Bkk Post - Security chief wants all

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Subject: Bkk Post - Security chief wants all student exiles removed

Bangkok Post - Oct 9, 1999.
THAI-BURMESE RELATIONS

Security chief wants all student exiles removed
Kachadpai: No need to check willingness

Yuwadee Tunyasiri


The National Security Council has urged the United Nations High Commissioner
for Refugees to send all exiled Burmese students in Thailand under its care
to a third country.

Kachadpai Burusapatana, secretary-general of the NSC, said yesterday the
Burmese students were not Indochinese refugees and there was no need to ask
them whether they would be willing to go to a third country.

He maintained all exiled Burmese students in Thailand were actually illegal
immigrants but were granted temporary stay on humanitarian grounds.

"But since some of them have caused trouble here, they should all be sent to
a third country," Mr Kachadpai said, apparently referring to last week's
armed takeover of the Burmese embassy in Bangkok by five hardline Burmese
students.

Because of its proximity to Burma, he said, Thailand could not afford to
allow the exiled students to engage in political activities against the
Rangoon government.

"But they can do so in some western countries that have no problems with
Burma," he added.

According to the UNHCR, there are about 2,700 exiled Burmese students under
its care, with some 1,000 being housed at the Maneeloy camp in Ratchaburi
and the rest scattered around in Bangkok.

But the NSC said about 1,700 students are now under UNHCR care, with another
900 students still unaccounted for and believed living illegally in Bangkok.

Mr Kachadpai said the 900 Burmese students must report to the UNHCR for
registration or face tough legal action as illegal immigrants.

On top of the exiled students, he said, about 150,000 displaced Burmese have
taken refuge on Thai soil along the border. "These Burmese should return
home once the situation in Burma returns to normal."The NSC chief yesterday
met the UNHCR representative in Thailand, Jahanshah Assadi, to discuss the
future of exiled Burmese students.

Mr Kachadpai has called on Sadako Ogata, the UN high commissioner for
refugees, to begin a dialogue with Rangoon on the problem of Burmese
asylum-seekers.

According to the Foreign Ministry, Mr Kachadpai asked Ms Ogata to visit
Rangoon in person and to ensure a continuation of the dialogue.

Meanwhile, the UNHCR yesterday completed the relocation of 7,120 Burmese
refugees from Huay Kalok Camp to a safer site inside Thailand.

They were transported 95km to Umpium Camp, located 13km from the border and
"situated in terrain that affords a degree of natural protection".