AFP-Thai government sets deadline f

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Subject: AFP-Thai government sets deadline for exiled Myanmar students

Thai government sets deadline for exiled Myanmar students
BANGKOK, Oct 21 (AFP) - Thai authorities said Thursday that exiled Myanmar
students had one month to sign up for resettlement in a third country or
risk a jail term.
Thailand launched a crackdown on Myanmar exiles earlier this month after
five gunmen claiming to be pro-democracy student activists took 38 people
hostage at Yangon's embassy here.

National Security Council (NSC) chief Khachadpai Burusapatana said all of
the estimated 3,000 Myanmar students in Thailand must register with the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) for resettlement or
face arrest.

"After November 21 the immigration police will launch a crackdown in areas
of Bangkok where we suspect they are living," Khachadpai said.

"Any students who have not reported to the UNHCR will be prosecuted for
illegal entry," he said, adding that the penalties included deportation or
jail.

Khachadpai said UNHCR officials had already held resettlement discussions
with embassy representatives from 13 countries, including the United States,
Canada, Australia and western European countries.

Students who register with the UNHCR will be sent to the Maneeloy holding
center near the Thai-Myanmar border. Khachadpai said another camp would be
constructed if Maneeloy cannot accommodate all the students.

Thailand's determination to get rid of the exiles was strengthened Monday
when 22 students locked UNHCR workers in their Maneeloy office in a row over
monthly allowances.

Thai Foreign Minister Surin Pitsuwan said Thailand had supported the
students for long enough and he would ask the UNHCR to speed up their
resettlement.

"It's unacceptable to let the situation go on like this, there is no order
no discipline, and if we implement some serious measure we will be blamed
and criticized," he told reporters.

Many students fled to Thailand after a bloody 1988 crackdown by junta troops
against unarmed student democracy protestors.

The flow has continued as students face persecution at the hands of the
junta in Yangon, blamed around the world for alleged human rights abuses
including the keeping of political prisoners.

The NSC said it would also monitor all aid donated to exiled Myanmar
students by non-government organisations to ensure funds were used only for
humanitarian purposes and not for political activities.