Quick Facts

• The Burma army has deliberately targeted civilian populations in an effort to defeat ethnic opposition armies. Burma army operations have been described as genocide of ethnic peoples.
• Three million people have fled Burma and more than 600,000 remain internally displaced by conflict. Most of them belong to ethnic nationality groups.
• Grave violations of humanitarian law continue in Burma’s prisons and ethnic areas. Perpetrators largely go unpunished and victims remain unable to seek redress.
• War continues in Shan and Kachin States where Burma army has shelled villages, carried out aerial attacks and displaced at least 120,000 ethnic people, including Shan, Kachin, Ta’ang (Palaung) and Lahu.

About Thailand-Burma border:

• Thailand hosts around 100,000 refugees in nine camps on the Thailand-Burma border.
• Thailand has not signed the Geneva Convention relating to the status of refugees. Refugees found outside the camps are treated the same as any illegal immigrants.
• Thai authorities have not allowed UNHCR to register more than a few refugees since 2006. Without registration refugees are unable to apply for resettlement or for most university scholarships abroad.

Despite the ongoing war, violations of international humanitarian law, and impunity:

• Foreign governments have recently resumed diplomatic relations with the Burmese government, lifted sanctions, and encouraged investment in a country where development projects continue to be directly linked to human rights violations.
• Thai authorities are planning on closing down all the refugee camps. The UNHCR is negotiating with the Thai and Burmese governments about repatriating the refugees. But where will they go?
• International donors have recently shifted funds from Thailand-Burma border to central Burma where funds are funneled through the Burma Government and are unable to reach ethnic border areas.

Because of recent funding cuts on the Thailand-Burma border:

• Ethnic organisations and peoples are being silenced and at times pushed to move inside.
• Vulnerable populations on both sides of the border now lack crucial aid.
• Some refugees in Thailand believe that they are being starved out in order to avoid their continuing assistance and future repatriation.
• For many people of Burma, although the recent reforms have brought hope, they have also resulted in exclusion and growing fear and uncertainty amidst reduced aid and rumours of forced repatriation.