Little Myanmar In Delhi

Lin is one of the many who is being resettled by UNHCR under their resettlement programme. Unlike in the past when very small numbers were sent to the US, Canada and Australia, a fairly large number is now being sent to Australia. "The quota for Australia from India was increased recently. They can now take over 200 people. In the 2006-07 slot, we have resettled 174 refugees to Australia as opposed to 24 in 2005-06 slot," says Nayana Bose, associate external relations officer, UNHCR. She says that the increased quotas will help in changing the existing situation of the refugees to a certain extent. MISSING ‘HOME’ Life may change but Lin is certain that he will miss Delhi, his home for so many years. What he will also miss is his long association with the in-exile All Burma Students League (ABSL), of which he has been a member. Another Myanmarese refugee Tun Tun Oo faces a similar situation. He has been chosen for resettlement to Australia and hopes to leave soon. "There is no future for us here," he says. A pause later, he adds, "Yes, I feel sad that I’ll no longer be a part of this movement." Their moving out is inevitable. But the movement, as Kyaw Than, president, ABSL, knows very well, will not die out. Even though very few of the members have opted to move out, he knows eventually many will prefer a better life over a miserable existence. But that doesn’t dishearten him. "I know I’ll never move out. I’ll stay here and continue the struggle. If it gets really bad, I’ll ask for more volunteers to be sent," says the student leader. He was one of the first ones to seek refuge in India after he escaped from the military junta. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Little_Myanmar_in_Delhi/articleshow/2256272.cms [Proofreader's note: this article was edited for spelling and typos on August 7, 2007]

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