Monday, 08 March 2010 20:37 Usa Pichai
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) - Kraisak Choonhavan, deputy chairman of Thailand's ruling Democrat Party and chairman of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus (AIPMC) said on Monday the caucus is looking for money to support the Mae Tao Clinic. The clinic run by Dr. Cynthia Maung provides medical and education services for refugees, migrant workers and their children in the Thai border town of Mae Sot.
Last December Dr Cynthia Maung told Mizzima that her clinic was in need of emergency funding as an increasing number of migrants and refugees sought medical services at her clinic.
"The number of people who use our services is increasing. Similarly in the education and child care sectors, we need more funds as the number of child patients is also mounting. All organizations providing education and health care services are facing difficulties due to a shortage in funds," Dr. Cynthia Maung told Mizzima.
Kraisak Choonhavan together with several other members of AIPMC also visited temporary Karen refugee camps at Nong Bua and Mae Usu villages in Thasongyang district. These camps house refugees who came to Thailand last year to escape an offensive by the Burmese military.
Earlier this year the Thai army announced plans to repatriate these newly arrived refugees. The Thai army's plans drew outrage from numerous human rights groups who worry that the lives of the refugees will be in danger if they are sent home.
Kraisak Choonhavan told Thai reporters today “it would be a tragedy if the Karen refugees were forced to undergo repatriation . . . AIPMC will work with related organizations to support the public health, education and rights of these ethnic people,”.
The outspoken veteran politician and former university professor also voiced concerns that Burma's upcoming national election would be manipulated by Burma's junta to gain legitimacy for their regime.
Choonhavan added that after an unfair election "fighting between the Burmese army and ethnic armed groups would continue because the Burmese junta would increase the pressure against ethnic groups. Previously, ethnic groups had no voice in drafting the constitution; only the old power [junta] operated it.”
Many Burma activists hope that Choonhavan's visit will raise awareness amongst members of the Thai ruling coalition about the plight of Burmese migrants and refugees in Thailand. The Thai government's policy regarding nationality verification for migrant workers has many Burmese workers scared they will be forcibly deported to Burma. Many refugee advocates who are concerned about the fate of the temporary Karen refugee camps in Nong Bua and Tambon Mae Usu villages were also pleased to see Choonhavan take a keen interest in the camps.
On January 27, Colonel Nopphadol Wathcharajitboworn, Commander- in-Chief of the Scout Department Special Force 35 held a meeting with United Nations High Commissioner of Refugees (UNHCR), the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) and leaders of the Karen refugees living at the Nong Bua and Tambon Mae Usu camps. During the meeting the military sought ways to push back the remaining refugees safely. Something many refugee advocates say would be illegal under international law.
Human Rights groups and US lawmakers have appealed to the Thai government to halt repatriation of ethnic Karen refugees, pointing out that refugees who have already gone back to Burma have been killed or injured by land mines and subjected to severe human rights abuses.
At the end of February Thailand’s Foreign Minister Kasit Piromya informed the Thai Human Rights Commission that his government would seek a solution for the camps. The minister also reaffirmed the Thai government's commitment to assist migrants and refugees.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
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