United Nations

UN Secretary-General Pledges to Negotiate with Burma over Refugee Crisis

Strategic Insights

Feb 21, 2000 — 1 min read

United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai in Bangkok, pledging to negotiate with Burma to lessen the refugee burden on Thailand. Annan expressed interest in the plight of 100,000 ethnic Karen refugees currently sheltered in Thai camps near the Burmese border. The meeting follows two high-profile hostage incidents involving Karen insurgents, including the seizure of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok and a Thai hospital, where police and troops killed ten young Burmese dissidents.

Key Takeaways:

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan met with Thai Prime Minister Chuan Leekpai in Bangkok on February 10, 2000, to discuss the refugee crisis at the Thai-Burma border.
Annan pledged to negotiate with Burma to reduce the refugee burden on Thailand, which currently hosts over 100,000 ethnic Karen refugees.
The meeting follows two hostage incidents involving Karen insurgents: the seizure of the Burmese Embassy in Bangkok and a Thai hospital, where 10 young Burmese dissidents were killed.
Annan expressed sympathy for Thailand's long-term burden in caring for refugees from Burma and acknowledged the need to address the root cause of the refugee crisis.
The UN chief also highlighted the worrying trend of using children in combat, citing the example of the 12-year-old twin Karen boys who inspired the group known as God's Army.

Statistics:

100,000 ethnic Karen refugees are currently sheltered in Thai camps near the Burmese border.
Ten young Burmese dissidents were killed during the seizure of a Thai hospital by God's Army, a group of Burmese insurgents.
The world community is impressed by Thailand's handling of the two hostage incidents involving Karen insurgents.
Burma's Rangoon regime is still the primary source of the Rohingya refugee crisis.

Sources:

(UPI) "Annan pledges to negotiate with Burma to lessen refugee burden on Thailand", February 10, 2000
(COMTEX) "News Provided by COMTEX (http://www.comtexnews.com)", (no date)

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