June 7, 2003: Burmese refugees living in India and Bangladesh, but the
Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh in particular, are seriously suffering
under constant pressure from both the government authorities and the
changing role of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),
according to a report by the Amsterdam-based Burma Center Netherland,
'Caught between a Crocodile and a Snake', of April 2003.

BCN is an independent foundation that aims to inform Dutch society on
developments in Burma and to lobby the Europe Union. It also contributes
to a constructive dialogue between the various groups in Burma.

In April and May 2003, a representative of the BCN undertook a
fact-finding mission to India and Bangladesh, where he met with a large number
of different organizations, institutions, political parties, ethnic
groups, INGOs, diplomats, health workers and the Burmese refugees.

Rohingya Muslims and Rakhine Buddhist refugees are living in
Bangladesh. 21,000 of the Rohingya refugees are recognized by the UNHCR and the
Government of Bangladesh. They live in the two remaining official
refugee camps, Nayapara and Kutupalong, in Southeast Bangladesh. Between
100,000 and 300,000 undocumented Rohingya refugees are seen as 'illegal
immigrants' by the Bangladesh authority and the UNHCR. They are mainly
squatters in Southeast Bangladesh and survive by low paid illegal work,
often in the informal sector, and they are extremely vulnerable to
harassment by local people and the police.

Since early 2003, a new unofficial 'refugee camp' has arisen in Teknaf
in the far Southeast of Bangladesh. At least 4,000 refugees live there
now under horrible circumstances. 40,000 Rakhine Buddhist refugees,
recognized by UNHCR, also have to cope with a lack of language skills and
professional training in their search for jobs.

UNHCR is responsible for the voluntary repatriation process and the
protection of the refugees in the camps. But the Bangladeshi authorities
are exerting pressure on the refugees, who are reluctant to be
repatriated to Burma because of their fear of the Burmese military's repression.
However, 704 Rohingya refugees have been forcefully repatriated in May
2003.

Furthermore, UNHCR's 'self-sufficiency' and ' streamlined' health care
plans for the remaining recognized Rohingya refugees in the camps which
are to be implemented from 1 July 2003 cause serious concern to all
involved parties. Even worse, the Bangladeshi government does not agree
with UNHCR's plans and does not actively support it. UNHCR itself plans
to phase out all assistance by the end of 2004 due to decreasing funds
for UNHCR's programs by the fatigued donors.

Moreover, UNHCR and the Bangladeshi authorities do not have sufficient
information on how many undocumented Rohingyas exactly live in
Bangladesh and what their reasons for fleeing to Bangladesh were. They have
been faced with discrimination and repression by the Burmese regime in
Arakan State since 1991 in the form of the continued use of forced labour,
restrictions on the freedom of movement, discriminatory taxes,
citizenship confiscation of land etc. In 1978, some 200,000 Rohingya-Muslims
fled to Bangladesh evading suppression by Gen. Ne Win's government. The
majority of the refugees returned to Burma after years. During the past
12 months, the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, the ILO and
Human Rights Watch described the harsh repression in Arakan State in a
number of reports.

Now, the Burmese junta is accusing Rohingya armed groups of fighting
against them with the support of the Al-Qaeda terrorist network,
unsuccessfully hoping for U.S. support for their repression.

Relation between the Rohingya Muslims and the Rakhine Buddhists
continue to be very tense because of historical hostilities. These
sensitivities and hostilities have been exploited by the former and current
military regimes in Burma. The report recommended the undertaking of an All
Arakanese Reconciliation Process.

"I was born in Burma, but the Burmese Government said I don't belong
there. I grew up in Bangladesh, but the Bangladeshi Government says I
cannot stay here. As a Rohingya, I feel I am caught between a crocodile
and a snake", says a refugee quoted in a report by Medicine Sans Frontier
which has worked in Bangladesh for ten years.

As long as the current political and human rights problems in Burma
continue, the responsibility of the Governments of India and Bangladesh
and of the UNHCR is to protect Burmese refugees and to guarantee them a
bearable life. The international community should also put pressure on
the Burmese junta to reform and democratize in Burma, say political
observers.