MIZZIMA : Burmese protestors sent t (r)

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Subject: MIZZIMA : Burmese protestors sent to Tihar Jail

Burmese protestors  sent to Tihar Jail
March 26, 1999 New Delhi
MIZZIMA News Group

The Burmese refugees who went on a hunger strike on March 22nd in front of
UNHCR office in New Delhi were sent to Tihar Central Jail today. After
they were arrested by Lodi Colony police station yesterday afternoon, they
were produced by the police force at Patiala Court in Delhi at 2 p.m.
today. Mr. Rajesh Talwar, the Legal Counsel of the Delhi-based South Asia
Human Rights Documentation Centre (SAHRDC) appeared on behalf of the
Burmese refugees at the court. 

The siting judge of the court sentenced the refugees to be under judicial
custody in Tihar Jail in Delhi. The total nine Burmese were formally
charged by the Lodi Colony police force today under Section 14 of the
Foreigners' Act of 1946 with illegal entry into India. Under the act, they
could be sentenced to maximum 3 months in jail and then, they are likely
to face deportation back to Burma.

The refugees, who are mostly from Chin State of Burma, crossed the
Indo-Burma border areas about a year ago to take refugee in India due to
repressive measures of the military regime in Burma. They applied to the
UNHCR office in New Delhi for refugee status but UNHCR had rejected their
cases.

Claiming that UNHCR is neglecting their genuine plights, the refugees who
are between 16 to 27 years-old staged an indefinite hunger strike in front
of UNHCR office on Lodi Road in New Delhi. UNHCR responded the refugees on
March 23rd that their cases will not be reconsidered and urged them to
call off the strike. When the refugees refused to call off their strike,
UNHCR called the Indian police to stop the hunger strike. 

Mr. Ravi Nair, Executive Director of the SAHRDC told the MIZZIMA that his
organization will challenge the case of arrested Burmese refugees as well
as the 1946 Foreigners' Act in Supreme Court of India. He also plans to
organize an international campaign in coming days to condemn the UNHCR for
its unwillingness to address the problems of the Burmese asylum seekers in
India. 

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