The National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma wholeheartedly welcomes the Royal Thai Government’s decision to provide educational services to refugees from Burma living in camps along the common border.

The more than 140,000 refugees, who fled Burma to escape persecution have long
wished for this opportunity and they will truly be indebted to the Royal Thai
Government for its benevolence and humanitarian spirit.

The wise decision to provide educational assistance and occupational skills in
addition to food, accommodation, and health care will restore self-confidence and
dignity to the refugees, particularly the younger generation whose future has been
bleak before.

Prime Minister Dr Sein Win said, “We hope that the program will provide skills and
capacity to the refugee population so that they will be able to serve not only their
own communities but also contribute to regional development projects, including
environmental preservation along the Thai-Burma border. The program will also help
prepare the educated refugee population to participate in the rebuilding of their
own communities back in Burma when peace returns.”

The NCGUB is convinced that inclusion of Thai language skills and cultural exchanges
through closer contacts will increase the understanding Thai culture among the
people of Burma and contribute to the strengthening of good will and friendship
between the two peoples.

The NCGUB calls on all education and culture related UN agencies and international
NGOs as well as governments to welcome the education initiative in Thailand and help further the education of people of Burma taking refuge in Thailand.