Shans Handed Over to Burmese Author

[shan@xxxxxxxxxxxx]

Subject: Shans Handed Over to Burmese Authorities Suffering: 

21 March 1999 

An escaped inmate from Shan village immigrants who were handed over to
Burma reported S.H.A.N. that they were in a terrible condition. 

On 12 March, Thai police raided a textile factory opposite The Mall
Department Store in Bangkhae, Bangkok and arrested 64 workers there for
illegal entry. Among them were 48 Shans. The rest were Karens, Mons and
Burmese, who were deported to Burma through the Three Pagoda Pass in
Kanjanaburi Province. 

As for the Shans, they were transferred to the Burmese immigration at
Maesai Bridge which serves as the border between Tachilek (Shan States) and
Maesai (Chiangrai Province, Thailand) on 16 March. 

The Burmese authorities, after taking them into custody, said they would be
released as soon as they could pay a certain amount of money. Otherwise,
they would have to join in the construction of the Kengtung - Tachilek road
until they had completed their prison term which is yet to be decided. 

This report was sent to S.H.A.N. by Sai Myint, who escaped shorty
afterwards. And where is he now? Back in Thailand, of course. 

"The Thai authorities should not, in any way, hand over the people to
Burma, knowing they would suffer a fate which is worse than dying", said
Sai Myint. 


/// END \\\ 
Shan Herald Agency for News.