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THE NATION: UNHCR to assess



Politics 

      UNHCR to assess
      dissident

      THE United Nations High Commission for
      Refugees (UNHCR) Tuesday began
      interviewing convicted Burmese student
      San Naing to determine whether he is
      eligible for ''people of concern'' status, an
      informed source at the immigration bureau
      said. 

      San Naing, 32, who was released from jail
      on Friday, may remain in custody at the
      Immigration Detention Centre pending
      deportation unless he can find a third
      country to accept him, the source said. 

      So far the United States, Canada and
      Australia have refused his request for
      asylum on the grounds of his violent record.
      The granting of UNHCR status is one of
      several conditions required for San Naing
      to gain acceptance to a third country. 

      Thai authorities have already indicated they
      do not want him to stay here, although they
      will not try to deport him to Burma. 

      A UNHCR source said it will take some
      time before San Naing's assessment --
      which will have to be referred to
      headquarters in Geneva as he was found
      guilty of criminal conduct -- can be
      completed. 

      In 1989, San Naing and an accomplice
      hijacked a flight from Burma to U-Tapao
      and demanded the release of Burmese
      opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi and
      other opposition leaders. 

      San Naing and his colleague Ye Yint were
      sentenced to three years in prison. Ye Yint
      was granted political asylum by the United
      States after his release in 1992. 

      In 1993, San Naing was convicted of
      possessing explosives and ammunition for
      automatic weapons. He was sentenced to
      five years and four months in jail and was
      released last Friday. 

      He was also convicted of illegal entry for
      which he will be deported. 

      The Nation