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(For info.; posted by Aleta Cooper <[log in to unmask]>.) From Kao Wao Newsgroup. Please post regarding refugees on Thai-Burma border. THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM CONTINUES: LIFE IN THE NEW THAM HIN CAMP Bangkok / Tham Hin By Sanin Bop, January 18, 2002 Conflict occurred between an unnamed group and refugees in the new Tham Hin camp, as reported by an internal source to Kao-Wao last week. Some individuals were injured after fighting broke out and were sent to a local clinic for treatment. Many feel that The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Ministry of Interior of the Royal Thai Government is not providing sufficient security in the camp. Despite there being ten members of the Camp Guard (Aw-Saw), little effort is made to prevent such incidents from occuring. The source added there is increased tension in the camp and the potential for another clash to occur is great between the new entries, the local people in the camp, and from people living in the surrounding area. Currently, many locals do not tolerant new arrivals and give no reason. A letter sent to UNHCR stated that several new arrivals have suffered from high fevers, coughing, and the flu, there is no access to clean water or proper sanitation. Moreover, they go through shock from the change in the physical environment and the weather is much colder. There is growing concern over the possibility that many will suffer from malaria again, in previous periods many have faced these kinds of conditions and expect more of the same. There are (160) students under the program of 'Person of Concerns' (POC) who live as a separate category from the other (130) refugees, who are classified under 'Person of Concern- Border Case' , both live separate from one another. The special 16 members, who gained permission to remain in the camp, are assigned to live with the POC group. The source said, "the UNHCR and MOI will send the refugees under POC category within four months to a third country. If a third country accepts the other special 16 members, they are too are entitled to leave Thailand, but UNHCR will not look after the process." The MOI photographed the new arrivals with a pink color paper that similar to the local people who live in the areas for decades. It is not clear whether the MOI will take legal proceeding for refugees under POC-Border Case because the authorities does not signal a notice to the refugees. The letter mentioned that 45 members of POC will be sent to a third country this month and the other 80 members will be proceed to a third country shortly after. The rest however, 35 members, do not have access to a visa for settlement to a third country. Many of the refugees who remain in the new camp, protested for freedom and democracy in Burma, but are still denied international protection under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The Burmese and the Thai authorities do not acknowledge the laws protecting civil liberties in the region. Kao-Wao learned that the Thai authority could solve this issue of resettlement under its moral and legal perspectives toward Burmese political refugees. Many third countries will accept Burmese refugees for settlement if only the Thai authority will give them the necessary legal permission to leave Thai soil. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Note: The material contained in this communication comes to you from the Forced Migration Discussion List which is moderated by the Refugee Studies Centre (RSC), University of Oxford. It does not necessarily reflect the views of the RSC or the University. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post this message please retain this disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources.