MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION

3.2.2009

with request for inclusion in the agenda for the debate on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law
pursuant to Rule 115 of the Rules of Procedure
by Thomas Mann, Colm Burke, Tunne Kelam, Bernd Posselt, Charles Tannock
on behalf of the PPE-DE Group
on the situation of Burmese refugees in Thailand

See also joint motion for a resolution RC-B6-0073/2009

NB: This motion for a resolution is available in the original language only.

B6‑0075/2009

European Parliament resolution on the situation of Burmese refugees in Thailand

The European Parliament,

• -having regard to its previous resolutions on the Situation of Burmese refugees,
• -having regard to Rule 115(5) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas in recent years thousands of Burmese have fled from their home country because of the repression and widespread hunger and risked their lives to reach Thailand and other south-east Asian countries,

B.  whereas the indigenous Rohingya, who were not tolerated in PlaceNamePlaceNameBurma, were systematically exterminated from their ancestral homeland by the ruling Burmese military SPDC, whose intent was to turn Arakan into a Muslim-free region,

C.  whereas the Thai Navy is accused of having forced several hundreds of boat-people (most of them Rohingyas fleeing large-scale persecution in Arakan) back into the sea in boats with no engines,

D.  deeply concerned by the disturbing allegations in the foreign press that Rohingya refugees are being used as slave labour,

1.  Condemns the continuous persecution by the Burmese Government, which has resulted in thousands of its citizens fleeing their country because of repression, hunger and economic decline;

2.  Welcomes the statement of Thai Prime Minister H.E. Abhisit Vejjajiva that the boat-people incident will be investigated;

3.  Supports the initiative of Thai Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Kasit Piromya to cooperate with PlaceNameBangladeshPlaceName, IndiaPlaceName, PlaceNameIndonesia and Malysia in order to jointly address these issue;

4.  Asks the Thai Government to discuss the situation of the Rohingyas in their areas of origin within the bodies of the ASEAN to find a lasting solution;

5.  Urges the Thai authorities to treat the refugees in a humane way and not to repatriate the Rohingya refugees, as they and their families will face dire consequences;

6.  Demands that Thailand, which is well-known for its long tradition of hospitality towards refugees and which is a responsible member of the international community, try to find a rapid and acceptable solution for further cases of refugees, in close cooperation with the UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Government of the PlaceNamePlaceNameKingdomPlaceName of Thailand, the Government of Myanmar, the Secretary General of the ASEAN and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.