More questions on Wa

More questions on Wa

Symposium on Migration

Many participants expressed their interests in the relocations of Wa people from the north by asking several questions and giving comments during the symposium on migration that was held at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (24 -25 June). 

"The Wa resettlers along the Thai border could be designated as Internally Displaced Persons (IDP)," said an unidentified official from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Monday, following the presentation by Khuensai Jaiyen, director of S.H.A.N. on the forced resettlement of 125,000 Wa from northeastern Shan State to the southern border townships of Mongton, Monghsat and Tachilek, opposite the provinces of Maehongson, Chiangmai and Chiangrai, since 1999. 

A former member of the Burma Border Consortium, a refugee relief programme, backed this assessment. "As IDPs, they are entitled to internationally recognized rights," said Ashley South, who is currently writing a book on Mons. 

Many others wanted to know whether the United Nations Drug Control Programme (UNDCP) was involved in the project, about drug fugitive Wei Hsuehkang and drug connections inside Shan State. However, time was limited (30 minutes) and, as a result, the presenter was unable to satisfy his questioners. 

Among the participants were Dr Pornpimol Trichote, a researcher for the Institute of Asia Studies, members of the Shan community in Bangkok, Thai NGOs and students. 

The relocations of a quarter of Wa population had, according to the Lahu research team that published the report, displaced 25,000 local inhabitants along the Thai border. 

For further information, please visit http://www.shanland.org/shrf/Wa/contents.htm "Unsettled Moves": The Wa forced resettlement program in eastern Shan State.