New Delhi (Mizzima) - Mr Antonio Guterres, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) based in Switzerland is currently in Burma on an official visit to discuss with the Burmese authorities on the issues of displacement and Rohingya boatpeople.
Yante Ismail, UNHCR spokesperson in Bangkok told Mizzima in an email that UNHCR chief would discuss a wide range of issues with the Burmese authorities and would meet with UNHCR’s partners and beneficiaries in Burma during his six days trip beginning 7 March.
“This visit will be an opportunity to explore how problems of displacement in Northern Rakhine State and the South East of Myanmar can be addressed and to see what additional steps can be taken to help stabilize these situation and improve prospects for solutions,” she added.
Geneva-based International Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC) last week said in their report that there were at least 451,000 Internally Displaced People (IDPs) only in eastern Burma in October 2008. They were affected by the on-going human rights violations allegedly committed by the Burmese military government and due to the armed conflicts between the Burmese army and the insurgent groups.
According to the report, IDPs in eastern Burma at Karen, Karenni, Shan, and Mon states and Tenasserim division continue to increase in number.
The report also further says that the Internally Displaced People (IDPs) in western Burma such as Chin State and Arakan State including Rohingyas who are denied with citizenship continue to flee the country to India, Thailand and Malaysia to avoid from alleged human rights violations.
“He will be meeting with several Government officials while in Myanmar including officials of the Ministry of Foreign affairs, the Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration & Population, and the Ministry of Progress of Border Areas,” said Ismail.
Navanethem Pillay, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) had earlier called for a thorough investigation into reports that indicate the ill-treatment meted out to Rohingya.
While speaking at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva on March 5, Ms. Pillay said, “I urge all neighboring countries to ensure their appropriate reception, processing and protection, in line with international standards.”
More than 800 Rohingya boatpeople had been rescued by Indian and Indonesia authorities in their territorial water since last December.
The Indian officials in Andaman and Nicobar Islands told Mizzima earlier that when they saw the boat-people the first time, they were on boats with no engines and the rescued refugees testified the about the abuses of Thai authorities.
Thailand’s Prime Minister, Abhisit Vejjajiva, however, denies Thailand’s ill-treatment of the Rohingya, and later admitted that Thai Army might have pushed back Rohingya boatpeople as they attempted to illegally enter the country.
Burmese Foreign Minister Nyan Win during the 14th ASEAN Summit in Thailand said Burma does not have a Rohingya minority, but said it agreed to accept the boatpeople if they identify themselves as “Bengalis” born in Burma.
