A group led by the Karen Women’s Organisation (KWO) met with residents of ten villages in Htantabin Township in the Karen National Union (KNU)-controlled district of Taungoo to find out their views on refugee resettlement.
The 24 September meeting was organised by the central, district and township levels of the KWO. A seven-member group from the KWO met with over 100 villagers at Shar Say Pho Village in Htantabin Township.
The villagers at the meeting came from ten villages including: Yay Shan, Zee Phyu Gone, Taw Gone, In Kyaw, Mar Lar Gone, Thit Cha Say, Tar Yar Gone, Aung Myin, and Pyin Gar.
A participant at the meeting from the KWO, Naw Sal Sal, said: “We want to hear not only the voices of the refugees but also the voices of the local residents on the issue of refugee resettlement. Only then can they point out and submit their issues to respective leaders. This is the aim of the meeting.”
As well as discussing the situation in refugee camps on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border and resettlement of the refugees from those camps the KWO also exchanged views on the peace process with the villagers.
The villagers told the KWO that refugee resettlement in their area is not possible as they are suffering from land issues and livelihood problems that are at present getting worse. They also called on the local authorities to listen to their views before they implement any refugee resettlement programmes.
The issue of refugee resettlement is related to the peace process. The nationwide ceasefire agreement (NCA) states that the Burmese Government and the ethnic armed organisations (EAOs) must negotiate on and then implement a refugee resettlement programme.
The Karen Refugee Committee (KRC) and the KNU have drawn up policies on refugee resettlement and a group led by the KNU’s vice-chair Naw Zipporah Sein has been meeting with the refugees at refugee camps on the Thai side of the Thai-Burma border since 14 September.
The KWO holds public meetings in KNU-controlled districts once a year to explain the peace process and refugee issue. According to officials from the KWO this was the first time they had held a public meeting in Htantabin Township.
Reporting by S’Phan Shaung for KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited in English by Mark Inkey for BNI
