Thailand intensifies crackdowns on Burmese activists

DVB ( July 22,2003 )

While the international governments are increasing pressures and punitive measures on the military regime in Burma for the May 30 murderous assault at Dipeyin, the Thai government has been toughening its stance on Burmese activists.

At the moment, there have been more arrests and the activists who hold the UNHCR’s identity cards are also being arrested.

DVB’s Khaing Thazin reports:

Khaing Thazin : While the international community is increasing pressures on the Burmese military junta, the Thai authorities are increasing the arrests of Burmese activists. Moreover, it is reported that Burmese students who hold the UNHCR’s identity cards have been arrested more after the May 30 Dipeyin incident. Ma Khin San Nwe, a Burmese activist in Bangkok told the DVB about this as follows:

Ma Khin San Nwe : First, 27 people were arrested after our protest [in front of the Burmese embassy]. Six people were arrested recently. They confiscated their UNHCR cards and sent them to jails. They are arresting many people in Bangkok. More police cars and motorcycles are patrolling the streets. We are all hiding. We are unable to go out. I think they deliberately arrest us because the UNHCR’s cards are to give us protection. If they can’t protect us, what could we do?

Khaing Thazin :She also insists that the UNHCR has to be responsible for the arrests of Burmese students who are holding the UNHCR’s cards:

Ma Khin San Nwe : The UNHCR has to take the responsibility. If the students are arrested, they have to bail them out at the police stations. They are not doing that now. They have to come to the police and solve the problems with police stations. The 27 people who were arrested are now stuck in Maesod…

Khaing Thazin :Moreover, new laws against illegal immigrants are being issued today on the notice boards in front of immigration offices. Thai nationals who illegally harbour foreign nationals are to be sentenced to 10 years in prison and fined 100,000 Bahts. The landlords who harbour them are to be sentenced to 5 years in prison and fined 50,000 Bahts. The employers who employ illegal workers are to be sentenced to 3 years in prison and fined 30,000 Bahts.