7/12/99:LETTER TO UNHCR IN BANGKOK

[uneoo@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

WRITTEN WED 8 DEC 1999; 6:00AM

FACSIMILE LETTER TO MR JOHANSHAH ASSADI, UNHCR REP.IN THAILAND
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(Our friends, please help write letter to Mr Assadi, the representative
of UNHCR in Bangkok, regarding refugee situation in Thailand and in
Maneeloy; earlier my report also enclosed.)

Dr U Ne Oo 
18 Shannon Place
Adelaide SA 5000
Australia. 

7 December 1999.

Mr Johanshah Assadi
Rep.for UNHCR in Thailand
P.O.Box 2-121, Rajdanmnern
Bangkok 10200, Thailand.
Telefax:  + 66-2-280-0555

Dear Mr Assadi:

re: SITUATION IN MANEELOY CAMP

I am writing to express concerns about alleged harsh treatment of
residents in Maneeloy Holding Center by the camp authorities. Since the
October Embassy siege by Burmese activists, the Thai authorities have
imposed most draconian rules upon these camp residents, it reported. The
camp residents are not allowed to go out and communication to outside
has been cut-off. Furthermore, new camp residents who came under recent
arrangements [by] courtesy of Royal Thai Government are not receiving
proper food and other assistance. I appeal you to look into those
matters and help solve the situation. In particular, please ask the
responsible Thai authorities to relax restrictions imposed upon the camp
residents. Please remind the Thai authorities that such restrictions
without obvious security concerns will amount to Royal Thai Government
oppression of refugees and asylum-seekers.
	
Bangkok Post on 27 November reported that the Thai National Security
Council Chief, Mr Kachadpai Burusphat, has requested the UNHCR to
mediate for the solution of Burma's ethnic minority refugees. I am
inquiring whether UNHCR has received an official request from the Thai
authorities about it and, IF NOT, PLEASE IMMEDIATELY CLARIFY regarding
that matter possibly through media.
	
I am very distressed that Maneeloy residents are receiving only 800
bahts as their monthly subsistence allowance. Such amount of money seems
to be too meagre an allowance and, therefore, please consider to
topped-up a few more bahts if possible: Your kindness on this matter is
much appreciated.
	
I also request the UNHCR in Bangkok to extend its protection and
humanitarian assistance to Shan villagers who fled from forced
relocation and fighting. In particular, the UNHCR should set-up
appropriate camps in places that are closer to Shan State and Shan
refugees should be given protection on a group basis.
	
On this occasion, I also ask the UNHCR in Bangkok to increase its
resources for monitoring and screening of returning Burmese illegal
workers. I am concerned that possible refugees and asylum-seekers may be
forcibly repatriated by the Thai authorities.	  
	
In closing, I thank you for your kind attention to these matters.

Yours sincerely
Sd. U Ne Oo

cc. Ms Sadako Ogata, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Switzerland.

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POSTED ON SUNDAY 5-DEC-99; 6:00AM

THE THAI'S INCOHERENT POLICY ON BURMESE REFUGEES 

Since the `Vigorous Warriors' stormed Burmese Embassy in Bangkok, Thai
authorities heavy-handed treatment of Burmese exiles and refugees,
especially the Maneeloy camp residents, have been reported. On analysing
unceasing plights of the Burmese refugees in Thailand, there has been
little change in thinking of some Thai authorities about the problem of
Burmese refugees during this decade. 

Burmese refugees are considered little more than 'pawns' in the Thai
authorities bid for trade and businesses privileges from the Burmese
military. In 1988/89, General Chavalit turned Burmese exiles into the
hand of SLORC in exchange for trade concessions [See Burma Action(SA)
report to UNGA in 1993 in my home page]. During the period of 1992-1997,
the Border Affairs Committee by Burmese and Thai Generals contribute no
outstanding achievements towards bilateral relations. It, however,
managed to pressure the NMSP to sign ceasefire agreement with the
Burmese military --paving the way for completing the gas pipeline. In
recent event, it becomes clear that in the wake of border closure by the
Burmese side, the Thai authorities pressured Burmese students into
Maneeloy camp and putting a "show of oppression" to appease the Burmese
military. From what we can read from the detalied report of events at
Maneeloy, there have been the deliberate provocations on the part of
concerned authorities. 

NETTING STUDENTS WITH RESETTLEMENT 

After the Embassy siege in October, the Thai authorities have spread
rumours that UNHCR will help resettled all Burmese exiles in Maneeloy
camp-- in fast track --to Third countries. Regarding  Burmese students
in Thailand, there has already been an ongoing resettlement program,
albeit in a small scale, under the auspices of UNHCR. The UNHCR could,
in practice, appeal those countries to take a few more  refugees to be
resettled. However, processing for resettlement of any refugee will
take 6 months to 1 year. No matter how generous of the governments offer
for resettlement, it is unrealistic to assume all Burmese students in
Maneeloy to be resettled within two years. One must also takes into
account of new refugee claimants coming into the camp during that two
year. In any case, the Burmese exile groups, such as ABSDF in Bangkok.
appeared to have treated with caution about Thai authorities' proposed
resettlement program. Unfortunately, anyone encouraging Burmese to enter
Maneeloy for Third Country resettlement could be guilty of co-conspiring
with Thai authorities in netting the students.

