EU seeks more flexible camps
MONDAY, 30 NOVEMBER 2009 14:21 BANGKOK POST
The European Union will push for a new deal to open up Burmese refugee camps, allowing asylum seekers to take up work outside the camps to make them self-reliant and productive members of the Thai community, a top EU envoy says.
The plan is part of a five-year strategy approved by the EU, the largest donor of humanitarian assistance to about 140,000 refugees in the nine remote camps strung along Thailand’s western border with Burma, said David Lipman, the European Commission’s ambassador to Thailand.
“It is very sad when you meet people who have lived in the same camp for 18 or 20 years and are bored of the camp,” Mr Lipman said.
“What we want to do with the refugees is to encourage more self-reliance and to try to integrate these people into Thai structures.”
The strategy, pioneered by non-governmental organisations and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, is set to bring about a drastic change in handling the decades-long Burmese refugee crisis in Thailand from traditional relief aid in the form of handouts to a more comprehensive and durable solution. The refugees are now not allowed by law to leave the camps and travel.
The plan aims to initially allow some refugees to leave the camps on a case-by-case basis, earn an income and live a normal life.
“This will have to be discussed in detail with the Thai government and we hope to eventually persuade the government that this is in the interest of Thailand as well as the interest of refugees,” Mr Lipman said.
Members of minorities have been fleeing Burma into Thailand for the past 25 years, running away from regime abuses and fighting between the government forces and ethnic militias.
Even though about 53,000 refugees have been resettled in third countries, this option is not open to everyone.
The EC ambassador said the first pilot project, approved by the Thai government and run by aid workers, allowed 160 refugees from the Mae La camp in Tak’s Mae Sot district to leave the confinement area temporarily.
They were able to take up work in the farming and fishery sectors.
It demonstrated a positive sign for change and further implementation on a larger scale, he said.
The camps could be opened up further, as the Thai government appeared to support the idea and had backed the project.
This meant an increasing number of refugees could become part of a meaningful workforce and contribute to the economy, instead of being stuck in confinement.
The Thaksin Shinawatra government showed interest in the idea back in 2005 but it was shelved by the coup-appointed government which was concerned about national security.
Mr Lipman said he was hopeful the Democrat-led government would favour the strategy.
“Certain elements of progress are already visible, such as allowing the refugees access to the Thai health and education systems.
“But I don’t deny there’s a long way to go,” he said.
But the shift into the new development model would not lead to any financial aid cut by the EU which contributes US$45 million (1.5 billion baht) a year, or 65% of the money for running the camps.
Nor will it reduce the quality of the relief services, Mr Lipman said.
