Burmese refugees to be granted asylum in the Czech Republic

Five Burmese families, mainly young parents with children, who landed at Prague’s Ruzyně international airport on Thursday will be granted asylum in the Czech Republic. The news was released by an official from the Interior Ministry. 23 refugees will be granted asylum within a state-funded resettlement programme. The families were reportedly severely persecuted by the Burmese authorities because they hid insurgents, supported rebel activities and went against the orders of the Burmese government. The group survived a dramatic escape from their homeland after soldiers sank the refugees’ boat. A number of young children drowned.