KOROR (Palau Horizon) – Palau has now become a sanctuary to 11 Burmese who has fled Myanmar to avoid the military government, despite a least ideal living condition, the refugees are thankful to the island nation for giving them a temporary home while awaiting for political asylum from a third country.
Seven of the 11 Burmese seeking political asylum live in a farm located in Ngaraard owned by Sen. Joel Toribiong .
The rest are also staying in another house, hosted by a Palauan family in Ngaraard.
The 11 arrived in Palau in February, after first seeking temporary home in Manila, Philippines, but the money has run out and they have to do with the $60 a month each provided to them by the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNCHR).
Sen. Toribiong has offered to temporarily host and sponsor the Burmese while awaiting for political asylum either in Australia or the United States.
U Pyianananda , a monk who left Myanmar in 2007 after the anti-government uprising said that they do want to leave Palau, not because they are being discriminated but because they want to continue fighting for freedom for Myanmar.
Pyianananda said with Toribiong’s good heart, they were able to stay in the farm house rent-free.
“This is not my home, not my country and not my monastery,” Pyianananda said.
H Tien Lien said they are grateful for Palau hosting them, he said that they decided to come to Palau because of its visa-free and that the government will not send them back to Myanmar.
Since July 2009, Sen. Toribiong offered to temporarily host and sponsor said refugees until UNHCR process their documentation and determine a country to permanently host them.
The asylum seekers stays in the farmhouse without electricity and without running water. A stream within the farm is their shower area. They are also regularly sent supplies by Sen. Toribiong.
However, they are proud of what they have done in the farm in four months.
“If we do not plant, we do not have enough food,” Pyianananda said.
The refugees are helping out in the farm, planting vegetables for their daily sustenance.
The UNCHR representatives visited Palau and attested that they meet international refugee status.
The process however will take several months to be processed.
Palau is also the temporary home for the six former Guantanamo detainees. Like the Myanmar asylum seekers, the Uighurs are also looking into a third country as their permanent home.
The asylum seekers are hoping that soon, their request for a political asylum is granted.
“Life is hard but we will continue,” Lien said.
