Myanmar refugees return after decades in Thai camps

Sixty-five war refugees returned to Myanmar on Wednesday from Thai border camps, the United Nations said, in the first formal repatriation scheme for exiles trapped in limbo between the two countries.
Thailand has sheltered tens of thousands of Myanmar refugees since the early 1980s, when families began fleeing Karen state to escape the then-junta’s brutal counter-insurgency campaign.
But Thailand does not legally recognize refugees or offer asylum, while safety fears and a lack of land rights across the border have left many Karen exiles unconvinced about returning despite the end of junta rule.
Sixty-five people crossed back on Wednesday, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a day after a family of six left.
“Many say they feel encouraged by the reforms in Myanmar and see a better future for themselves and their families back home,” said Vivian Tan, a Thailand-based spokesperson for UNHCR.
This scheme is the first voluntary repatriation backed by both governments and supported by international aid groups, who are assisting with transportation and resettlement.
But the conditions are not yet right for a mass exodus, Tan added, urging Myanmar to further de-mine its borders and move forward with a fledgling peace process.

Source: Arab News