BURMA REFUGEES [VOA REPORT]

[moe@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]

DATE=7/18/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-217353
TITLE=BURMA REFUGEES (L ONLY)
BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN
DATELINE=GENEVA
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  THE UNITED NATIONS REFUGEE AGENCY (U-N-H-C-R) IS 
APPEALING TO BANGLADESH  NOT  TO FORCIBLY RETURN THOUSANDS OF 
ASYLUM SEEKERS TO BURMA (MYANMAR).  LISA SCHLEIN IN GENEVA 
REPORTS THE REFUGEE AGENCY SAYS IT FEARS MANY OF THE REFUGEES MAY
FACE PERSECUTION IF THEY ARE DEPORTED.

TEXT:  UP TO SEVEN-THOUSAND MUSLIMS REPORTEDLY HAVE FLED FROM 
BURMA INTO BANGLADESH DURING THE PAST TWO MONTHS.  BUT GOVERNMENT
AUTHORITIES IN BANGLADESH HAVE  NOT  ALLOWED THE U-N REFUGEE 
AGENCY TO SEE THESE PEOPLE.  

U-N-H-C-R SPOKESWOMAN, PAM O'TOOLE SAYS THE AGENCY IS VERY 
WORRIED ABOUT THEIR SITUATION.  SHE SAYS MANY OF THE REFUGEES ARE
JAILED UPON THEIR ARRIVAL IN BANGLADESH OR ARE FORCIBLY RETURNED 
TO BURMA.  

THE GOVERNMENT OF BANGLADESH SAYS THE MUSLIMS ARE ECONOMIC 
MIGRANTS --  NOT  TRUE REFUGEES.  MS. O'TOOLE AGREES THAT MANY OF
THE PEOPLE HAVE CROSSED INTO BANGLADESH FOR ECONOMIC MOTIVES.  
BUT SHE SAYS MANY MORE HAVE COME FOR REASONS OF PERSONAL SAFETY.

                      ///  O'TOOLE ACT  ///

         SOME OF THE NEW ARRIVALS HAVE TOLD REPORTERS IN THE AREA
         THAT THEY'VE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH AN INCREASE IN 
         FORCED LABOR.  SOME OF THEM HAVE EVEN ALLEGED THAT 
         THEY'VE BEEN TORTURED.  SO, OBVIOUSLY WE WANT TO GET TO 
         SEE THEM.  WE REALLY NEED TO SEE  THESE PEOPLE, WE NEED 
         TO FIND OUT IF THEY DO HAVE FEARS OF PERSECUTION IF THEY
         RETURN TO MYANMAR.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

ABOUT ONE-QUARTER-MILLION MUSLIMS BEGAN FLEEING INTO BANGLADESH 
FROM BURMA IN 1991.  MOST HAVE SINCE GONE BACK.   BUT ABOUT 
21-THOUSAND REFUGEES REMAIN IN TWO CAMPS RUN BY THE U-N REFUGEE 
AGENCY.  

MS. O'TOOLE SAYS BURMESE AUTHORITIES HAVE SAID THEY WOULD ALLOW 
75-HUNDRED OF THESE PEOPLE TO RETURN HOME IN THE NEAR FUTURE.

                      ///  O'TOOLE ACT  ///

         HOWEVER, THAT DOESN'T CLEAR UP THE PROBLEM FOR THE REST 
         OF THEM.  SOME OF THEM AREN'T REGISTERED AS MYANMAR 
         CITIZENS IT APPEARS.  THEY DON'T HAVE IDENTIFICATION 
         MAYBE.  AND, THEREFORE, WE WOULD LIKE THEM TO STAY IN 
         BANGLADESH.  BANGLADESH SO FAR HAS SAID IT WILL  NOT  
         ALLOW THEM TO DO SO.

                        ///  END ACT  ///

THE U-N REFUGEE AGENCY IS APPEALING TO BANGLADESH TO RECONSIDER 
ITS DECISION.  MS. O'TOOLE SAYS THE AGENCY IS AFRAID MANY OF THE 
REFUGEES MAY FACE PERSECUTION AND OTHER PROBLEMS IF THEY GO BACK 
TO BURMA.  (SIGNED) 

NEB/LS/JWH/KL

18-Jul-97 7:41 AM EDT (1141 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America