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BURMA/REFUGEES (r)
DATE=6/3/98
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-233254
TITLE= BURMA /REFUGEES (L-ONLY)
BYLINE=AMY BICKERS
DATELINE= HONG KONG
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
INTRO: UNITED NATIONS OFFICIALS ARE AWAITING THAI GOVERNMENT
APPROVAL SO THEY CAN INCREASE ASSISTANCE TO BURMESE REFUGEES
LIVING AT THE THAI BORDER. AS AMY BICKERS REPORTS FROM THE V-O-A
ASIA NEWS CENTER, AN ANNOUNCEMENT IS EXPECTED THIS MONTH.
TEXT: AUTHORITIES IN THAILAND AND THE U-N HIGH COMMISSION FOR
REFUGEES HAVE AGREED IN PRINCIPLE TO EXPAND THE U-N-H-C-R'S ROLE
IN ASSISTING BURMESE REFUGEES ALONG THE THAI-BURMESE BORDER.
ACCORDING TO SURAPONG POSIANON, DIRECTOR GENERAL OF THE
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS DEPARTMENT AT THE THAI MINISTRY OF
FOREIGN AFFAIRS, FINAL APPROVAL IS NEEDED FROM PRIME MINISTER
CHUAN LEEKPAI. HE EXPECTS THIS WILL COME AT THE NEXT MEETING OF
THAILAND'S NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL, WHICH HAS NOT YET BEEN
SCHEDULED.
/// FIRST SURAPONG ACT ///
WE WOULD LIKE TO GIVE MORE ACCESS TO U-N-H-C-R REGARDING
THE CAMPS WHERE THERE ARE A NUMBER OF MYANMAR PEOPLE,
ABOUT 100-THOUSAND OF THEM. THESE ARE DISPLACED PERSONS,
AND THEY HAVE FLED THEIR COUNTRY BECAUSE OF HOSTILITIES
ALONG THE BORDER AREA, AND WE WOULD LIKE U-N-H-C-R,
WHICH HAS THE MANDATE IN DISPLACED PERSONS, TO HAVE A
BIGGER ROLE IN LOOKING AFTER THESE PEOPLE.
/// END ACT ///
U-N-H-C-R OFFICIALS REGULARLY VISIT THE BURMESE REFUGEE CAMPS,
AND MONITOR ACITIVIES THERE. BUT THEY MUST APPLY TO THAI
AUTHORITIES FOR PERMISSION EACH TIME THEY GO. THE NEW
ARRANGEMENT WOULD MEAN THEY COULD TRAVEL MORE FREELY AND TAKE A
MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ORGANIZING THE CAMPS.
BUT THAT'S NOT ALL. THE NEW SET-UP WOULD ALLOW THE U-N OFFICIALS
TO PROTECT ASYLUM SEEKERS. ACCORDING TO MR. SURAPONG, THAT MEANS
THE INTERNATIONAL BODY WOULD ACT AS A FORMAL CHANNEL FOR BURMESE
REFUGEES SEEKING CITIZENSHIP IN ANOTHER COUNTRY.
/// SECOND SURAPOING ACT ///
WE WANT TO HAVE MORE TRANPARENCY. IN THE PAST WE WERE
GETTING NEGATIVE REPORTS WHEN WE WERE SENDING THESE
PEOPLE BACK TO MYANMAR (BURMA) THAT THEY WERE NOT
RETURNED IN SAFETY AND DIGNITY. WE WANT MORE
TRANSPARENCY, AND
U-N-H-C-R SHOULD GIVE US THIS CREDENCE.
/// END ACT ///
// OPT // MR. SURAPONG SAYS RESETTLEMENT OPTIONS ARE LIMITED
FOR THE BURMESE REFUGEES, BECAUSE OF WHAT HE CALLS COMPASSION
FATIGUE IN A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES. HE SAYS THE U-N-H-C-R WILL
NEED TO WORK WITH THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT IN RANGOON TO ENSURE THE
REFUGEES WHO RETURN TO BURMA ARE WELL-TREATED.
/// THIRD SURAPONG ACT ///
I THINK THE U-N-H-C-R IS IN A POSTION TO HANDLE
IT. TO SEE THAT THAILAND OBSERVES NEUTRALITY,
AND THAT WE ARE NOT FORCED TO SEND THESE
PEOPLE BACK, THAT THEY GO BACK VOLUNTARILY, AND
THAT THE BURMESE GOVERNMENT WILL TAKE THEM AND
GIVE THEM SAFETY FOR RETURN.
/// END ACT /// /// END OPT ///
WHILE NO DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR THE U-N-H-C-R TO INCREASE ITS
INVOLVEMENT, THE THAI GOVERNMENT SAYS APPROVAL SHOULD COME LATER
THIS MONTH. HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATIONS EXPECT THE
U-N-H-C-R'S ROLE WOULD BE EXPANDED IMMEDIATELY. (SIGNED)
NEB/AB/GC/WTW
03-Jun-98 7:19 AM EDT (1119 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
.