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Full
and up to date information on all refugee situations around the
world can be found on the UNHCR website at www.unhcr.org
Myanmar
Liberia
Guinea
Myanmar
Described
by Human Rights Watch as ‘one of the most repressive countries
in Asia’[1], since 1962, Myanmar (Burma) has been ruled by
a succession of highly authoritarian military regimes. In 1990,
pro-democracy parties won more than 80 percent of the seats during
generally free and fair parliamentary elections, but the military
junta refused to recognize the results.
According
to various observers, the ruling junta restricts the basic rights
and freedoms of all Myanmar citizens, including freedom of speech,
press, assembly, association, and movement. The Government also
restricts freedom of religion, coercively promoting Buddhism over
other religions, and imposing restrictions on religious minorities.
It reinforces its rule with a pervasive security apparatus in the
name of order and national unity, exercising control through surveillance,
harassment of political activists, intimidation, arrest, detention,
physical abuse, and restrictions on citizens' contacts with foreigners
[2].
Myanmar
has more child soldiers than any other country in the world, and
its forces have used extrajudicial execution, rape, torture, forced
relocation of villages, and forced labor in campaigns against rebel
groups. It also continues to use internationally outlawed tactics
in ongoing conflicts with ethnic minority rebel groups, who have
also committed abuses, though not on the scale committed by government
forces. [1]
Thousands of Myanmar citizens, most of them from the embattled ethnic
minorities, have fled to neighboring countries, in particular Thailand,
where they face difficult circumstances [1]. There are over 120,000
Myanmar refugees in Thailand and many among this substantial refugee
population - the largest in Southeast Asia - have been refugees
for almost two decades.
The
majority of the individuals selected for resettlement in the UK
are of Karen ethnic origin - a Thai-Chinese cultural group and one
of the most important minorities in Myanmar, constituting seven
percent of the national population. The Karen refugee population
in Thailand is predominantly Christian, with a large number of Buddhists
as well. The majority have some link to the Karen independence movement.
Others fled to Thailand due to ethnic-based persecution, land confiscation
and forced relocation, or involvement in the national pro-democracy
movement.
Although
last summer the Yangoon government reconvened a National Convention
as part of its purported "Road Map to Democracy", the
Convention excluded the largest opposition party and did not allow
free debate [2]. Then in October, the abrupt removal of Prime Minister
General Khin Nyunt, viewed as a relative moderate, was seen as reinforcing
hard-line elements and damaging immediate prospects for a ceasefire
in the decades-old struggle with the Karen ethnic minority [1].
The Yangoon Government's poor human rights record reportedly worsened
last year and the Government continued to commit numerous serious
abuses. Although during the year, the Government released at least
100 long term political prisoners, many of whom had already completed
their sentences, at the end of 2004 an estimated 1,500 security
detainees remained in prison. Prison conditions reportedly remain
harsh and life threatening.
Despite a wealth of resources, the country is extremely poor. Most
of the population of more than 50 million live in rural areas at
subsistence levels. More than four decades of economic problems
and reported corruption have resulted in widespread poverty, poor
health care, declining education levels, poor infrastructure, and
continuously deteriorating economic conditions [2].
1. Human Rights Watch World Report 2005 - Burma - January 2005
2. U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices
2004 - Burma - February 2005
Liberia
In
2003, positive political developments in Liberia raised hopes of
a return to long-term stability. The departure of President Charles
Taylor in August was quickly followed by the signing of a peace
agreement between the Government and rebel movements. Thereafter,
consensus was reached by all political parties over the formation
of a National Government of Transition in October 2003.
Years
of low-level warfare have ripped apart the social, political and
economic fabric of Liberia and provoked mass population displacements
within and across the country’s borders. Currently there are
more than 320,000 Liberian refugees in neighbouring countries and
beyond. Another 500,000 IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) have
been scattered throughout the country during the conflict and now
subsist in extreme poverty and insecurity. In addition, Liberia
continues to host some 14,000 Sierra Leonean and, 38,000 Ivorian
refugees and large numbers of third country nationals who fled the
war in Côte d’Ivoire.
In
spite of the comprehensive peace agreement signed on 18 August 2003,
the inauguration of the power-sharing National Transitional Government
of Liberia and deployment of a United Nations peacekeeping mission,
the government is still not able to offer protection of fundamental
human rights in Liberia.
Monrovia
has seen recent rioting by former government militia, whilst tenuous
peace in other areas of Liberia has seen intermittent armed activities
of rebel groups. There is still targeting of specific ethnic groups
by non-state agents of persecution, and continuing incidents of
serious human rights abuses throughout Liberia. Financial constraints
have meant that new administrative and judicial institutions are
not functioning, resulting in little to no redress for continued
human rights violations.
Thus
although recent initiatives have had some impact on the security
situation on the ground and contributed to a more positive outlook
for lasting peace and security on Liberia, a judgement regarding
the durable nature of such changes is at present premature.
In
the light of these developments, UNHCR recommends careful screening
of Liberian refugees and asylum seekers, with a view to determining
their international protection needs. The continuing violations
of human rights and of international humanitarian law and the targeting
of civilians by all parties to the conflict – partly on ethnic
grounds, partly on political grounds – means that many Liberians
may qualify as refugees under the 1951 Convention and the 1967 Protocol
relating to the Status of Refugees.
Guinea
Throughout
2003 events in neighbouring countries had a great impact on Guinea.
The political climate in the sub region was tense, with deteriorating
security conditions in many parts. On the positive side, favourable
conditions in Sierra Leone enabled UNHCR to continue the full-scale
voluntary repatriation operation after concluding a Tripartite Agreement
with the Governments of Sierra Leone and Guinea.
The
outflow of Sierra Leonean refugees was offset by the arrival of
many more Liberian refugees fleeing the resurgence of conflict between
LURD rebels and Charles Taylor’s Government. An upsurge in
fighting in late March 2003, produced a fresh influx of refugees,
putting a huge strain on existing facilities. The outbreak of the
civil war in Côte d’Ivoire in September 2002 had already
precipitated an influx of more than 90,000 people into Guinea, including
6,500 Ivorian refugees and 17,200 Liberian refugees, many of whom
had been taking refuge in Côte d’Ivoire from continuing
conflict in their own country.
Guinea
is plagued by complex political tensions and poor socio-economic
conditions, which engender a backlash against refugees with growing
concerns about security impinging on asylum policy. Increasingly,
the authorities are inclined to close Guinea’s borders with
refugee producing neighbours. In the present political environment,
maintaining the civilian and humanitarian character of the camps
amounts to a considerable challenge.
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