Thailand: Information on the Muslim Liberation Organization of Burma (MLOB) in Bangkok; office address; whereabouts of U Kyaw Hla (Chairperson)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 11 February 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | THA40780.E |
| Reference | 5 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Thailand: Information on the Muslim Liberation Organization of Burma (MLOB) in Bangkok; office address; whereabouts of U Kyaw Hla (Chairperson), 11 February 2003, THA40780.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4e252a.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
U Kyaw Hla, Chairman of the Muslim Liberation Organization of Burma (MLOB), stated in correspondence sent to the Research Directorate that
the MLOB was formed in 1980 in a Karen liberated area and since then it ha[s] been struggling, [along with] ethnic [groups] and pro-democratic forces, against the successive military regimes of Burma for democracy and human rights (6 Feb. 2003a).
A 6 June 2001 Victory News Magazine article adds that the MLOB is a member of a pro-democracy umbrella organization called the Democratic Alliance of Burma (DAB) and the National Coalition of the Union of Burma (NCUB), which was formed by DAB members and former Members of the Burmese Parliament who left the country following the 1990 elections.
According to the Chairman, the MLOB is governed by an elected Central Executive Committee who are drawn from a central committee of members (MLOB 6 Feb. 2003a). In some cases, the Chairman has provided confirmation of the membership of people involved in the MLOB (ibid.).
The Chairman stated in a telephone interview that the MLOB does not have an office in Bangkok (6 Feb. 2003b). U Kyaw Hla can be contacted at the MLOB office in Chiang Mai at:
P.O. Box 52
Mae Ping P.O.
Chiang Mai 50301
Thailand (6 Feb. 2003a).
The following information about Muslim organizations in Thailand may also be of interest. A program coordinator with the Burma Project in New York stated in a telephone interview that Muslims in Thailand are currently at risk of harassment by police, intelligence agents and immigration authorities (5 Feb. 2003). She added that offices occupied by Muslim groups are often shut down by the police and that, in some cases, the police extort money from them (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Burma Project, New York. 5 February 2003. Telephone interview with a program coordinator.
Muslim Liberation Organization of Burma (MLOB). 6 February 2003a. Correspondence sent by the Chairman.
_____. 6 February 2003b. Telephone interview with the Chairman.
Victory News Magazine. 6 June 2001. Zaynab El-Fatah. "Suffering in Burma." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB Databases
Internet sites, including:
Amnesty International
Burma Project
Democratic Voice of Burma
International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights
Rebound88
Victory News Magazine
World News Connection