Thailand to Close Largest Myanmar Refugee Camp Forever

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, December 25, 2001

Thailand to Close Largest Myanmar Refugee Camp Forever

The Thai government on Monday decided to definitely and permanently close the Maneeloy Holding Center, the country's largest camp for Myanmar refugees on Friday,the state-owned radio reported.

The Thai government on Monday decided to definitely and permanently close the Maneeloy Holding Center, the country's largest camp for Myanmar refugees on Friday,the state-owned radio reported.

Interior Minister Purachai Piemsomboon told reporters that the final decision was made at a joint meeting among the ministries ofinterior and foreign Affairs, the Office of the National Security Council (NSC), the U.N. Human Rights Commission and the local government of Ratchaburi province where the refugee camp is located.

He said the closure of the camp, situated 220 kilometers west of Bangkok, will go smoothly as all parties concerned, including the office of U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), had prepared for the move for eight months.

Refugees in the camp, now totaled at less than 300, will be moved further westward to a new shelter along the Thai-Myanmar border in the same province.

Despite the fact that refugees in the camp had staged a hunger strike against the closure, Thai officials said that it was the time to shut down the shelter forever, as nearly 4,000 refugees who used to be there had already been repatriated to third countries.

Refugees in the camp had been involved in two serious hostage crises that happened early last year in the Myanmar Embassy to Thailand and a local hospital, which aroused growing security concerns from Thai citizens and government officials.

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