April 14: New Delhi: With a threat of arrest and partial fulfillment of demands, Burmese refugees withdrew their protest in front of the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) here yesterday.

The 44 Burmese refugees had been staging a sit-in demonstration in front of the UNHCR office in Jor Bagh, Lodi Road in New Delhi, demanding restoration of the Subsistence Allowance, which was stopped.

According to the protestors, the UNHCR officials asked them to stay at the All Burma Refugees Committee (ABRC) office in Janakpuri, west Delhi for a temporary period. The UN refugee agency reportedly assured them of providing jobs through Don Bosco, a Christian Non-Government Organization. UNHCR was also said to have promised them supply of ration till they could get secure jobs.

The agency also reportedly promised to restore the monthly subsistence allowances for those, who are not able to work because of failed health. But, at the same time, it warned the agitators that they would be put under arrest by police if they refused to accept the offer and continued demonstration.

“We will have to wait and watch whether the UNHCR really fulfils its promises. I personally do not believe in its promises. But even then we had to call off the demonstration. If UNHCR does not keep its words, we will resume our protest,” said a woman demonstrator, Ngun Thein.

The refugees had started demonstration in front of Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), a partner NGO of UNHRC, on March 30 in protest against withdrawal of the Subsistence Allowance. They, however, called off the sit-in on April 1 when YMCA arranged temporary shelter and food for them. The refugees started a fresh demonstration in front of the UNHCR office on April 7 when YMCA failed to fulfill its promises.