Thai police arrest 17 Asylum Seekers from Burma for Joining Protest at Korean Embassy

Thai police arrest 17 Asylum Seekers from Burma for Joining Protest at Korean Embassy

Banyol Kin, IMNA
April 18, 2006

At least 17 activists from Burma were arrested in Bangkok on Tuesday during a protest in front of the South Korean embassy to pressure Daewoo International to leave Burma.

The demonstration was led by Aung Mung Oo, Director for the Shwe Gas movement based in Mae Sot. More than 50 activists joined the protest but only the people who were holding identification cards issued by United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) were arrested. The other protesters were holding migrant workers' permits and were not arrested.

Asylum seekers holding UNHCR cards are not allowed to move around freely in Thailand , where they are usually restricted to refugee camps along the border. Thousands of people have fled to Thailand due to human rights abuses committed by the Burmese military regime.

The protesters held posters and shouted “Daewoo out of Burma, no way no Shwe, Daewoo stop investing with the Junta” in front of the Korean embassy in Bangkok.

“A Korean embassy official came out and received a copy of the statement that we distributed, and he said he will report it to the Korean government,” said Aung Mung Oo.

The Shwe Gas movement is against the exploitation of natural gas resources in Arakan state, in western Burma , due to the potential financial gain for the military junta that could lead to more human rights violations.

“I think this case is connected to all the people who live in Burma so we all have a responsibility for that,” said an activist who participated in the protest.

The demonstration was held for about one and half hours, after which the police asked the protesters for their identity documents.

“They said that they will put those who were arrested in jail for three days and then send them back to Mae Sot,” said Aung Mung Oo, who is from the Arakan ethnic group in Burma .

“We will request the Thai police not to send them back to Burma , and if they (demonstrators) want to go to Mae Sot, we will inform the UNHCR office in Mae Sot so they can collect them,” said a UNHCR officer responsible for refugee protection.

Last week, the Burmese regime and the Indian government signed an agreement for the construction of a pipeline passing through Bangladesh that will transport natural gas from Burma to India . Daewoo International is the majority shareholder in the natural gas project. - Irrawaddy News Magazine, Thailand