The Thai government is sticking by a March 31 deadline to relocate all urban-based refugees from Burma who have Person of Concern (POC) status from UNHCR. This is despite an obvious lack of resources to house the estimated 2000 refugees, and an inability to ensure their security. While the majority are being relocated to refugee camps on the Thai Burma border, refugees who will be resettled to third countries in April are being forced to go to Bangkok’s Special Detention Centre. Children will also be detained there.
Refugees who do not comply can face arrests, deportation and lose their chances of resettlement and all protection provided by UNHCR. This policy has drawn widespread anger from refugees and activist and human rights groups.
In Mae Sot, around 800-900 refugees are being forced to go to Nu Poh Refugee Camp, which is a 6-hour car ride south, in an isolated part of the border. In Bangkok, around 850 refugees are being forced to go to Tham Hin and Ban Don Yang Camps. Nu Poh is close to the border with Burma, so refugees have significant fears for their security. The Burmese military has attacked refugee camps before, and many of the refugees going to Nu Poh are wanted by the Burmese regime, known as the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC).
There is also a severe housing shortage in Nu Poh, as there is only enough accommodation for 240 people. Despite the lack of preparation, the Thai government is refusing to extend the March 31 deadline. A UNHCR notice to Burmese refugees outlines the consequences of not complying with the relocation:
“1. You will be regarded as an illegal migrant without permission to remain in Thailand. As such, you may be subject to arrest, detention, and deportation. 2. You will not receive exit clearance for resettlement departure from MOI in the future. As exit clearance is necessary for resettlement, this means that if you do not register for transfer to the camp, you will not be resettled to a third country. 3.You will no longer receive assistance in any form (i.e. cash, medical) from the Bangkok Refugee Centre (BRC). “
The Thai government is also trying to silence refugees by banning communication and restricting freedom of movement. According to the UNHCR announcement, refugees “will not be allowed to go freely in and out of the campâ€. The government also announced that anyone bringing mobile phones into camp would have them confiscated. Previously, two refugees in Tham Hin were reportedly fined and had their phones taken for trying to communicate with people outside.
Ma Myint Myint, a human rights activist from Burma, says “the right to obtain information is a basic human right. Now refugees outside can’t even ask information about what the living conditions are in the camp so they can prepare for when they goâ€. There have also been reports of Thai security forces searching people’s luggage, which has led refugees to worry about brining money and valuables into camp.
This policy is expected to further silence Burmese activists who work from Thailand. According to Nai Rot, a New Mon State Party member going to Nu Poh, “the Thai government is joining hands with the SPDC to take out the resources of the [democracy] movementâ€. One activist from a Burmese political group says the Thai government’s unofficial policy is to undermine opposition groups. “This is short-sighted and will harm future relations. These refugees will eventually resettle, get an education abroad and later return to their country. They will have influence in a future democratic Burma and remember how the Thai government treated themâ€.
Ma Htay, a health worker being moved to Nu Poh, is afraid of problems between refugees there. “Who controls POCs? UNHCR? Thai authorities? Community leaders? If there are problems among POCs, who can solve them?†While UNHCR staff will be present in the camp during April, potential for conflicts at night remain. Among the urban-refugees, there are people with special security needs who can face problems from within the opposition movement, There is also a real possibility for ethnic conflict. Many POCs belong to the majority Burman nationality while the majority of people in camp are Karen. There are also many urban refugees being relocated from smaller nationalities such as Kayan, Kachin, Arakan and Mon. Ma Htay also worries about the possibility of SPDC spies being among those moving to camp.
Refugees being resettled to a third country in April will be moved to Bangkok’s Special Detention Centre. This includes children and people with special needs. “Why put people in detention in substandard conditions when they’re going to resettle? It’s not like they want to return to Burma or lose their chance to resettle,†says Lynn Yoshikawa from Jesuit Refugee Services.
A number of families are being separated by the relocation. Some POCs from Bangkok have been forced to enter camp while their spouses and children have to stay in Bangkok without protection, leaving them in a vulnerable position. Refugees who are married to Thai citizens will also be separated.
Thailand is not a signatory to the UN Convention on the Status of Refugees, which makes UNHCR and international refugee law powerless. There is also no basic legal framework through which asylum claims can be made. The Thai government ordered UNHCR to stop processing applications for refugee status made after 1 January 2005. Apart from 100 emergency cases, all other applicants have to apply to Provincial Admissions Boards for entrance into one of the refugee camps. The boards consist of Thai officials and one UNHCR representative. The policy to move urban refugees to camps was announced by the Thai government in July 2003 but is only now being enforced.
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