Thailand Uproots 3,000 Burmese Refugees

[george]

Thailand uproots Burmese refugees

BANGKOK: -- At least 3000 Burmese refugees must abandon their lives in Bangkok and go to overcrowded border camps to avoid deportation under a new deadline imposed by the Thai Government.

The refugees from Burma's military regime, who have been granted "person of concern" status by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), have been given a deadline of March 31.

"If you do not register for transfer to the camp, you will not be resettled to a third country ... you will no longer receive assistance in any form," it has warned the refugees in a letter.

"You will be regarded as an illegal migrant without permission to remain in Thailand. As such, you may be subject to arrest, detention and deportation."

The refugees are told they cannot take furniture, pets, electrical appliances or mobile phones to the camps.

"You will not have an opportunity to return to your homes after registration and will not be allowed to go freely in and out of the camp," the letter says.

UN officials say they are concerned about the little time available for refugees to cancel house rental agreements, sell possessions and prepare for life in crowded camps. A detention centre in Bangkok is ready to receive them.

Only about 30 refugees had moved from the city to one of the camps by Tuesday and another 40 had registered to move.

About 140,000 Burmese have lived in border camps for many years and are undergoing registration by the UNHCR.

Refugees have been fleeing Burma for decades to escape the military dictatorship, brutal repression and economic stagnation. The flow increased with the crushing of the democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi in the late 1980s.

The Thai Government's primary goal is to prevent Thailand becoming a desirable destination for refugees.

--The Guardian 2004-03-23

Edited March 24, 2005 by RDN