Bangkok post , Jan 05, 2000Repatriation plan hits snag for lack of clear destinationUN agency has no access to target areaPost Reporters
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
yesterday said it could not repatriate Karen refugees as it had no access to
areas in Burma to which they would likely return. "Access to returnees is a major criterion for voluntary repatriation, as is a
second factor of safety, and with no access, at least not at present, UNHCR
cannot determine whether current conditions meet acceptable standards of
safety," it said. The UNHCR was responding to a report that some 10,000 Karen in
Mae Hong Son were seeking UNHCR help to repatriate. "Our staff in that province are looking into the situation at Kong Kha and
Tha Sala camps but issues more fundamental than the movement back across the
border are involved," it said. "They include lack of UNHCR presence in areas of Burma to which the refugees
would likely return," it added. Kachadpai Burusphat, secretary-general of the National Security Council,
earlier said more than 10,000 Karen refugees at the two camps had asked UNHCR
staff who visited them two months ago to push for their repatriation. But the
UNHCR officials had told them to wait. In yesterday's statement, the UNHCR said if refugees wishing to return
submitted signed forms stating their willingness to do so, this would fulfil the
criterion of voluntariness. But the two other criteria, of access and safety, "would also have to be met
for UNHCR to become involved". |