Shackled Bahraini footballer in Thailand 'upsetting' - Australia Prime Minister

[webfact]

Shackled Bahraini footballer in Thailand 'upsetting' - Australia Prime Minister

By Paulina Duran and Panu Wongcha-um

 

FILE PHOTO: Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison speaks during the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games at the Sydney Opera House, Sydney, Australia, October 20, 2018. REUTERS/Phil Noble

 

SYDNEY/BANGKOK (Reuters) - Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said on Tuesday he was "disturbed" to see Bahraini refugee footballer Hakeem Al Araibi in shackles in Thailand and had told its prime minister this was a serious issue for Australians.

 

Pressure is mounting on Bangkok to free Araibi, who was arrested in Thailand in November on behalf of the Bahraini government, with Canberra and soccer's world governing body FIFA demanding his return to Australia where he plays.

 

Araibi, who fled Bahrain in 2014 before being granted permanent residence in Australia, has said he would face torture if sent back to Bahrain.

 

FILE PHOTO: Jailed Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al Araibi leaves Thailand's Crim

 

Morrison said he was "disturbed" to see Araibi with shackles on his feet arrive at a Bangkok court on Monday. The court extended his detention for two months.

 

"I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many Australians, and I respectfully reminded the Thai prime minister that Australians feel very strongly about this," Morrison told Sky News.

 

"So we will continue to make these representations and not just to Thailand, but also to Bahrain," he added.

 

Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the junta, said on Tuesday his government could not intervene in the court proceedings.

 

"Do not jump to conclusion about the verdict and do not politicise this," Prayuth told reporters.

 

Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai said Australia and Bahrain should negotiate a solution.

 

"We don't have a stake in this and it's a matter that the two countries need to talk," Don told reporters.

 

"If they can't find a solution, then Thailand is ready to mediate. I am sure things will not escalate, but for now Hakeem will be under the care of Thai authorities."

 

Araibi was convicted of vandalising a police station in Bahrain and was sentenced to 10 years in prison in absentia.

He denies wrongdoing, saying he was playing in a televised soccer match at the time.

 

Araibi was tortured by Bahraini authorities because of his brother's political activities during the Arab Spring uprising in 2011, New York-based Human Rights Watch has said.

 

Bahraini authorities deny allegations of torture.

 

Phil Robertson, the group's deputy Asia director, said Araibi's return to Australia "is an open and shut case."

 

"Everybody seems to realize that except the Thai government," he told Reuters.

 

Many Thais, including former deputy prime minister Chaturon Chaisang, have called for Araibi's release, making the hashtag #SaveHakeem the top trending Thai item on Twitter on Monday.

 

Thai soccer team Chiang Rai United have also joined the campaign to free Araibi, who played for Melbourne's second tier Pascoe Vale soccer club.

 

Football Federation Australia have ramped up their campaign to free Araibi and pledged A$10,000 (5,581.34 pounds) on Tuesday to kickstart a fundraising drive to help return him to Australia.

 

(Additional reporting by Panarat Thepgumpanat in Bangkok; editing by Darren Schuettler)

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-06

[Odysseus123]

The sooner Australia gets him out of the clutches of the Thais the better.He is a permanent resident of Australia and we should get him home.

 

For the Thai PM to state "do not politicize this" shows that mentally he stands about as far from reality as I do-distance wise- from Alpha Centauri.

 

 

[ezzra]

Scott Morrison will do well to concentrate solving the the bombshells of the the banking royal commissions hot potato if he want to remain a PM,

just because someone has a refugee status does not mean he's clean of all past transgressions and be automatically absolved from all alleged criminal charges,

Australia should take it directly with the Bahraini government and leave Thailand out of it...

[Odysseus123]

38 minutes ago, ezzra said:

Scott Morrison will do well to concentrate solving the the bombshells of the the banking royal commissions hot potato if he want to remain a PM,

just because someone has a refugee status does not mean he's clean of all past transgressions and be automatically absolved from all alleged criminal charges,

Australia should take it directly with the Bahraini government and leave Thailand out of it...

He's in a Thai prison....so just how can Thailand be left out of it?

 

The Australian PM has every right to express a relatively soft opinion on this matter.

Edited February 5, 2019 by Odysseus123

[z42]

Top marks to tha Aussie pure he might not be the squeakiest of squeaky clean characters domestically, but kicking the diplomatic BS into touch and telling it like he sees it is really admirable in my book.

