Thailand is putting the lives of Myanmar asylum seekers at risk by deporting them in an attempt to appease that country's military rulers and create "a favorable environment" for Thai business, a US-based human rights organization said.
The Thai government is deporting the asylum seekers despite their legitimate fear of punishment upon their return to Myanmar, also known as Burma, said a report issued yesterday by New York-based Human Rights Watch.
"Many will face severe persecution once back in Burma," said Brad Adams, executive director of the group's Asia division. "The Thai government's crackdown puts the lives of many Burmese at risk."
Many of the 142,000 asylum seekers are from ethnic minority groups fighting for independence from Myanmar, and the junta has said their ability to take refuge in Thailand makes it hard to stamp them out.
Myanmar has accused Thailand of allowing its territory to be used as a rear base by guerrillas, especially the Karen National Union, which has been fighting for self-rule for more than a half century.
Yet Human Rights Watch said Bangkok's relations with the junta have grown steadily closer since Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra came to power in 2001. Adams said that was because the government wants "to create a favorable environment for Thai business."
"Thailand should not allow commercial or diplomatic interests to interfere with the ability of Burmese to seek safety in Thailand," Adams said. "It seems clear that the Thai government under Thaksin favors business over human rights."
Thaksin's family controls Shin Corp, a telecommunications conglomerate with business interests in Myanmar.
Calls to government spokesman Jakrapob Penkair went unanswered, but he has said in the past that it is wrong to allege that the prime minister is exploiting his position for personal gain.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said he had not yet seen the report, "but as far as our treatment of the refugees is concerned, we've always upheld humanitarian principles."
Human Rights Watch said abuses in Myanmar include forced labor, suppression of political freedoms, rape of ethnic minority women by government soldiers, the use of child soldiers, and forced relocation of villages.
The US has imposed economic and political sanctions on the junta because of its poor human rights record and failure to honor the results of a 1990 general election, won by the National League for Democracy party of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is currently under house arrest.
"Thailand shouldn't be toughening its stance toward Burmese refugees when there has been no improvement in the abysmal conditions causing them to flee Burma," Adams said.
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