmese military
government, the UNHCR must be scrupulous in observing its mandate:
i.e. to support only the civilian refugees and not the armed
opposition groups. Therefore, refugee groups moving away from border
will give a good ground for UNHCR to provide necessary assistance.

In this connection, we, of course, must not forget that the most
important requirement is the Royal Thai Government to grant refugee
status to our refugees. The humanitarian assistance from UNHCR may
be possible only after the RTG give permission to the UN. There
are some signs that Prime Minister Chuan's Cabinet is moving on
the matter. However, we must be vigilant and continue appealing to
the Royal Thai Government regarding this matter.

EVEN MORE TOUGH TIME FOR KNLA FREEDOM FIGHTERS

The Karen National Liberation Army, the armed wing of KNU, had
suffered visible military set-backs in recent years. Current
arrangement of the refugee groups moving away from the border may
deprive those freedom fighters from necessary emotional supports.
Such concerns may be the underlying reasons that some refugee groups
refusing to move away from the border (the Salween National Park
especially). On the other hand, one principal reason the KNLA does
not enter cease-fire agreement with Burmese army is the fear that
refugees may be forced-back to Burma once the cease-fire strucks.

Nevertheless, the Burma's overall political environment seems to be
changing with time and some policy adjustment are required not only
from those of KNLA freedom fighters, but also from all other ethnic
minority rebel groups. Current political environment, in the context
of the ethnic federal movement since 1948, may be considered as a
transitional phase from the military confrontation to a non-violent
political struggle. Since the events of 1988, the battle ground in
the fight for ethnic freedom has gradually shifted towards that of
political one. Therefore, in the short term, the ethnic rebel groups
should keep their military operations to an essential minimum and,
as a long term objective, should promote a policy of disarmament.

Then again, the implementation of a political policy can only be
done in a comprehensive manner. For example, we cannot possibly
expect the KNLA to sign cease-fire with Burmese army, unless the
UNHCR and, especially, Royal Thai Government provide refugee status
to those in camps and ensure no forcible repatriation made to the
refugees. Equally, no ethnic minority rebel groups will consider the
disarmament until a proper dialogue is begin and a federal
constitution is on track. Similarly, it would appear that unless
refugees themselves come out to receive assistance, the protection
and assistance from UNHCR might not be forthcoming. In this context,
some compromise to move to new camp sites is worth a ponder by our
refugee colleagues and friends.

MORE ASSISTANCE WILL BE NEEDED IN FUTURE

The Burmese Border Consortium has been rightly praised by the donors
for its efficiency in distributing aid to large number of refugees
over the years. One of the factor that must be taken into
consideration is that the BBC mainly provide rice and fish-paste to
the refugees. The refugees, therefore, must have been supplementing
other necessities, i.e. vegetable, meat etc (& other incomes too) by
themselves. Such arrangements are possible, and seem more suitable,
when refugee population is dispersed as small communities. If the
refugees are concentrated in large numbers in one site, they will
certainly need more assistance. We must advocate the UNHCR and
the donors to be more generous to those refugees.

Security concerns for refugee camps has been heightened in recent
weeks. Other issues are equally pressing. According to one recent
report, the situation in some existing camps (Than Hin and Don Yang)
are egregious. In those camps, the refugees are not permitted to
build a bamboo sleeping platform and therefore all refugees have to
sleep on the ground since the time of establishment of that camp in
May 1997. The Thai authorities only allow the plastic sheeting as
the roof, it reports further. Certainly, much more humane conduct on those
refugees are needed from the part of the authorities.

With best regards, U Ne Oo.

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