Burma: Asylum

To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received on the number of displaced people who have fled from Burma to Thailand since January 2010; whether he has had discussions with the government of Thailand on the safety and welfare of those people; and if he will make a statement. (323617)

We received reports of people fleeing from Burma to Thailand since January 2010 but the numbers are unconfirmed. Following news that Thailand was intending to force 3,000 refugees to return to Burma, our ambassador to Thailand raised this matter with the Thai authorities stressing the importance of adherence to international standards and to Thailand's international obligations. We understand that the Royal Thai Government decided not to deport the 30 families it had initially identified for removal. We continue to closely monitor the situation are coordinating closely with UN High Commission for Refugees, US and EU partners and will continue to raise the issue with Thai authorities.