The Thais I personally know are sharing the posts highlighting the galling treatment of this man, I hope the pressure isn't taken off them, Thailand holds all the cards here in this case, it is simply up to them to do the right thing. But there is an issue we can't discuss that is surely having a key effect on this case. I hope the Thais are brave enough to seek it out and see it for what it is.

[YetAnother]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

"We don't have a stake in this and it's a matter that the two countries need to talk," Don told reporters.

fools rush in; your country is the one shackling him for the international press; you are the individual looking foolish in the eyes of the international community; you are the one talking garbage; you need settle this pronto

[webfact]

RELATED:

 

Australian ‘red notice’ led to arrest of Bahrain footballer: Don

By The Nation

 

File photo : Bahraini soccer player with Australian refugee status Hakeem Al-Araibi (C) walks while escorted by Thai prison officers following an extradition hearing at the Criminal Court in Bangkok, Thailand, 04 February 2019. EPA-EFE

 

IT WAS Australia’s issuance of an Interpol red notice for former Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi that led to his arrest in Thailand, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai revealed yesterday.

 

Full story: https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/1082716-australian-‘red-notice’-led-to-arrest-of-bahrain-footballer-don/

[bartender100]

"Disturbed" to see him in shackles. Thats how most white Australians descendants arrived in Australia

 

Just kidding guys, before someone gets upset. The way Thailand treat prisoners is barbaric 

[mok199]

If only Thais could see out side thier own ego....

[Briggsy]

3 minutes ago, webfact said:

 

IT WAS Australia’s issuance of an Interpol red notice for former Bahraini footballer Hakeem al-Araibi that led to his arrest in Thailand, Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai revealed yesterday.

Thailand's Foreign Minister seems to have a penchant for misrepresenting foreign governments and mis-stating the facts.

 

Whenever I see this pattern of Thai government officials falling back from one line of retreat to the next, issuing lamer and lamer statements replete with inaccuracies, I know they are either 1) about to cave (it's all too difficult for them) or 2) they are caught between a rock and a hard place and don't have the courage to do the right thing or to tell the truth.

[sweatalot]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

I thought that was very upsetting and I know it would have upset many Australians

 

 

4 hours ago, webfact said:

 

He should have said the truth:

 

"I thought that was very upsetting and it would have upset every human with some humanity and a sane mind

- so humans doing this to other humans show they don't have humanity and don't have a sane mind

 

[scorecard]

43 minutes ago, bartender100 said:

"Disturbed" to see him in shackles. Thats how most white Australians descendants arrived in Australia

 

Just kidding guys, before someone gets upset. The way Thailand treat prisoners is barbaric 

JUst kidding, yuk

[Lungstib]

Thailand ensuring that the international press and an increasingly wide audience gets to see the worst of its inhumane 'justice' system. Its bad enough to have egg on your face without smearing it all over the place yourself.

[mikebell]

Thailand can't help shooting themselves in the foot on both the world stage and for the home market.

Is there nobody with a brain that could see how this would look in the World's Press?

That was a rhetorical question.

[yellowboat]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

"Do not jump to conclusion about the verdict and do not politicise this," Prayuth told reporters.

Too late as usual, and current Thai officialdom has already brought to the world's attention.  Prayuth still telling reporters what to do.  Will he ever act like anything other than a coup leader ?

[yogi100]

3 hours ago, ezzra said:

Scott Morrison will do well to concentrate solving the the bombshells of the the banking royal commissions hot potato if he want to remain a PM,

just because someone has a refugee status does not mean he's clean of all past transgressions and be automatically absolved from all alleged criminal charges,

Australia should take it directly with the Bahraini government and leave Thailand out of it...

But it's Thailand that have got him locked up in chains !

[Lucius verus]

All prisoners are chained and /or shackled in LOS because that's how the system works here.

Why is everyone jumping up and down in disgust about this one person?.

The power of social media over the sheep.

Most Australians couldn't give a toss about this convicted felon.

 

PM Morrison is getting ready for a Federal  election and will use tabloid stories like this one to deflect away from domestic issues most of which are bad.

[mickymouse1]

It upset the entire world. Thailand image was Tarnished again.

Maybe because the of inefficient and corrupt individuals They shackled him to prevent his escape????????????????

[yogi100]

1 hour ago, bartender100 said:

"Disturbed" to see him in shackles. Thats how most white Australians descendants arrived in Australia

 

Just kidding guys, before someone gets upset. The way Thailand treat prisoners is barbaric 

UK cops handcuff prisoners.

