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Thai Govt. Repatriation of Mon



Subject: MON REFUGEES FROM BURMA - FORCED REPATRIATION BY THAI GOV.

The situation in Thailand regarding the Mon refugees from
Burma is now very critical as they continue to be denied delivery
of water and relief supplies by the Thai authorities. This
attempt to force them back to Burma despite great danger shows
little regard for their lives.We urge you to distribute copies of this letter 
to your own network and also to send to the following three addresses:

     PRIME MINISTER CHUAN LEEKPAI,
     GOVERNMENT HOUSE,
     1 PHITSANULOKE RD,
     DUSIT, BANGKOK 10300,
     THAILAND.
     Tel: 66-2-2829553
     Fax: 66-2-2800858


     FOREIGN MINISTER PRASONG SOONSIRI,
     MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS,
     AKARN BANGSALALOM,
     1 SANACHAI ROAD, RATCHAVITHI, PALATUANG,
     TED TANAKARN, BANGKOK 10200,
     THAILAND.
     Tel: 66-2-2250096
     Fax: 66-2-2261374


     INTERIOR MINISTER CHAVALIT YONGCHAIYUDH,
     MINISTRY OF THE INTERIOR,
     ATSADANG RD,
     TED TANAKARN,
     BANGKOK 10200.
     Tel: 66-2-2213835
     Fax: 66-2-2264371


Dear Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai,

                         We strongly urge you to reconsider your
policy on the repatriation of Mon refugees to Burma. We are aware
that through Thailand's constructive engagement policy with
SLORC, that there is the intention to build a gas pipeline that
can be used for Thailand's future energy needs. Since the
proposed path of this pipeline passes through Mon territory, its
implementation therefore requires the Mon to sign a ceasefire
agreement with the SLORC military junta. Not allowing food and
relief assistance to enter the refugee camp at Halockhani,
Kanchanaburi province as well as not preventing local provincial
and military officials from ordering the refugees back to Burma,
is tantamount to forced repatriation. It also has the appearance
of being an attempt to force the Mon in to a ceasefire agreement
so that Thailand can realise its own energy requirements. If this
is true it indicates that the Thai government is prepared to
compromise the human rights and livelihood of other peoples
simply to satisfy its own interests.
     From the Mon point of view, despite being given some token
concessions by SLORC there is little reason for them to believe
that the signing of such an agreement would bring genuine peace
and freedom to their people, without the interference of SLORC.
SLORC's continued use of widespread forced labour, forced
relocations and burning of villages, extortion, expropriation of
lands, the refusal to negotiate political settlements any more
than for self serving limited military ceasefires, and the sixth
year of the illegal detention of Aung San Su Kyi (SLORC breaks
its own law in this case), are not good premises on which to
develop trust. We therefore appeal that the Thai Government show
a more humanitarian stance, and do not take part in a process
which could lead to the eventual annihilation of this ethnic
group. The last round of ceasefire talks on June 26-27 were
deadlocked because SLORC were not in any way interested in
discussing democratisation, safeguards for refugees or many other
issues.
     Several countries are involved in the constructive
engagement policy in the hope that this may persuade the SLORC
regime to allow greater freedom for the people and gradual
democratisation. However there is not yet any evidence that this
is working.
      On the contrary it could be said that the building of roads
and railways (which is mostly done with the use of forced labour)
has allowed a more rapid deployment of the Burmese army, which in
turn has enabled a more efficient suppression of ethnic groups,
particularly the Mon. In the case of all the refugees along the
border, it is unacceptable to repatriate them until all threat to
their lives and wellbeing is removed and there is a peace
agreement. At present there is not. The refugees have
understandable concerns about the sincerity of SLORC which has
been more consistent in breaking promises than keeping them.
Their personal experience clearly underlines this. By forcing
them to return now Thailand will further damage its image in the
eyes of the world.
     In conclusion we therefore urge the Thai Government to:
     i. keep its word and stop trying to coerce or force the Mon
refugees to return to Burma.
     ii. immediately open the road to the border patrol camp so
that urgently needed relief supplies can reach the refugees.
     iii.allow the refugees to stay in Thailand until the
political and human rights situation improves to the point that
the refugees voluntarily return and the international community
and UNHCR re-indorse their return.
     iv. on no account repatriate refugees to a situation where
there is no supervision or guarantee for their safety.
      v. allow the thousands of new asylum seekers who continue
to flee the oppression of the SLORC troops to take refuge in
Thailand.
     vi. ensure that when the refugees are eventually repatriated
they are guaranteed adequate cross border relief until they can
securely establish themselves.

          Yours Respectfully,



For further information please contact INEB, PO Box 1, Ongkarak,
Nakorn Nayok 26120, Thailand. Tel/Fax 66-37-391-494.