AbstractsLaw & Legal Studies

Repatriation and reintegration: The case of Burmese Displaced Persons in Thailand; Repatriering og reintegrering: fordrevne burmesere i Thailand

by Maria Drengsgaard




Institution: Roskilde University
Department:
Year: 2015
Keywords: Repatriation; Burmese refugees
Posted: 02/05/2017
Record ID: 2068550
Full text PDF: http://rudar.ruc.dk/handle/1800/24054


Abstract

This thesis is based upon a qualitative fieldwork study, observations and interviews in the border town Mae Sot between Thailand and Myanmar. Many Burmese displaced persons and migrants reside here having fled from various reasons. Decades of civil war, oppression, poverty etc. have led to people having left Myanmar and settled in and around temporary shelters in Thailand, many with hope of resettling to third countries. The parallel Burmese community on the Thai side of the border is home to hundreds of thousands among many, who have lived there since mid 1980s. However Thailand has never recognised them as refugees and has refused to integrate them into the country. Due to political developments in both countries in recent years, talks of repatriation have intensified and actual plans are being developed by UNHCR, Myanmar and Thailand. The thesis seeks to explore the actual practices of governing of UNHCR, the Thai and the Myanmar governments in relation to the displaced persons and the possibility of reintegration in Myanmar upon repatriation. Through the empirical data collected and in addition secondary empirical data, the thesis identifies significant issues in regards to the actual practice of repatriation strategies and government-led programmes for reintegration of the returning population. The thesis further argues that the returning Muslim population will have particularly difficult resettling, as they do not belong to any in-group networks that give access to development but instead belong to a religious network being largely hated within Myanmar. Advisors/Committee Members: Fischer, Johan (advisor).