ON THAILAND's FORCED DEPORTATION OF REFUGEES TO BURMA:

ON THAILAND's FORCED DEPORTATION OF REFUGEES TO BURMA:

It's a death warrant for Burma refugees, activists say

“The area where refugees will be repatriated is a 'conflict zone' where safety and security cannot be ensured. If Thailand will go ahead with its plan, that is tantamount to signing a “death warrant” for the refugees.”

This was how members of Free Burma Coalition-Philippines (FBC-Phils) expressed their dismay on the Thai government's forced deportation of refugees to Burma last week saying that the move will put the lives of the refugees in great peril.

Three families, nine women and four children, including a nine month old baby, were forced back to Burma last week, which drew criticisms from the international community including the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and other Burma observers worldwide.

Following a series of brutal military attacks by the Burmese military regime and its ally - the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) - in June of last year, about 3,000 refugees fled to Thailand and settled in temporary camps near the Thai-Burma border. According to some reports, Thai authorities are threatening and intimidating the refugees to say that they want to return to Burma.

Immediately on February 5, Thai government halted the deportation which coincided with the visit of some foreign diplomats and NGOs in the Thai-Burma border. Other sources believe that the forced deportations will resume next week.

“We urge the Thai government to reconsider its decision. If they will force refugees back to Burma, these people will surely face serious persecutions and grave human rights abuses including torture, forced labor, forced recruitment as soldiers and the women will be subjected to sexual abuses as the military regime still uses “rape” as a weapon of war”, said FBC-Phils spokesperson Egoy Bans.

More than half of the refugees facing deportation are reportedly women and children and the area in Karen State to which they would be made to return is infested with landmines. OnJanuary 18, 2010, a pregnant woman who had returned to the area accidentally stepped on a landmine, incurring serious injuries.

Meanwhile, the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) made an appeal to the ASEAN urging the regional body to “develop and implement a regional policy concerning the member states’ responsibilities regarding refugees.“

“The move will likewise tarnish Thailand's reputation of being a refugee-friendly government. Until today, democracy is clearly absent in Burma and one way to survive the onslaught of the repressive military regime is to really leave the country. Thailand and other democractic states must realize their obligation to atleast extend assistance and protection to these refugees in accordance with the existing international laws, “ Bans concluded.

As Burma celebrates its Union Day on Feb. 12, FBC-Phils reiterates its demand for tangible political reforms in Burma starting with genuine dialogue and release of all political prisoners including democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. ###

11 FEBRUARY 2010

For more more info and clarifications:

Please contact: (+632) 435-2900 or 911-0205 Gani Abunda (0929-4109647) Egoy Bans (0920-9132472)