Refugees still bear the brunt of military policies

Thailand needs to make it clear to the international community that it has a policy not to send back to Myanmar the refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) who are living in makeshift camps along the border – not until conditions in Myanmar are fit for their return.

The government must respect the international principle of non-refoulement, meaning no forced repatriation, in spite of the fact that the country is not a signatory to the United Nations’ refugee convention. 

It is disturbing, nevertheless, to hear reports about some donors wanting the coerced repatriation of refugees. Support for this policy is based on the argument that Myanmar is moving in the right direction in terms of political and economic reform and national reconciliation. Some believe the Myanmar government will no longer mete out ill treatment to returning refugees and IDPs.

In recent months there has been a surge of interest in Myanmar among Western governments and private corporations. This is understandable, of course: everybody wants to be the first to plant his flag and stake a claim to the enormous natural resources Myanmar has to offer.

But at the same time, one should not forget that the international community and Myanmar pressure groups have made a great effort to get to this point. And we must not forget that there is still a long way to go before all of us are confident enough to say there will be no turning back to the country’s abusive past. 

Let’s not forget that the men responsible for many past atrocities are still in power and very much in control, either directly or in an unofficial capacity.

Moreover, let’s not forget that, for decades, pressure from opposition organisations and members of the international community over the abuses in Myanmar contributed to the current state of being, which at best can be described as transitional. 

The fact that the military regime seems willing to reform should not be equated with an outright victory for the pro-democracy camp. The ongoing reforms have been deemed necessary if the Myanmar military is to survive as an institution. However, constitutionally speaking, the military, as an institution, is pretty much cemented in the country’s political setting. 

Strangely, nobody is talking about the sham election held two years ago. Just as sensitive is the sticky issue of the scores of drug lords who have been either indicted or prosecuted by Thai and US courts for heroin trafficking. They are still allowed to roam freely in Myanmar. Some of these drug pushers head self-styled ethnic armies that have entered into ceasefire agreements with the government.

By sticking to the same old stance of doing nothing to hunt down the drug warlords, the Myanmar military is telling the world that its drug habit will not come at the expense of Myanmar’s national security. 

While the drug lords may add future complications to Myanmar’s relationship with the international community, there are more immediate matters the world needs to heed. Among these are the release of all remaining political prisoners, reform of the judicial process, amendment of the constitution, the installation of proper benchmarks for transparency in business, and an end to systematic human-rights abuses. A guarantee from the generals is not enough.

Although a dozen armed ethnic groups have signed ceasefires with the government, it is too early to say that peace has been achieved. They have only agreed to stop shooting for the time being. Many of these ethnic armies function as buffers between Thailand and Myanmar, a situation fostered by historical mistrust. So far there is nothing to suggest that the ongoing reforms inside Myanmar will have a direct and positive affect on ties with Thailand in light of this security outlook. 

In the end, the two countries will have to work out their differences. Until then, security along the border will remain a crucial concern, and the ordinary villagers – namely the refugees and the IDPs – will continue to bear the brunt of unsound policies that place everything else above their wellbeing.