Overseas Mon Students Moves into Camps

Independent Mon News Agency

March 31 2005

Hundreds of overseas Mon students and their families

who base Thailand and have status of ‘Person of

Concern’ by UN High Commissioners for Refugees (UNHCR)

Bangkok have moved into two refugee camps Htam Hin

and Ban Ton Yang, which are in the border areas of

Ratchburi Province and Kanchanaburi Province,

respectively. 

“The deadline to get into the camps is March 31.

Nearly all Mon students entered into (Thai

authorities’) SDC (Special Detention Center) in

Bangkok on March 30.  UNHCR and BRC (Bangkok Refugee

Center) said, we need to enter the camp, if we want to

resettle in another (third) countries”, said Mr. Nai

Chan (not a real name) who entered into the SDC on

March 30. 

“I think there are 200-300 Mon students and refugees

in Bangkok area, who have POC status.  I’m not sure

how many of them moved to Htam Him and how many to Ban

Ton Yang”, added by Mr. Chan.

Since early March, the urban based refugees especially

the Burmese students and political activists exiled

from Burma, were informed to enter into border based

ethnic Karen refugee camps.

Those urban Burmese and other ethnic refugees have to

inform their status and register themselves to enter

into camps.  The Thai government also set up another

registered place in Mae Sot for those who applied for

POC.  Hundreds of pro-democracy activists who fled

since 1988 uprising and after 1988 have applied for

POC status in Mae Sot to UNHCR.

“We heard from Thai authorities that the Mon refugees

will be allowed to stay only in Htam Hin and Ban Ton

Yang camp.  Those who registered in SDC recently will

be sent to Htam Hin and the remaining will be sent to

Ban Ton Yang”, added Mr. Chan. 

After closure of Maniloy Camp, where many Burmese and

other ethnic students were resettled, some refugees

were relocated to Htam Hin camp, and most of them were

provided by third country resettlement program by

Australia, Canada, US and some European governments.

However, many more political activists and students

still fled from Burma and seek asylum in Thailand and

most of them applied for POC status in UNHCR

(Bangkok).  

Many pro-democracy activists fled from Burma after

2003’s May 30 Depeyin massacre and massive arrests in

2003.    Some political prisoner also fled from the

country after they could not longer want to stay at

their homes.

Ethnic refugees from Mon State, Karen State,

Tenasserim Division and other areas in eastern part of

Burma have fled from the Burmese Army’s systematic

persecution against them that includes gross human

rights violations and land and properties

confiscation. 

There are about 150, 000 refugees are provided

shelters in Thailand in camps along the border of Tak,

Mae Saring, Mae Sai, Kanchanaburi, and Ratchburi

Province of Thailand.  UNHCR also provides protection

for these refugees and a dozen of international

humanitarian NGOs involved for medical, education and

food relief programmes. 

For further information, please contact to Independent

Mon News Agency

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