Release Pakistani and Somali asylum seekers detained in raids, rights group urges Thai authorities

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Release asylum seekers detained in raids, rights group urges

 

 

Thai authorities should release 35 Pakistani and Somali asylum seekers arrested in recent raids, a rights group said Monday, slamming arrests that swept up more than a dozen children.

Most of the men, women and children held documents issued by the UN's refugee agency when they were detained by police in Bangkok on October 21, 30 and 31, according to watchdog Fortify Rights.

 

A total of 19 children were initially arrested, with six -- including four unaccompanied Somali minors -- still in detention, the watchdog said.

 

Many of the adults were charged with overstaying their visas or other immigration violations.

 

Fortify Rights director Amy Smith called for their swift release and lambasted Thai authorities for "trampling on the rights of asylum seekers".

 

"Asylum seekers fleeing persecution in their home countries shouldn't experience further violations in Thailand," she said.

 

Thailand's porous borders, lax visa requirements and reputation for religious tolerance have made the kingdom a magnet for refugees fleeing persecution around the globe.

 

But the government refuses to differentiate between illegal immigrants and refugees, leaving asylum seekers vulnerable to arrest and deportation as they wait out years-long vetting processes by the UNHCR.

 

Once their temporary visas expire, asylum seekers can been picked up on immigration charges at any time and thrown in Bangkok's grim detention centres, where many languish for long periods.

 

Thailand allows the UNHCR to operate inside the country, where the agency is tasked with handling some 7,000 refugee cases.

 

But authorities often ignore the UNHCR's "person of concern" documentation and have previously deported even some refugees lucky enough to secure approval for resettlement in third countries.

 

The asylum seekers living in Thailand's shadows hail from nearly 50 countries around the globe, with Pakistanis -- many of them Christian -- making up the biggest block. 

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/asean-plus/30330944

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-11-06

[Orton Rd]

No keep them where they are to deter thousands of others

[canopus1969]

Can I ask how Somali asylum seekers get to Thailand ?

[Orton Rd]

The usual way, by lying!

[rodney earl]

Send them back to where they came from and stop pussy footing around with these people.

[Machiavelli]

4 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Can I ask how Somali asylum seekers get to Thailand ?

Maybe the same way the Dutch pedophile they caught today got in. Fly in.

[Nemesis7]

Send all the bums including the so called first world country bums come here to beg and party, send all rascals away.

[graemeaylward]

This is outrageous!!! If someone is given temporary refugee status by the UNHCR, and documents to prove this, then Thailand should respect this and allow these people to live freely, whilst further investigations take place. Surely, these people have suffered enough persecution in their own countries without being further punished, or even returned to face certain death in their home countries! At the moment, we can speak relatively freely here in Thailand. If we were not, then we are lucky enough to be able to return to our own countries where freedom of speech and religious beliefs are allowed. Refugees don't have this option! Show some compassion.


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[retarius]

Given the current terror situation I think that any undocumented asylum seeker should be in detention until their case is decided. Overstayers, as well, should be kept in detention until they are deported. Illegals should be in detention until they are jailed or deported.

The exception I might make is for small children say under 8 years old or so. Havign seen the 'unaccompanied minors' who came to Britain from Calais, most of whom were 20 years old if they were a day old, and given that this group seems to have the most attraction to terror, I would be inclined to deport them as fast as possible.

[sanemax]

20 hours ago, canopus1969 said:

Can I ask how Somali asylum seekers get to Thailand ?

Yes you can, Go ahead .

[bogozy]

4 hours ago, graemeaylward said:

This is outrageous!!! If someone is given temporary refugee status by the UNHCR, and documents to prove this, then Thailand should respect this and allow these people to live freely, whilst further investigations take place. Surely, these people have suffered enough persecution in their own countries without being further punished, or even returned to face certain death in their home countries! At the moment, we can speak relatively freely here in Thailand. If we were not, then we are lucky enough to be able to return to our own countries where freedom of speech and religious beliefs are allowed. Refugees don't have this option! Show some compassion.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

Maybe You did not see, They are overstaying at here. So they have had the chanche to get a longer visa, some reasons they no want to arrange.....

[Si Thea01]

On 11/7/2017 at 9:06 AM, graemeaylward said:

This is outrageous!!! If someone is given temporary refugee status by the UNHCR, and documents to prove this, then Thailand should respect this and allow these people to live freely, whilst further investigations take place. Surely, these people have suffered enough persecution in their own countries without being further punished, or even returned to face certain death in their home countries! At the moment, we can speak relatively freely here in Thailand. If we were not, then we are lucky enough to be able to return to our own countries where freedom of speech and religious beliefs are allowed. Refugees don't have this option! Show some compassion.


Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect

Not another do-gooder. So it's OK for them to come here, overstay, then if detected and detained you are quite happy for the government and citizens,through their taxes, to fork out and keep them in gthe community.  Now, if it worries you so much, just cough up some of your own dosh, give us your address and we will ensure that at least four or five will take you up on your good will gesture. And don't worry about the vetting, just take the risk like you expect everyone else do do.  But, go ahead and accept what you are told, true believers normally do until it hits the fan.

[Cadbury]

On ‎6‎/‎11‎/‎2017 at 3:15 PM, canopus1969 said:

Can I ask how Somali asylum seekers get to Thailand ?

Rather than fleeing persecution I suggest these Pakistanis the Somalis are economic refugees simply wanting to catch up with family and friends who are living high on the hog in the land of scams. They likely flew into Thailand looking like tourists on tickets either purchased by themselves or financed by friends and relatives. Then rather than leave they simply decided to overstay in the hope they wouldn't be caught, which they were. Tough titty.