KALADAN NEWS

Date: Sunday November 09, 2003

A Regional Conference on Protection for Refugees from Burma has Completed

Chian Mai, November 9: A two-day long Regional Conference on Protection for Refugees from Burma was held in Thailand between 6 and 7 November 2003, according to a participant named Idris.

  The conference was organized by Forum-Asia, Altsean, Jesuit Refugees International and Non-violence International on Protection for Burmese Refugee. More than 110 delegates from various countries, local and International NGOs including foreign embassies and UNHCR participated. Refugee representatives of Burmese Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, Chin refugee from Mizoram State of India, Shan, Karen, Burman refugees from Thailand also participated to present their testimonies, he further added.

 On the first day of the conference, there were 3 panels as overview of situation of Burmese refugees in Asia. Mr. Jack Dunfard from Burma Border Concentrum (BBC) overviewed on Thailand side, Ms. Chris Lewa from Forum–Asia on Bangladesh, especially on Rohingya Refugees and Mr. Victor from Chin Human Rights Organization on India (Chin refugees).

 In the second Panel, Mr. Mohamed Idris from Burmese Rohingya Refugees in Bangladesh, Ms. Emi from Chin refugee in India, Ms.Zaw Zipphorah Sein from Karen refugees in Thailand, Mr. Sai Lein from Shan refugees in Thailand and Mr. Billy from Urban refugees in Thailand presented their effective testimonies on the violations of refugee rights in host countries and the Human Rights violations in their homes.

 Basing on the above discussion and testimonies, Ms. Kirsten Young, the Regional Director of UNHCR in Bangkok, Mr. Ravi Nair, the Director of the South Asia Human Rights Documentation Center in India, and Mr. Sunai Phasuk, the media affairs in-Charge of the Forum-Asia in Bangkok had made their presentations on the challenges in protection of refugees. ##

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