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SCMP: Janta's Plea for visit poses



Subject: SCMP: Janta's Plea for visit poses political dilemma

News from South China Morning Post
SOUTH ASIA TODAY

Junta's plea for visit poses political dilemma

BANGLADESH by ARSHAD MAHMUD in Dhaka 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bangladesh is facing a dilemma as to how to respond to stepped-up Burmese
requests for the head of the Rangoon junta to visit Dhaka. 


A Bangladeshi official said the requests underlined the junta's desperation
to break out of its diplomatic isolation. 

On the one hand, Dhaka is keen to invite General Than Shwe for the simple
reason that the visit could expedite repatriation of the 21,000-odd Burmese
refugees, known as Rohingyas, still languishing in border camps more than
eight years after they were forced to flee their homes. 

On the other, it has failed to extract any firm commitment from Rangoon
that the visit would indeed put an end to the refugee crisis. 

Bangladesh first received a formal request for the visit more than six
months ago, but was hesitant to respond for fear of incurring the wrath of
Western powers which have imposed sanctions on Burma for its human rights
abuses. 

But a few weeks ago Dhaka reportedly received the green light from the
donor community for the general to visit. 

A diplomat told Foreign Minister Abdus Samad Azad: "We'll shut our eyes. We
understand your compulsion in promoting better ties with your neighbour." 

The donors apparently agreed because they have a vital interest in seeing
an end to the refugee problem. They are footing the refugees' food bill. 

Emboldened by the donors' agreement - and by a message from the United
Nations refugee agency in Rangoon that a formal invitation from Prime
Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajed to General Than Shwe could lead to the
successful resolution of the refugee problem - Dhaka decided to go ahead. 

But the Burmese authorities are still being equivocal about the refugee
issue and Bangladesh has put the visit on hold at least for the time being. 

"They've refused to give us any firm commitment to restart the stalled
repatriation of the remaining refugees," an official said. "Unless we have
that, we'll simply sit on it." 

The visit to Dhaka next month of Burmese Foreign Minister Win Aung is
expected to nudge the two sides closer to an understanding.