GENEVA - THE UN refugee agency said on Friday that most of the 15,000 people who fled from Myanmar earlier this week have returned from Thailand despite renewed post-election fighting near the border.
A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Adrian Edwards said fighting reportedly erupted again overnight after the Thai army cleared their return, with the potential for more clashes around the Myanmar villages of Maekata and Halokani.
'As of today most of the 15,000 Myanmar refugees who fled into Thailand earlier this week have returned acorss the border,' Mr Edwards told journalists.
Sites in northern Thailand's Tak province emptied by Wednesday while all 3,000 refugees further south in Sanghklaburi had disappeared by early Friday, he added.
'In the light of the confused situation and the risks to safety, UNHCR is advocating with the Royal Thai government that refugees be given further time before being encouraged to return home,' Mr Edwards said.
UN human rights experts on Friday expressed concern about the impact of the earlier fighting and reiterated calls for the release of 'over 2,200 prisoners of consceince' including jailed opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. -- AFP
Source:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_602552.html
A spokesman for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Adrian Edwards said fighting reportedly erupted again overnight after the Thai army cleared their return, with the potential for more clashes around the Myanmar villages of Maekata and Halokani.
'As of today most of the 15,000 Myanmar refugees who fled into Thailand earlier this week have returned acorss the border,' Mr Edwards told journalists.
Sites in northern Thailand's Tak province emptied by Wednesday while all 3,000 refugees further south in Sanghklaburi had disappeared by early Friday, he added.
'In the light of the confused situation and the risks to safety, UNHCR is advocating with the Royal Thai government that refugees be given further time before being encouraged to return home,' Mr Edwards said.
UN human rights experts on Friday expressed concern about the impact of the earlier fighting and reiterated calls for the release of 'over 2,200 prisoners of consceince' including jailed opposition leader Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. -- AFP
Source:http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_602552.html
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