THAILAND AND THE RETURN OF ETHNIC KAREN REFUGEES TO BURMA

Early day motion 955, tabled 26 February 2010 by Lembit Öpik (Liberal Democrat). Signed by 42 members.

That this House condemns the actions of the government of Thailand, which is threatening to deport 3,000 ethnic Karen refugees back to Burma; is appalled that on 5 February 2010 thirteen refugees were forced to return against their will to an area which is infested with landmines, and occupied by a military force, allied to the dictatorship in Burma, which is likely to use the villagers as slave labour and children as child soldiers; expresses deep concern that the government of Thailand has made false claims to the international community that the refugees want to return; calls on the government of Thailand to turn its temporary halt of the deportations into a permanent one, and to end the harassment and intimidation of the refugees; and calls on the British Government to make the strongest possible representations to Thailand on this matter, and to examine whether the actions of the government of Thailand in forcing refugees to return could break international humanitarian and human rights law.

Signatures by party: Labour 22, Liberal Democrat 10, Independent 3, Scottish National Party 3, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Conservative 1, DUP 1.