Minister of Foreign Affairs James Huang (黃志芳) yesterday promised to help a stateless refugee living in Taiwan who has asked for assistance in returning to Myanmar to attend his father's funeral.
Yin Fa-ran (
"I can't obtain the legal documents that would allow me to go back to Myanmar to visit my family. My father died last month; I urgently need to go back to attend his funeral," Yin said.
Border
Yin hails from an area along the Thai-Myanmar border where Nationalist soldiers retreating from Chinese Communist troops fled toward the end of the Chinese Civil War. Some of the descendents of these soldiers are not recognized as citizens by Myanmar, Thailand or China.
Huang said: "Based on humanitarian concerns, the government will endeavor to give the utmost assistance to Yin. However, the necessary legal procedures still need to be taken, which require the foreign ministry to coordinate with appropriate agencies to find a solution to this case."
Huang was referring to the Ministry of the Interior, the Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission and the National Police Agency.
Huang said the ministry would come up with a response to Yin's appeal within a week.
Forged passport
Yin arrived in Taiwan in 1996 on a forged Myanmar passport. He registered for courses at the Shilin High School of Commerce but dropped out a year later. Lacking legal identification, he has survived by working illegally and receiving help from friends.
He turned himself in to the police two years ago.
Last December, the Taipei District Court asked the foreign ministry to find a way to help Yin return to Myanmar. The ministry, however, turned down the court's request, saying that Yin does not have a legal nationality and that existing laws do not allow Yin to travel without a passport.
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