Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com).
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February 7, 2009

Indonesia Reverses Policy on Burma Refugees
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=22237E8:A6F02AD83191E160B2AA0DD9CDF8692C5C6F54A6CF9DC2CA&
 
Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda says Rohingya could claim to be
refugees, and UN High Commission for Refugees would be given access to
them 
Indonesia has reversed its position on Rohingya boat people fleeing
persecution in Burma, saying they may qualify for refugee status.     
Hassan Wirajuda speaks at a press conference in Jakarta, 06 Feb
2009Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirajuda said Friday that the
Rohingya could claim to be refugees, and that the U.N. High Commission
for Refugees would be given access to them. The change in policy comes
after fishermen rescued 198 Burmese Rohingya men who were found drifting
off western Indonesia Monday. They said they were beaten by authorities
in Thailand, who pushed them out to sea. Thailand regards the Rohingya
as economic migrants who should be deported back to Burma. The Rohingya,
an ethnic and Muslim minority in mostly Buddhist Burma, say they face
repression by Burmese military authorities. About 20,000 are believed to
live illegally in Thailand, and as many as 230,000 in Bangladesh. 

 


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