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A request for intervention to settl



Subject: A request for intervention to settle issues in the "Safe Area"  or Burmese Students' Center

December 8, 1999

To:     Jahanshah Assadi
Regional Representative for Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam 
UNHCR
Fax: (66-2) 280 0555

(BSC)
        Maneeloi

Re:     Request your intervention to settle the issues in BSC.

Dear Sir,

We would like to express our utmost appreciation that your office has been
assisting Burmese students' to be recognized as the Person of Concern (POC)
that the students can stay temporarily in Thailand. 

Your office and the Ministry of Interior (MOI), the Royal Thai Government
(RTG) has made joint effort to accommodate more Burmese students with POC
status in the Burmese Students' Center (BSC) in Ban Maneeloi, Wang Manao
Sub-district, Pak Thor District, Ratchburi Province.  

There was unpleasant situation for the students and their families who
entered into the camp officially on the 11th and the 24th of November,
1999. The camp condition was incomplete in terms of housing facilities such
as buildings, water, electricity, sanitation, and etc. In addition, food
arrangement for the new arrivals was the most inconvenient. Barbed-wire
fence between the new camp and the BSC was the biggest issue that no
students wanted to see such division like this. Said issues are the main
reasons for the newcomers to organize a series of discussion with Thai
authorities. 

We have tried our best to cooperate with responsible persons to settle
different issues. Freedom of movement between BSC and new camp is in
satisfactory though the barbed-wire fence has not yet been removed
completely. However, food arrangement and payment system for new comers is
still very complicated. According to the new residents who entered in the
camp on the 10th November that about 10 NI already got their "Food Card" on
4th December. "Food Card" system is the most serious request of new comers
that one-week ration delivery system is not practical in BSC. We have
waited to settle this issue by receiving one-week ration system for three
weeks continuously. On 30th November, 1999, new comers made consensus
decision not to accept the present food provision system but discuss with
responsible parties to use "Food Card" system for each and every residents
in BSC. Unfortunately, the issue was not settled. 

Regarding payment system for newcomers, the UNHCR Field
Officer for BSC, namely Ms. Erna Henriksen, failed to provide official
explanation why payment system has changed because there were complicated
situation for individual cases. Besides, students are not happy with her
performance particularly her impolite treatment to the students.

Finally, we would like to request you to make necessary effort to settle
the issues in BSC. We believe that it is important to have transparency and
accountability for any responsible party that address the interest of the
people in vulnerable condition.

Thank you for your consideration. Looking forward to hearing from you very
soon.

Yours faithfully,


Myat Thiha

Thein Htun Aung

Thet Thet Lwin

Than Oo

Soe Paing

cc.     Camp Commander, BSC, Maneeloi.


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