The Nation - Stop, Burmese women te

[tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: The Nation - Stop, Burmese women tell PM 

The Nation - Nov 10, 1999.
Headlines
Stop, Burmese women tell PM

A GROUP of women's organisations from Burma yesterday issued an open letter
to Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai, requesting him to temporarily halt
deportation of Burmese illegal immigrants to prevent their further abuse and
rape.

The group, calling itself ''Women's Organisations from Burma'', suggested
that Burmese illegal immigrants who could not work in Thailand and were
refused entry to their own country should be placed in a safe area along the
border.

''On humanitarian grounds, we urgently call on the Thai government to
temporarily desist from deporting migrant workers. If migrants could not
work legally in Thailand and cannot be guaranteed security in their own
country, they will need permission to stay in safe and secure communities
along the border with basic amenities and access to NGOs,'' the letter read.

The letter, signed by 12 non-government organisations, was in response to
reports that Burmese soldiers had raped illegal immigrants sent back by
Thailand at the weekend and an unconfirmed report that two were drowned
while trying to swim back to Thai soil.

''We know that Thailand considers rape a very serious offence, particularly
when committed by authorities whose duty is to protect their citizens, and
we call on the Royal Thai government to demand that justice be brought
against the rapists,'' the letter said.

The group expressed hope that the government would re-evaluate its policy on
deportations and grant Burmese migrants safe refuge.


The Nation