Burma News International (BNI)| September 5, 2016

In a motion submitted to the Union Peace Conference-21st Century Panglong yesterday, Karen armed groups requested for the government to adhere to international standards during the repatriation of refugees from camps in Thailand.

Jointly prepared by the Karen National Union (KNU), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), and the Karen Peace Council (KNU/KNLA PC), the motion pointed out that the resettlement program needs to afford refugees the right to make their own decisions about when they will return and provide security and rehabilitation for when they do. This includes ensuring adequate physical and emotional support and sustainable livelihood for all returnees.

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The motion said: “There must not be any discrimination in the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) and refugees and programs that aimed towards sustainability must be set down in line with international standard and respect for human rights. Programs based on making own-decisions must be set down.”

On the opening day of conference, State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi said: “Many, of all ages, have had to flee their homes to avoid conflict, and it is long since their hopes have dimmed. They hardly dare to hope any longer. We must not forget their plight.”

Nan Khin Aye Oo, secretary of the Kayin People’s Party, said the government needs to take charge of the resettlement process as ethnic political parties and civil society organisations have limited capacity for actually carrying this out.

Daw Thin Thin Aung, steering committee member of The Alliance for Gender Inclusion in the Peace Process, said: “Can (the government) give back the properties owned by the refugees in the past? This includes farmlands, plantations, and other properties.”

Those that can be returned to their farms should be repatriated first, she said.

Reporting by Saw Thein Myint for KIC News
Translated by Thida Linn
Edited by BNI staff

This article originally appeared on Burma News International (BNI) on September 5, 2016.

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