In the USA prisoners are sometimes led into court with shackles around their ankles and wrists.

[HLover]

Just now, yogi100 said:

UK cops handcuff prisoners.

In the USA prisoners are sometimes led into court with shackles around their ankles and wrists.

Fascinating and enlightening.

[yogi100]

2 minutes ago, HLover said:

Fascinating and enlightening.

And true.

[boonrawdcnx]

The hypocrisy in this country is amazing really.

Yes here they follow the law by the letter !! Hahaha - unless you can pay your way out!

If you belong to the Red Bull clan you can even kill a police man show up at public events and still nobody arrests you - or even asks to have you arrested. Taking red notices really seriously - just very selective.

This man though is in shackles presumed innocent - no guilt has been proven.

In this country you can be corrupt, cheat, lie, steal, plunder murder, commit treason - just make sure you belong to the selected few.

 

The wannabe PM and FM who have no mandate from the Thai people open their mouth again and wonder why nobody in the international community takes them seriously!?

 

[holy cow cm]

So behind the scenes the courts will be told to let him go so it looks like no interacting? Or keep up with the extradition agreement?

 

The question is, who does Thailand like more or need more? Australia or Bahrain? Or is it the connections to Saudi Arabia and such that Bahrain has makes them need to oblige the almighty Arab powers?? The military needs to get their noses out of the government issues once and for all and stop being so totalitarian. 

Edited February 6, 2019 by holy cow cm

[Kawapete]

If he holds a permanent resident card in Australia for political reasons it should be obvious not to send him back to where he fled from. I don't see how this can be resolved between others than Thailand and Australia! 

The Thai reaction seems to be politicized or at least purely considered and now they are getting into a big dilemma for not just doing the obvious by sending him home to the country that adopted him. 

[boonrawdcnx]

So behind the scenes the courts will be told to let him go so it looks like no interacting? Or keep up with the extradition agreement?
 
The question is, who does Thailand like more or need more? Australia or Bahrain? Or is it the connections to Saudi Arabia and such that Bahrain has makes them need to oblige the almighty Arab powers?? The military needs to get their noses out of the government issues once and for all and stop being so totalitarian. 

Big Joke has already made a statement that he “hopes he will be re-United with his family in the next few days”
So yes - it looks like they will let him go.



Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Kasset Tak]

Next time US, UK, Australia or any other country issue any kind of Interpol notice for anyone in Thailand, then there are basically two options for Thailand: just say that they can't do anything about it, or shoot the person in question and just say that the officers feared for their lives (a tactic proved to work well in US...). This is because then there is no need for all this media attention, and also the fact that countries like US and UK don't extradite people that Thailand put on Interpol's lists of wanted persons...

[boonrawdcnx]

On a separate positive note - It is absolutely amazing that tens of thousands of Thais are posting on social media condemning their own government’s handling of this case and apologizing on behave of their government!
As always a big difference between the regular Thai folks and the garbage that runs this country!

As for the moron who decided to put him in shackles - knowing the international media attention this case is causing - and defending his decision now doesn’t seem to have much of a brain.
Unless of course he wanted to show the world how backward the Thai prison system is - something to be really proud of! Well done!

As for Australia - if it is true that they screwed this up - I hope these idiots who apparently issued the red notice have been fired!



Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect

[klauskunkel]

2 hours ago, mikebell said:

Thailand can't help shooting themselves in the foot on both the world stage and for the home market.

a country got to have a hobby...

[Jane Dough]

Whatever happened to those "nasty" Shinawatras who banned the shackles in court. 

 

Rooster

[geriatrickid]

8 hours ago, ezzra said:

Scott Morrison will do well to concentrate solving the the bombshells of the the banking royal commissions hot potato if he want to remain a PM,

just because someone has a refugee status does not mean he's clean of all past transgressions and be automatically absolved from all alleged criminal charges,

Australia should take it directly with the Bahraini government and leave Thailand out of it...

Please. You are wrong. Australia has both the moral and legal obligation to hold the offending party responsible. And that is precisely what it is doing in holding Thailand  responsible. The man is a PERMANENT RESIDENT of Australia and has such has the right to the protection of Australia. He  was given this status in a lawful manner and followed the procedures to obtain that status.

 

One has to be bereft of all morality and respect for the rule of law to have any position  other than that of the Government of Australia in this matter.

Thailand thought no one would care about some powerless guy. Well, people do and Thailand had better give him up fast if it wants to avoid additional loss of face and  a dose of Australian whoopass.