Dfid Asistance To Burmese Internally Displaced People And Refugees On The Thai Burma Border PDF Download

This paper written for the US Committee for Refugees (USCR) is based on two site visits to the Thai-Burmese border in July 1989 and April 1990. Mr Robinson, a USCR policy analyst, focuses principally on the Burmese students and ethnic minorities who have crossed the border and sought aid and protection in Thailand. He begins by reviewing recent events in Burma (Myanmar) as they affected students and the flight from the cities after September 1980. Attention is given to the policies of both the Burmese and Thai Governments towards the students who arrived on the border. The evolution of the governments' policies is shown through the history of the joint repatriation centre at a military airfield outside the Thai city of Tak and various incidents of 'forced repatriation'. Mr Robinson describes cross-border aid to the student camps starting in late 1988 and the challenges it faces. Information shows the location of sites of Burmese refugee and displaced persons camps, populations of the camps, and known repatriations. In addition to the plight of students, Mr Robinson focuses on ethnic minorities like the Karen and their situation in camps in Thailand. He also examines briefly other populations of concern who have either been displaced inside Burma or who reside in Thailand and may have reason to fear returning to Thailand. After looking at aid and asylum in Thailand, the author concludes with recommendations for the Burmese concerning asylum, humanitarian assistance, resettlement and sanctions.