Aid Agencies Pessimistic on Outlook for Burmese Refugees

 

By Ron Corben

Aid workers in Thailand say a change of leadership in Burma has dashed hopes that Burmese refugees would soon be able to go home. There are fears the new government will take a more hard-line approach toward rebel groups and refugees.
 
The ouster of Burmese Prime Minister Khin Nyunt last month has stalled progress on reconciliation¹ talks with several of the country's ethnic² minority groups.
 
Refugee experts say that means more than 150,000 thousand Burmese refugees now in Thailand have little chance of going home in the coming months.
 
General Khin Nyunt is under house arrest and has been accused of corruption³. He played a key role in arranging cease-fires with rebellious⁴ ethnic minority groups, including a partial deal with the Karen National Union (KNU). His successor, General Soe Win, is considered to be hard-liner wary⁵ of the cease-fire talks.
 
Jean Rigal heads the Thailand office of the aid group Doctors Without Borders. He says the talks had raised the refugees' hopes of going home.
 
"I did participate in a huge number of seminars, conference, meetings about repatriation⁶. We really believe that it should be in the next months and it made a lot of hope within the camps," he noted⁷.
 
The Thai government has supported Burma's steps to reconcile with its ethnic minority groups. Thailand has provided millions of dollars in aid to Burma, and has called on the Rangoon government to open areas to enable refugees to return.
 
But United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) officials say there now appears little chance of that happening anytime soon.
 
The UNHCR representative in Rangoon, Rajiv Kapur, says solid repatriation agreements are necessary before the agency can help the refugees return.
 
"There has to be agreement between the parties to the conflict, which would then have to be followed by an agreement on the various modalities of repatriation," he said. "So until we fulfill⁸ the first one we don't see the situation being conducive⁹ to return."
 
Many Burmese exiles and political observers say there are fears that the Rangoon government may not want to pursue cease-fires and that it might seek to quash minority groups with force.
 
Aung Zaw is the editor of the independent Burmese-community newspaper, The Irrawaddy, based in Thailand. He says it is not clear if the talks with the Karen National Union will continue.
 
"The KNU wants to continue the talks, but at the same time there's a lot of confusion on the Burmese side because after the removal of Khin Nyunt.," he said. "I think the KNU is not clear who they are going to deal with."
 
Echoing comments by security analysts¹⁰ in Bangkok and diplomats¹¹ in Rangoon, Aung Zaw says troop movements near the Thai border indicate Burma is preparing an offensive against the Shan or Wa people in northeastern Burma.
 
"In the Wa region, the troops have been alert and some Wa leaders are worried the Burmese might attack," he added.
 
Doctor Rigal with Doctors Without Borders says much must be done to prepare for repatriation, even if cease-fire agreements are signed.
 
"It will not be this year. Maybe not even next year, even though there is a cease-fire agreement," he explained. "There is still a huge landmines¹² problem and there's also a lack of means on the other side. Nothing is ready."
 
Aid workers say the military government's internal power struggles have left Burma's refugees trapped, with nowhere to go, and little hope.

Ron Corben, for VOA News, Bangkok.

注释：
Burma 缅甸
approach 方法
ouster 免职
stall 延迟
reconciliation 调和
corruption 贪污
rebellious 造反的，反抗的
Karen National Union 克伦族全国联盟
hard-liner 不妥协者
Doctors Without Borders 无国界医生组织
participate 参与
seminar 研究会
repatriation 遣送回国
Rangoon 仰光
United Nations High Commission for Refugees 联合国难民事务高级专员公署
modality 形式
quash 镇压
removal 免职
Bangkok 曼谷
landmines 潜在的冲突

 

1 reconciliation   

n.和解，和谐，一致

参考例句：

• He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
• Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。

2 ethnic   

adj.人种的，种族的，异教徒的

参考例句：

• This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏，这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
• The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。

3 corruption   

n.腐败，堕落，贪污

参考例句：

• The people asked the government to hit out against corruption and theft.人民要求政府严惩贪污盗窃。
• The old man reviled against corruption.那老人痛斥了贪污舞弊。

4 rebellious   

adj.造反的，反抗的，难控制的

参考例句：

• They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反，他们就要发生危险。
• Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和，但她的心里十分反感。

5 wary   

adj.谨慎的，机警的，小心的

参考例句：

• He is wary of telling secrets to others.他谨防向他人泄露秘密。
• Paula frowned,suddenly wary.宝拉皱了皱眉头，突然警惕起来。

6 repatriation   

n.遣送回国，归国

参考例句：

• The Volrep programme is the preferred means of repatriation. 政府认为自愿遣返计划的遣返方法较为可取。 来自互联网
• Arrange the cargo claiming and maritime affairs,crews repatriation,medical treatment,traveling so on. （六）洽办货物理赔，船舶海事处理，办理船员遣返，就医，旅游等。 来自互联网

7 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

8 fulfill   

vt.履行，实现，完成；满足，使满意

参考例句：

• If you make a promise you should fulfill it.如果你许诺了，你就要履行你的诺言。
• This company should be able to fulfill our requirements.这家公司应该能够满足我们的要求。

9 conducive   

adj.有益的，有助的

参考例句：

• This is a more conducive atmosphere for studying.这样的氛围更有利于学习。
• Exercise is conducive to good health.体育锻炼有助于增强体质。

10 analysts   

分析家，化验员( analyst的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• City analysts forecast huge profits this year. 伦敦金融分析家预测今年的利润非常丰厚。
• I was impressed by the high calibre of the researchers and analysts. 研究人员和分析人员的高素质给我留下了深刻印象。

11 diplomats   

n.外交官( diplomat的名词复数 )；有手腕的人，善于交际的人

参考例句：

• These events led to the expulsion of senior diplomats from the country. 这些事件导致一些高级外交官被驱逐出境。
• The court has no jurisdiction over foreign diplomats living in this country. 法院对驻本国的外交官无裁判权。 来自《简明英汉词典》

12 landmines   

潜在的冲突； 地雷，投伞水雷( landmine的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The treaty bans the use production and trade of landmines. 该条约规定，禁止使用地雷相关产品及贸易。
• One of the weapon's of special concern was landmines. 在引起人们特别关注的武器中就有地雷。