NEWS FORM INDIA (r)

[shar@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

   REFUGEES CRISIS IN BANGLA AS 14,000 CROSS FROM BURMA
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Dhaka,  Aug. 3:  A group representing  Burmese Muslims, who
fled  alleged persecution in Burma,  claimed on Sunday that
more  refugees  would  flow  into  Bangladesh  unless their
security could be guaranteed.

The Rohingya Solidarity Organisation claimed on Sunday that
up  to 14,000 new  Burmese Muslims had  already crossed the
border  into Bangladesh  since June  because of persecution
from Burmese forces and for "economic" reasons.

The  United Nations High Commissioner  for Refugees put the
number  of Burmese Muslims,  known as Rohingyas,  at 7,000,
while  the  Bangladesh  government  officially  puts  their
numbers  at "several thousand." The UNHCR described the new
Rohingyas   arrivals  as  both   "economic  and  political"
migrants.

The  six-page "Rohingya Sangbad" newsletter said,  "between
12,000  and 14,000  entered Bangladesh during  the past two
months.   These people  fled to  Bangladesh after  facing a
famine  forcing them to  live in virtual  hunger," it said,
adding   in  recent  days  prices  of  essential  and  food
commodities have sky-rocketed. Rohingyas were again fleeing
into Bangladesh. (AFP)

                               The Asian Age 4 August 1997.
     News and Information Bureau, All Burma Students League

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