[Date Prev][Date Next][Thread Prev][Thread Next][Date Index ][Thread Index ]

Reuters-Thailand sets deadline for



Reply-To: "TIN KYI" <tinkyi@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Reuters-Thailand sets deadline for Myanmar dissidents 

Thailand sets deadline for Myanmar dissidents
05:47 a.m. Oct 21, 1999 Eastern
BANGKOK, Oct 21 (Reuters) - Thailand on Thursday started work on a plan to
herd exiled Myanmar dissidents into a holding centre under a crackdown
following this month's Myanmar embassy siege.

The Thai National Security Council said Myanmar dissidents in Thailand must
register for movement to the centre west of Bangkok within a month or be
regarded as illegal immigrants.

``The government has to take stricter measures to control Myanmar students
because some have recently caused difficulties and did not respect Thai law
and national security,'' council secretary-general Kachadpai Burasapatana
told reporters.

Thailand's ties with neighbouring Myanmar have been badly strained since a
group of five dissidents took over the Myanmar embassy early this month and
held 89 people hostage for 25 hours.

Myanmar was angered by Thailand's decision to allow the attackers free
passage to a safe border area. It closed the frontier and said it would not
reopen until they were arrested.

Bangkok has since been trying to patch up its relations with its neighbour,
which has long been unhappy about the presence in Thailand of vocal
dissident groups.

Kachadpai said the registration with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees
(UNHCR) and movement to the holding centre was a necessary prelude to
third-country resettlement.

He said 900 to 1,000 dissidents had not been in contact with the UNHCR for
more than a year and the government had set a November 21 deadline for them
to report to the organisation.

``If they don't, the Thai immigration department will regard them as illegal
immigrants,'' he said.

Kachadpai said dissidents who registered with UNHCR would be moved to the
Maneeloy holding centre, which is currently home to 1,000 and have the
opportunity for third-country resettlement.

UNHCR has been discussing the resettlement of Myanmar refugees in Thailand
with countries including the United States, Australia, Canada and Western
European states.

``I expect 3,000 Myanmar students to be moved to third countries if all
these countries cooperate,'' Kachadpai said.

Thousands of Myanmar dissidents fled to Thailand in 1988 after Myanmar's
military killed thousands to crush a student-led pro-democracy uprising. The
UNHCR in Thailand lists about 2,700 as having well-founded fears of
persecution.

UNHCR officials say about 2,000 have been resettled in third countries in
the past 11 years and many living in Thailand have said they would welcome
the opportunity to follow suit.

Myanmar dissidents caused further problems for Thailand on Monday when they
locked up five UNHCR staff at the holding centre to protest against
withholding of allowances.

This prompted Premier Chuan Leekpai to warn exiles their sanctuary could be
in doubt if such incidents were repeated.