8/12/2019 Karen Women's Organization Letter of Appeal on World Refugee Day ( English Version)

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Karen Women's Organization(KWO)

P.O Box 19 Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Province Thailand 58110Tel:66-53 681081,Fax 66-53-62141Email:kwocentral@gmail.com

Website: www.karenwomen.org

Karen Women's Organization Letter of Appeal on World Refugee Day

20thJune, 2014

I am a woman. I am a refugee. This is my life. Listen to my voice. On World Refugee Day, it is ourdesire to appeal to the governments, to UNHCR and to all stakeholders, that the rights of refugees bevalued and respected.

After the Karen National Union started peace talks with the Burmese government on peace buildingand a ceasefire, news began to spread of refugee return. News of refugee return makes the refugeecommunity confused and nervous because they have not received enough clear information about

return, nor have refugees been adequately consulted regarding the return process. The governments,UNHCR and NGOs have continued preparing for refugee return by having meetings, surveys, pilotprojects, and different kinds of activities. In addition, there are set locations for refugees to return toand buildings, including business and vocational activities, being prepared for the return of refugees.Because these plans are not discussed with the refugees, it makes the refugees confused and

worried in many ways. Unfortunately, this is the situation that has been facing refugees on theThailand - Burma border since 2012.

The buildings that have started to be built in preparation for refugee return have raised manyquestions. Who invested the money for these building? Who organized the investments? What is thepurpose of building these new structures? Who will benefit? Will it be refugees? No one is able toanswer our questions. The Karen Refugee Committee, KNU, governments and/or stakeholders,

all those who take responsibility for the protection of refugees, might not know the answers, but theydo have a responsibility to find out, for the sake of transparency and the safety and trust of thecommunity.

Refugees have positions and opinions regarding their return that need to be respected. Whenever thequestion is raised to the refugees, "when do you want to return?" the refugees answer that they willreturn when the politics in Burma is stable and sustainable, their safety is guaranteed, and there isjustice for all.

The process of preparing and planning the return of refugees should only be done with the full,

genuine and well-informed involvement of individual refugees and the wider refugee community. Ourrights should be respected and our input valued. Refugees are human beings just like everyone else.

We hope the Karen, and other ethnic groups in Burma, and IDPs, receive freedom to live, as ordinary

citizens, in Burma, with dignity, equality and peace.

In Solidarity

Nan Dah Eh KlerChairperson

Karen Womens Organization

mailto:kwocentral@gmail.commailto:kwocentral@gmail.com