Plight of displaced people unsolved

 

More than a year after riots, some 4,000 displaced people in Meiktila Township, Mandalay Region, remain in temporary shelters as the authorities have failed to resettle them due to incomplete repairs of their homes.

“Now they (authorities) have nothing to say despite the fact that we have been told we would be resettle before the rain falls. We want a speedy resettlement because Buddhist lent will arrive soon,” said a displaced person in Thathanarakhita camp.

“Our children have yet to enrol (for the new school term in June). Their meals are also our priority. Our camp has over 120 children due to go to school. Most of them have difficulty with their enrolment. Authorities need to resettle us as quickly as possible. Then we will be able to earn a living.” 

AungHtay, a displaced person in-charge of another camp, said administrative officials did not visited them for a long time and that the people were all desperate to return home. 

“I want to urge those who are constructing homes for us to complete the process as quickly as possible,” he said.

The displaced people are living in five camps located in the township.

Clashes also erupted in the area of Muse in northern Shan State on April 30 and caused the displacement of more than 600 people. 

In Kachin State, where the new round of fighting erupted in April, the situation is equally grave.

According to the United Nations, the deteriorating security situation has affected several villages and camps for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in the area, causing over 2,700 people to leave their homes and an unconfirmed number of people to flee across the border into neighbouring China.

It also estimated that since June 2011, fighting between the Myanmar Army and the KIA has displaced more than 100,000 people who now live in IDP camps and host communities on both sides of the frontline. Some 96,000 people currently remain displaced from their homes and are accommodated in over 160 different locations and host communities. Over 50 per cent of the displaced are housed in camps located in areas beyond government control.

During May 20-22, 17 civic organisations convened a meeting to deal with violent incidents and displaced people in Kachin State.

In their joint statement, the meeting called for the safety of internally displaced people and the protection of their rights. It said the government should reduce the military presence near the displaced people camps. The statement also outlined measures designed to deal with social strife and violent incident.

The measures included the attempts to prevent foreign investment and aids involving Myanmar military and to oppose the extraction of natural resources and the land seizures.

The organisations urged for a stop in forcing and displacing the people during military skirmishes and the subsequent peace making.

“The refugees who are sheltered near Manwanegyi have to evacuate the place because of continuing clashes. This is why we are insisting the military should pull back,” said Ser Gi, second in-charge of Kachin Social Development Network attending the meeting. 

The statement was submitted to President Thein Sein, the government, and the US and the UK authorities.