Refugees have rights!
Today, 3 September 2010, Thai
Bangkok Police rounded up many illegal Burmese immigrants in the Thai border
town of Mae Sot. This is not the first time this happens. And no doubt, it will
not be the last time. Considering the upcoming elections in Burma and the
business- and other ties the Thai and Burma governments have, one can only fear
what might happen in terms of human rights abuses in the next few months
leading up to the elections.
Most of these illegal immigrants in
Mae Sot and surroundings are refugees from Burma. They left the country for
various reasons: some fled persecution, others poverty and surpression. All
were afraid and in danger and looking for safety and a better life for themselves
and their families. Some knew their lives were not safe inside anymore, due to
their peaceful struggle for something most of us take for granted: Freedom.
Happy to think they arrived in a
safe country, most of these people realised all too soon, they could not have
been more mistaken. Thailand does not recognise most of these Burmese refugees
and is not very eager to help them. Along the Western Thai border, there are
around 10 refugee camps, where more than 100,000 Burmese refugees live. Most of
them are in completely hopeless situations: they cannot return to Burma for
fear of their lives, they cannot legally work and live outside the camp (i.e.
Thailand) and no third country is willing to accept them. The refugee camps in
this part of the world are filled with tens of thousands of people who are
literally imprisoned in a free country and have no choice over their lives and
nowhere to go. Human beings like us, waiting, just waiting and not able to do
much themselves to improve their fate. Some of them lost hope. For a human
being, to live without hope, is to stop living.
According to Article 14 of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights, everybody has the right to seek
asylum in another country and to seek protection against persecution. The
United Nations Convention relating to the Status of Refugees (1956) states
that refugees – those with substantial fear of persecution because of
race, religion, nationality, belonging to a certain social group or political
conviction – can not be sent back to a country in which they fear
persecution. This is called the non-refoulement principle.
By arresting Burmese refugees,
locking them up in refugee camps, not allowing them to apply for refugee
status, putting them in prison and even sending them back into Burma, the Thai
government is disrespecting these international conventions and more
importantly, ignoring basic human rights.
By treating fellow human beings like
this and by taking away their hope and self-determination, the Thai government
is guilty of human rights violations.
The international community should
raise its voice and take action!
by Samarinde Tin
