MIZZIMA : Samata Party writes to th

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Samata Party writes to UNHCR Chief to help Burmese refugees

March 25, 1999, New Delhi
MIZZIMA News Group

Samata Party General Secretary Ms. Jaya Jaitly has written to the Chief of
Mission of UNHCR in India to extend assistance to those Burmese refugees
who came away to India due to violent military oppression in Burma. It is
recalled that a group of ten refugees from Burma went on an indefinite
hungerstrike in front of UNHCR office in New Delhi from March 22nd,
claiming that UNHCR has neglected their genuine plights for refugee
status.

In her letter dated 24th March to Mr. Augustine Mahiga, Chief of Mission
of UNHCR, Ms. Jaya Jaitly urged the UNHCR to consider favorably the
request of the Burmese refugees. "As humanitarian citizens of India and a
party that supports human rights across the world, we wonder how can
anyone expect refugee students or families to survive and get shelter and
food with no funds and no work permits", said the Samata Party General
Secretary in her letter. 

The letter also pointed out that the Samata Party has not only been
supporting the pro-democracy movement in Burma but it also has been giving
sympathy and support on a purely humanitarian basis to those refugees who
came away to India to escape jail or death in Burma. The Samata Party is a
partner in the ruling coalition government of India and it is headed by
Defence Minister Mr. George Fernandes.

Meanwhile, the ten refugees who were released late night yesterday and
went to continue their hungerstrike in front of UNHCR office were
re-arrested by the police force of the Lodi Colony police station about 2
p.m today. The police informed that they received a complaint call from a
UNHCR legal officer in Jor Bagh, Lodi Road. The police had told the
refugees that they would be arrested if they continue their hungerstrike.
However, the refugees have been insisting that they will not call off
their hungerstrike unless the UNHCR extends refugee status and assistance
to them.

After learning the arrest of the refugees, Mr. Rajesh Talwar, Legal
Counsel and Mr. Suhas Chakma, Deputy Director of the South Asia Human
Rights Documentation Center (SAHRDC) went to the Lodi Road Police station
about 3.00 p.m today and inquired about the circumstances pertaining to
the arrest and detention of the Burmese refugees. The SAHRDC is a
Delhi-based human rights organization. They also interviewed the refugees.

Moreover, Mr. Ravi Nair, Executive Director of the SAHRDC wrote to the
Delhi Police Commissioner Mr. V. N. Singh and also Head of Human Rights
Cell of Delhi Police today to intervene the matter and release the Burmese
refugees. 

"The right to peaceful protest is enshrined in our Constitution. This
right is also available to non-nationals as per the case law laid down by
the Supreme Court of India", Ravi Nair said in his letter, which is also
addressed to Mr. Pradip Srivastava, Deputy Commissioner of Police, South
District, Delhi. 

"The unwillingness of the UNHCR to address the problems of the Burmese
asylum seekers forced them to take such a drastic step to resort to hunger
strike", he further mentioned in his letter. 

The Burmese protestors are currently being detained in the Lodi Road
police station in Delhi. When our reporter went and interviewed the
refugees in the police station this evening, the protesting Burmese
refugees told that they will continue their hungerstrike at wherever they
are till UNHCR recognizes them as mandated refugees. 

MIZZIMA News Group
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