Stop pressuring Burmese refugees into returning home - Kraisak Choonhavan MP

Bangkok, 09 December, (Asiantribune.com): 

 

Kraisak Choonhavan MP

Kraisak Choonhavan MP and the deputy leader of Thailand’s ruling Democratic Party has appealed to stop pressuring Burmese refugees into returning home until and unless it has been confirmed by all fighting parties that the fighting has ended.

In a letter regarding Burmese refugees protection and assistance in Thailand addressed to Director of Border Affairs Department, Royal Thai Armed Forces, Kraisak Choonhavan who is also Chair of the Thai national caucus, ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus has pointed out that it has been reported that Burmese refugees in Mae Sot and Pop-Phra, Tak Province, have been pressured by representatives of the Royal Thai Army into returning to Burma and that they have been told that fighting has ended.

He further pointed out that “In fact, the fighting is still ongoing and such returns are premature. As a result, people have had to flee repeatedly to safety, while some have gone into hiding in Thailand out of fear of being repatriated.

The letter which has also been copied and sent to Thai Prime Minister, Foreign Minister, Supreme Commander, Army Chief and Third Army Commander-in-Chief, Thai MP Kraisak Choonhavan has called on the Department of Border Affairs to establish a cooperative mechanism between government agencies, international and local organizations to assess the situation, develop contingency plans, provide humanitarian assistance to refugees and develop standard principles for repatriation and for assistance during and after repatriation.

The letter went on to urge the importance of the protection and assistance to Burmese refugees on Thai soil.

"It further revealed that since the election took place in Burma on 7 November 2010, there has been a great amount of instability and violence in the border areas between Burma and Thailand. Fighting between the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) and ethnic non-state armed groups in Burma has assumed extraordinary proportions.

Accordingly, “Several thousand refugees fled into Thailand as a result of the eruption of fighting on and after Election Day, while sporadic fighting since then has displaced communities along the border several times. Civilians in Burma are entitled to protection under international humanitarian law as long as the conflict continues. However, such reports indicate that this is currently not being respected by either party to the conflict.

Kraisak Choonhavan continued to insist: “As an elected Member of the Thai parliament, I am deeply concerned about the situation of these refugees on Thai soil. According to information received, the provision of humanitarian aid and the process of repatriation of recent refugees from Burma do not abide by international humanitarian and human rights standards. Several local and international organizations have criticized Thailand for not living up to our international obligations.

“Although the Royal Thai Government has stated that there will be no enforced repatriation of refugees until the situation stabilizes, it has been reported that refugees in Mae Sot and Pop-Phra, Tak Province, have been pressured by representatives of the Royal Thai Army into returning to Burma and that they have been told that fighting has ended. In fact, the fighting is still ongoing and such returns are premature. As a result, people have had to flee repeatedly to safety, while some have gone into hiding in Thailand out of fear of being repatriated.

“While Thailand is not a state party to the 1951 Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees, Thailand has an obligation under customary international law of non-refoulement of persons to places where their life or freedom is at risk. International law also obliges Thailand to allow asylum seekers access to Thai territory to seek asylum.

"I have followed the situation in Burma for many years. In my opinion, there will be no easy or immediate solution to the current conflict situation.

Under such circumstances, it is imperative that refugees from Burma be given temporary shelter on Thai soil until the fighting has really been brought to an end and they are convinced it is safe to return to Burma. This is also the only solution that will prevent Thailand from being criticized for failing to live up to international humanitarian and human rights principles," emphasised Kraisak Choonhavan.

- Asian Tribune -