Beijing Limits Information on Burmese Refugees Remaining in China

Josh Goodman
9/3/09
5:53

Fighting in Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, has forced up to 30,000 refugees across the Chinese border. Ethnic groups and rebels have been resisting Myanmar governmental control and even though the fighting has halted, refugees remain in China, unable or unwilling to make the trip back across the border. Other than the fact that "necessary humanitarian assistance" is being provided, the Chinese government has withheld a great deal of information. China claims that the border areas are now stable, as fighting has ceased. Refugees had begun to stream back into the country, but they have slowed as some sources believe that more guerilla warfare could break out at any time. The military junta, or the small group controlling the country, is believed to be taking control of the area due to the upcoming elections. They have been accused of horrible human rights violations and other mishaps in order to stay in power. China has been the junta's biggest backer but has been forced to call them out on the insecurity of their borders.

My biggest concern when reading this story was the state of the refugees. When governments keep things hush hush, it tends to cause much more curiousity and with this information blackout, I wonder what is going on. They say that they are giving them necessary humanitarian assistance but could they be doing more? At the same time I wonder if they are having refugees return to an unstable environment. They've been forced out of their home and country by guerilla warfare. The thing about rebels is they can pop back up anywhere at anytime. If there are still insurgents in the area that the government has yet to supress as some sources claim, then the refugees should remain in China. It is also sad that such governmental stress has been put on Myanmar and its people simply because the junta is afraid to lose their power. It seems that this has started by tightening governmental control. This unnecessary restriction may have sparked rebel retaliation and forced the countries people away from their homes. Burma has already gone through so much as a nation and I hope that the government is able to find a resolution with the ethnic and rebel groups that will satisfy both sides and bring an end to their little scuffles. After all, they are both just hurting their own country.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/02/world/asia/02myanmar.html
(Post edited to add in forgotten link)