Human rights group urges China to aid, protect Kachin refugees
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A leading human rights group on Tuesday called on China to not force Kachin refugees back to Myanmar and to allow access to international aid for some 10,000 refugees on its soil.
Fighting that broke out between the military and rebels in the Kachin State last year has displaced up to 75,000 people, many seeking refuge in neighbouring China's Yunnan province.
While acknowledging that the Chinese government had "generally tolerated" the Kachin refugees, the New York-based Human Rights Watch in a 68-page report released Tuesday claimed it had documented at least two cases in 2011 involving 300 Kachins being pushed back to Myanmar and other cases of people being denied entrance.//DPA
"China has no legitimate reason to push them back to Burma or toleave them without food and shelter," said Sophie Richardson, Chinadirector at Human Rights Watch.
"The Chinese government is not only legally obligated, but fullycapable of temporarily protecting Kachin refugees and meeting theirbasic needs," Richardson said.//DPA
