Representatives of the People elected to the People's Parliament
in the 1990 multiparty democratic elections

(Committee Representing the People's Parliament)

Notification No. 64 (11/99)

1. We receive reports that, since early November (1999), the Thai authorities are rounding up and forcibly repatriating Burmese workers who have been working for years in Thailand.

2. Reports also indicate that there have been 600,000 Burmese workers in Thailand. Authorities in Thailand have reportedly threatened to expel all of them from the Thai soil.

3. These Burmese workers have been compelled to work in Thailand because of underlying situation in Burma such as political instability; economic desperation; lack of democracy and human rights; insecurity in life and that of the livelihood.

4. There are reports of authorities in Burma pushing back the workers repatriated by the Thai authorities. There are also reports of Burmese soldiers looting money and other valuables from these repatriated

workers. Some workers have also been shot at by the Burmese soldiers. There are tens of thousands of workers, including women, who have been stranded in the jungle and are facing starvation. Some women workers are reported to have been raped by the Burmese soldiers. These Burmese workers stranded in the jungle have been under physical and mental hardship, facing starvation as well as the threats of disease such as malaria ; and feared that these workers may not survive.

5. Authorities from the two countries must take measures to improve this tragic situation. The authorities from both countries must seek help from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees and

Non-Governmental Organisations to set up appropriate camps for these workers.

6. In this case, the prime responsibility rest with the authorities in Burma. To solve such issue, authorities from both side must have good will towards these workers. Present tragedy occur because both sides

are lacking of humanitarian spirit towards these workers.

7. Thailand must stop arresting and forcibly repatriating Burmese workers. Burmese authorities must also put a stop to rejecting and, particularly, shooting these returning workers. Both countries must show mutual understanding in solving this problem. Thailand ought to give permission to work for those Burmese desperate for their livelihood. There had been precedence by Thailand granting such permission to Burmese workers.

8. Thailand and Burma are not just the neighbours who happen to share a long border. We also share our culture, religion and history. People of Thailand and Burma are not only similar in our physical appearance but also have a share in our social values and spirituality. The CRPP therefore appeal the Royal Thai Government to treat these Burmese workers leniently with due humanitarian considerations.

9. The root cause of displacement of these Burmese workers found to be the mediocrity in governance by the Burmese military government. The problem of these displaced Burmese workers can not be considered simply as internal affairs of Burma. This problem has impact on neighbouring countries and has become a regional problem.

10. As for Burmese people, it is important that we must remove the root causes of the problem of these displacements. To achieve such objective, the human rights and democracy must urgently be restored in

Burma. It is our national duty to achieve democracy in Burma. The Burmese nationals must therefore put their best effort to accelerate the process of restoring democracy and human rights in Burma.

Committee Representing the People's Parliament

November 12, 1999.