IDP Report released 22 October 2008
Internal Displacement and International Law in Eastern Burma 2008 Survey 
(Thailand Burma Border Consortium):
http://www.tbbc.org/idps/idps.htm


22 OCTOBER 2008, IMPUNITY IN EASTERN BURMA CHALLENGED

Bangkok - The crackdown on peaceful protesters in Rangoon, the 
devastation caused by Cyclone Nargis in the Irrawaddy Delta, and a 
flawed referendum on constitutional change have been the focus of 
international attention in Burma during the past year. However, a new 
report by the Thailand Burma Border Consortium (TBBC) suggests that 
violations of humanitarian and human rights law in the conflict-affected 
areas of eastern Burma are more widespread and systematic than ever.

"The extent of persecution and suffering in the border areas has been 
largely unseen and under-reported for decades. Yet the same brutal army 
that crushed protests on city streets last September marauds with 
impunity in rural Burma, bringing fear and disrupting the lives of 
villagers on a day to day basis", said Jack Dunford, TBBC's Executive 
Director.

TBBC is an alliance of eleven NGOs from nine countries working to 
provide food, shelter, non-food items and capacity building support to 
Burmese refugees and displaced persons. Apart from updating information 
about internal displacement, the new report compiles abuses reported 
during 2008 in relation to the legal framework for crimes against humanity.

Forced displacement remains most concentrated in the conflict-affected 
areas of northern Karen State and southern Shan State. However, 
displacement is more commonly caused by coercive factors at the 
household level. The imposition of forced labour, extortion, land 
confiscation, agricultural production quotas, and restrictions on access 
to fields and markets has a devastating effect on household incomes and 
a destabilising impact on populations.

While the total number of internally displaced persons in eastern Burma 
is likely to be well over half a million people, at least 451,000 people 
are currently estimated in the rural areas. Approximately 66,000 people 
were forced to leave their homes due to the effects of armed conflict 
and human rights abuses during the past year alone.

"Despite concessions made in the Irrawaddy Delta after Cyclone Nargis, 
the junta's restrictions on humanitarian access continue to obstruct aid 
workers elsewhere in Burma, particularly in conflict-affected areas. 
Without assistance, coping strategies amongst the most vulnerable 
communities in eastern Burma will be exhausted and more refugees and 
migrants will be displaced into Thailand", said Mr Dunford.

Evidence cited in the report appears to support Amnesty International's 
recent assessment that the violations in eastern Burma meet the legal 
threshold to constitute crimes against humanity. Special Rapporteurs for 
the United Nations have consistently noted over the past decade that 
such abuses are systematic, rather than simply isolated acts, and that 
the junta has failed to implement recommendations formulated by relevant 
United Nations' bodies.

Critics argue that raising allegations about crimes against humanity 
will merely frustrate the promotion of political dialogue. However, just 
as the provision of humanitarian assistance should not be dependent upon 
political reform, humanitarian protection and the administration of 
justice should not be sacrificed to expedite political dialogue. The 
threat of prosecution may actually increase the leverage of the 
diplomatic community and provide an incentive for the regime to end the 
climate of impunity.

"Given that the Burmese junta is targeting civilians in military 
operations, the responsibility to protect villagers in eastern Burma 
must shift to the international community. The causes of this 
humanitarian crisis are political, so diplomatic efforts to broker 
tri-partite dialogue and promote national reconciliation need to be 
renewed. Yet it remains essential to hold the junta to account for 
atrocities committed in eastern Burma, and to demand an immediate 
nation-wide ceasefire", commented Mr Dunford.

"Internal Displacement and International Law in Eastern Burma" is 
available from www.tbbc.org/idps/idps.htm

Enquiries: Sally Thompson (+66) 02 2385027, (+66) 089 8508457.


Thailand Burma Border Consortium
12/5 Convent Rd, Bangrak, Bangkok 10500
Tel: (66) 2238-5027, Fax: (66) 2266-5376
Email: [log in to unmask]
Web: www.tbbc.org


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