To my understanding, most Burmese student used Maneeloy camp as a
transit camp. Burmese student do not usually stay long in Maneeloy camp;
they entered the camp only for a resettlement. By observing recent
developments, the Maneeloy camp sets to become more of a permanent
refugee camp. Because of the evidence of oppression and intimidation, we
should ask the UN Special Rapporteur, perhaps other NGOs too, to paid a
visit to the  Maneeloy camp. Camp authorities cutting-off the line of
communication with the camp residents is a very serious matter.

RATIONALE FOR RESETTLEMENT ?

Apart from the technicalities of resettlement, one just wonder what is
the rationale behind this 'Third country resettlement' of Burmese
students in Bangkok. Obviously, the Thai government cannot get rid of
all Burmese students in Bangkok by the resettlement alone. Even all
Burmese in Maneeloy being resettled to the Third countries, there will
still be Burmese activists in and around Bangkok. On the one hand, there
are 110,000 Burmese ethnic minority refugees currently in border camps.
Clearly, nothing could possibly be changed in Thailand by promoting the
Third country resettlement. So is the repatriation of Burmese workers:
so long as problems in Burma remain, there will continue to be illegal
Burmese workers in Thailand.

There are incoherent statements from Thai NSC chief about the
resettlement of Burmese students: see following AFP reports of 29/11 and
18/11. On the other hand, it is not humane practice for Thai authorities
to create hardship for the Maneeloy camp residents in the hope that the
students be receiving speedy resettlement from Third countries.

Then, there has also been report about NSC Chief requesting UNHCR to
mediate the repatriation of Burmese ethnic minority refugees (BKK Post
27/11/99). This is certainly good news ( but take with a pinch of salt,
to be sure). NSC Secretary-General can be assured there are no shortage
of feasible solution for Burmese refugees at UNHCR. What is needed is
the Thai Government to make a proper initiative with the United Nations
to solve Burmese refugee problem. 

DESPERATIONS IN MANEELOY

Apart from the issues of resettlement, there ought to be some immediate
improvement to the living condition of Maneeloy residents. For example,
there was an unfortunate incident in September 1999 of some camp
residents protesting UNHCR staff for suspending the subsistence
allowance. Five UNHCR personnel were blocked by students who did not
receive their monthly allowance of Baht 800 (about 20 USD). Maneeloy
students who had participated in 9999 protest in Bangkok apparently were
unable to showed up in time to collect allowance in Maneeloy; UN staffs
consequently had threatened to cut-off this meagre allowance.

In this very case, I can understand the students' anger and empathise
their desperation. I myself have been a long-term 'unemployed' and on
government's welfare benefit of subsistence in nature since 1993( i.e.
from the time I was granted refugee status in Australia). Some unkind
observers may ridicule these students squabbling with UNHCR for $20
allowance. Surely, what $20 could afford for one with ? A hair cut (you
need it); one pack of cigarette or two (bad for your health); few meals
at side-street noodle stall (precious escapes from the horrible
camp-food!); and, perhaps, few drinks at local pub or a trip to cinema
(that would be a luxury!!). Going down to Ratchaburi town and sending
email/post-mail would cost them quite a few bahts too. Despite $20
amount of money being humiliatingly small, to take away this subsistence
allowance do constitute serious threat to the welfare of Maneeloy
students. The reactions of students were understandable. 

Since this payment to Maneeloy residents seems too small, we should ask
the UNHCR in Bangkok to topped-up this allowance with a few more Bahts,
perhaps. This certainly wouldn't help us being ridiculed as
'international beggars' by the other camp (i.e. NLM). But it is the
'truth' we will have to face with.

IN DEALING WITH PROVOCATIONS

For any activists and refugees, provocations by other political actors
(media often included) have to be taken usually as 'occupational
hazards'. In some cases, these political actors provoke us in order to
cause reaction, to create diversion or distraction. In such case, the
passive and non-violent resistance is most effective to counter the
provocation -- for example, simply ignore provocation as much as
possible. On the other hand, should there be a certainity of oppression
and intimidation, we all must pull our resources together to repel the
oppressors. The activists/refugees on the ground must be able to make
judgment about suitable response for any such situation.

With best regards, U Ne Oo.
--------------------------------------

THE BANGKOK POST: UN AGENCY URGED TO AID REPATRIATION
27 November, 1999 

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has been urged by the
National Security Council to negotiate with Rangoon the repatriation of
100,000 refugees in Thailand.

NSC Secretary-General Kachadpai Burusphat said it was hoped the UNHCR
and other international organisations would push for the repatriation of
Burmese who had fled over the past 15 years to escape fighting, through
talks with the Burmese government.

"I have asked the UNHCR to come up with decisive resolutions. The UNHCR
must consult international communities to find out how to play a greater
role in Burma and give Burma assistance, to ensure the safety of
refugees who return home," he said.

More than 750 Burmese students in Bangkok had so far registered with the
UNHCR and would be sent to the Maneeloy centre in Ratchaburi, which
houses 1,100 Burmese students.

The NSC chief said he believed the process to send all Burmese students
in Thailand to third countries could begin by the end of the year.
-- 
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