For Immediate Release

FORUM ASIA

URGENT ALERT

Pro-democracy activists under threat of arrest and deportation

23 December 2002

Burmese and ethnic minority pro-democracy activists taking refuge in

Thailand are being threatened with arrest and deportation to

military-ruled Burma. The Thai Army’s Ninth Division has ordered all

pro-democracy activists in Sangkhla Buri to leave Thailand immediately

despite evidence that the activists are likely to face persecution if

forced back into Burma.

Six members of an ethnic minority student group were arrested and sent

across the Thai-Burmese on Friday. The members of the Mon Youth

Progressive Organization (MYPO) were reportedly told that “the border

would from now on closed permanently for all anti-SPDC groups”.

The Commander of the Ninth Division led a group of soldiers who

delivered the orders to offices of Democratic Party for a New Society

(DPNS), All Burma Student's Democratic Front (ABSDF), Mon Youth

Progressive Organization (MYPO) and People's Democratic Front (PDF) in

Sangkhala Buri, a remote district in Kanchana Buri province on the

Thai-Burmese border, on Friday.

The orders are for members of these organizations and their families to

move out of Thailand within two days or be arrested and deported.

Pro-democracy activists were asked whether they preferred “to go a

Burmese prison or a Thai prison”. Leaders of DPNS and PDF were not

successful in trying to appeal that they would face prosecution by SPDC

if the Thai Army forced them back into Burma.

After the incident in Sangkhla Buri, FORUM-ASIA fears further crackdowns

on pro-democracy activists and ethnic minority groups in Bangkok, Chiang

Mai, Chiang Rai, Mae Hong Son and Tak.

Background Information

Law enforcement and security authorities have been specifically

instructed by the National Security Council (NSC) to use immigration

laws as a principal measure to control and stop activities of Burmese

dissidents and ethnic minority groups as well as pro-democracy and human

rights groups working on Burma issues. In Sangkhla Buri and other border

provinces, soldiers have also been instructed to enforce the ban using

martial law, which was still in force in border areas.

FORUM-ASIA belives that the incident in Sankhla Buri is part of

systematic efforts on behalf of Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s

administration to impose restrictions on activities of pro-democracy and

human rights groups working on Burma issues. The Thai government adopted

a security directive on 4 July 2002, which has officially imposed a ban

on pro-democracy and human rights groups with the objective to mend

relations with SPDC. To secure economic interests in Burma, the Thai

government has resolved to prove in a concrete way that it has no

intention at all to support anti-SPDC groups. This policy means that

Thailand will be placing economic interests before human lives and

eroding its international reputation as a country dedicated to

democratization. [Ends]

For Further information or comments contact:

Sunai Phasuk, FORUM-ASIA Spokesperson on +66-1-632 3052