webfact 150811 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Thailand pledges to soften harsh refugee policies By The Thaiger PHOTO: Toronto Star Thailand’s immigration chief is pledging an upgrade of the country’s draconian treatment of refugees following the intense international media coverage of the young Saudi woman’s attempt to seek asylum. Rahaf Mohammed became the biggest international story across the world for a week after being intercepted during a transit stopover in Bangkok, on her way to Australia, and was immediately prepared for deportation back to Saudi Arabia. Following the 19 year old’s Twitter stream, as she barricaded herself inside her hotel room, Thai authorities were forced into damage control as the woman’s plight shed light on the harsh treatment of people arriving or transiting through the Kingdom in the hope of seeking asylum. Full story: https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-pledges-to-soften-harsh-refugee-policies -- © Copyright The Thaiger 2019-01-18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bluesofa 43936 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 4 minutes ago, webfact said: Thailand pledges to soften harsh refugee policies "pledges" = nothing will happen. Everything will all stay the same unless embarrassing social media or the press get involved, causing a loss of face. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
darksidedog 55497 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 The high profile Chief of Immigration, Surachate Hakparn, says refugees would no longer be returned home “involuntarily” if they arrived in Thailand and claimed they were seeking asylum. He pledged that, moving forward, when it comes to asylum seekers, “Thailand will now follow international norms”. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-pledges-to-soften-harsh-refugee-policies If, and I repeat if, they indeed follow through with this, it will be a very welcome move. I have seen first hand the way immigrants are commonly dealt with and it is nothing short of appalling. There is a mentality here that has traditionally viewed immigrants as less than human, an attitude that is long overdue for correction. I hope this is the first step. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChipButty 20394 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 I'll become a Refugee instead of a Retiree Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sheryl 36007 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 The high profile Chief of Immigration, Surachate Hakparn, says refugees would no longer be returned home “involuntarily” if they arrived in Thailand and claimed they were seeking asylum. He pledged that, moving forward, when it comes to asylum seekers, “Thailand will now follow international norms”. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-pledges-to-soften-harsh-refugee-policies If, and I repeat if, they indeed follow through with this, it will be a very welcome move. I have seen first hand the way immigrants are commonly dealt with and it is nothing short of appalling. There is a mentality here that has traditionally viewed immigrants as less than human, an attitude that is long overdue for correction. I hope this is the first step.+1There was unfortunately no internet when more than 40,000 Cambodian refugees were forced over a cliff into a minefield in 1979. 12-14,000 of them died as a result.The authorities weten't content to just force them back into Cambodia and the hands of the retreating Khmer Rouge. They went out of their way to bus them some distance to a spot with very perilous terrain known to be heavily mined. Outright murder IMO and of the cruelest type as they didn't die quickly.www.pvfund.org/trailerSent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossy 2800 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 29 minutes ago, bluesofa said: "pledges" = nothing will happen. You beat me to it, but sadly, how true. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
humbug 1202 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 there was a article in the leftie rag guardian about this 2 days ago, stating that thai immigration a year ago agreed not to keep arresting women and children in cells under refugee status but the joker home boy reneged and started to re-arrest the same women and children refugees throughout 2018. Now hes saying he will re-release them in the same article. I dont know about you guys but this treasonous gang can never be trusted, their nationalistic minds are too twisted Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Oziex1 10281 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 "following intense international media coverage" Says it all. Release the Australian footballer now! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cadbury 16608 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Big Joke Surachate seems to be trying to redeem himself and Thailand after making a goose of himself by initially seeming to side with Saudi Arabia and the family of the girl. All this while accusations and denials were being made as to how diplomats were allowed inside the sterile immigration area and her passport being seized. When the media began asking questions Big Joke's flip-flopping started. The EU being great defenders of human rights will have been watching this circus and probably confirming in their minds that Thailand is not yet ready for a Free Trade Agreement. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ossy 2800 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 8 minutes ago, Cadbury said: Big Joke Surachate seems to be trying to redeem himself He's not called Big Joke for nothing . . . but only joking, my chocolatey chum. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sammieuk1 27153 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Are Brexit refugees welcome anywhere Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Misterwhisper 19718 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 2 hours ago, darksidedog said: The high profile Chief of Immigration, Surachate Hakparn, says refugees would no longer be returned home “involuntarily” if they arrived in Thailand and claimed they were seeking asylum. He pledged that, moving forward, when it comes to asylum seekers, “Thailand will now follow international norms”. https://thethaiger.com/news/national/thailand-pledges-to-soften-harsh-refugee-policies If, and I repeat if, they indeed follow through with this, it will be a very welcome move. I have seen first hand the way immigrants are commonly dealt with and it is nothing short of appalling. There is a mentality here that has traditionally viewed immigrants as less than human, an attitude that is long overdue for correction. I hope this is the first step. Which is even the more appalling considering the fact that a very large proportion of the people leading this country, including the immigration chief, are actually themselves descendants of immigrants. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTuner 24597 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Thailand, the new Sweden. Not. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
yellowboat 16076 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 Thai government only changes with intense outside media coverage and negative attention. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DrTuner 24597 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 3 hours ago, sammieuk1 said: Are Brexit refugees welcome anywhere No, that's a clear case of somnamnaa, stay on your island. Toodeloo! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Letseng 1247 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 4 hours ago, ChipButty said: I'll become a Refugee instead of a Retiree But then better pick Germany. Pays you the most and won't even ask for ID. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
fforest1 5620 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 So can I now claim to be a refugee escaping Donald Trump in America? And no more need to renew my retirement visa?......Could the Brits claim to be a refugee from Brexit ?..........Hey a refugee is a refugee is a refugee......Right? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Letseng 1247 Posted January 18, 2019 Share Posted January 18, 2019 3 hours ago, Cadbury said: Big Joke Surachate seems to be trying to redeem himself and Thailand after making a goose of himself by initially seeming to side with Saudi Arabia and the family of the girl. All this while accusations and denials were being made as to how diplomats were allowed inside the sterile immigration area and her passport being seized. When the media began asking questions Big Joke's flip-flopping started. The EU being great defenders of human rights will have been watching this circus and probably confirming in their minds that Thailand is not yet ready for a Free Trade Agreement. "The EU being great defenders of human rights will have been watching this circus and probably confirming in their minds that Thailand is not yet ready for a Free Trade Agreement." Which EU country offered to take the Saudi girl? So much for the great human rights defenders. I guess they all know that she can be a handfull to deal with after her Twitter storm. Europe got enough problems with the nos. they got. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
hotchilli 43829 Posted January 19, 2019 Share Posted January 19, 2019 As far as foreigners or refugees go, Thailand has an appalling record of treatment. Most countries of the world except immigrants as a bonus, they wish them to assimilate into the society and bring in welcome labour and new ideas, giving them assistance during the early stages to make the transition as smooth as possible. After a short period they offer residency as a way to encourage them to make roots and stay. Thailand has the opposite approach, they want you to remain forever a "short-term tourist" Work permits are only given for a very limited type of work as apposed to allowing you to do whatever you like or are actually qualified to do. They see you as opposition and not new blood. Expats are treated as cash cows, you're allowed to stay here if you have certain cash flows but still need to do 90 day check-ins like some kind of criminal. Residency they say is offered but the criteria needed almost certainly excludes most as does the charge for application, (most countries give residency for free) Thailand has a long way to go to improve the situation but it's draconian laws are far from those needed in a modern world. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.