GOB APPROVES NEW UNHCR OPERATION

UNCLAS RANGOON 000207 SIPDIS STATE ALSO FOR EAP/BCLTV; USPACOM FOR FPA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV PREF BM NGO SUBJECT: GOB APPROVES NEW UNHCR OPERATION REF: RANGOON 172 ¶1. (SBU) UNHCR Director for Asia and the Pacific, Mr. Jean Marie Fakhouri, told Rangoon diplomatic corps February 13 that the GOB was giving UNHCR the green light to enter Karen (Kayin) State, Mon State, and Tenasserim (Tanintharyi) Division and conduct limited operations beginning March 1. Fakhouri corroborated the details of the operations as foreshadowed by UNHCR Country Representative to COM on Feb 5 (reftel). He highlighted that initial operations will be limited to "roving presence" UNHCR teams that will assess infrastructure upgrades required to support the possible return of Karen refugees and IDPs. ¶2. (SBU) Fakhouri explained that UNHCR wants to dampen Thai hopes for quick refugee returns to Burma and is focused on avoiding a repeat of the 1996 rushed return of Mon refugees following the New Mon State Party cease-fire. Fakhouri estimated UNHCR will need $800,000 to $1 million this year for the Phase 1 roving presence operations, and will brief donors once back in Geneva. Fakhouri also expressed concern about the pervasive mine problem in the region. Martinez