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The Nation Jan 03, 2000
Headlines
SECURITY is being stepped up at Maneeloy Holding Centre for Burmese students
in Ratchaburi province as authorities have been tipped off about possible unrest
during Burma's national day tomorrow, Ratchaburi's deputy governor Preecha
Ruengchan said on Sunday. More checkpoints working around the clock have been set up around the centre's gates to monitor the Burmese students' activities and to prevent them from escaping to stage unrest outside the centre, Preecha said. "We have learnt that some groups of Burmese students will try to stage chaos to air their political outrage against the Burmese government" he said. The deputy governor warned that any Burmese students fleeing from the centre or found to be involved in any disruption would be divested of their status and face court action for illegally staying in Thailand. The centre used in-house radio programmes to convey this warning to the Burmese students. "We have to step up the measures as over the New Year about 20 Burmese students fled the centre to Bangkok," he added. "They were arrested, and their status was cancelled. Now they are facing legal action." All authorities concerned, including the Police Commission and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees have already been contacted to help prevent their gathering in Bangkok and other places for the Burmese national day. Most of the Burmese students in Thailand are under the protection and care of UNHCR after they fled brutal persecution from their homeland, which is now administered by a military junta. Thai authorities are keeping a close watch on them after a group of five Burmese students seized the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok in early October. Those who resided in the centre also staged a series of revolts, including locking up UNHCR staff. The Nation |