Thai authorities asked to ensure safety of journalists fleeing from Myanmar

[webfact]

This handout photo from the Royal Thai Army taken in late April 2021 and released on May 3, 2021 shows military personnel detaining illegal immigrants in an undisclosed location near the border areas between Thailand and neighbouring countries Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia. (Photo by Handout / ROYAL THAI ARMY / AFP)

 

Thai Journalist Association (TJA) has issued a statement, asking Thai authorities to uphold humanitarian principles and to ensure the safety of five media broadcasters and trainers from the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB) Association, after a report that they fled violence and the media crackdown in Myanmar and that Thai authorities are trying to push them back into Myanmar.

 

The statement said that the group allegedly crossed the Thai border illegally, in San Sai district in Chiang Mai province, and were arrested on May 9th, 2021.

 

Yesterday, DVB, a public service broadcaster in Myanmar, issued an emergency statement, saying that its three senior journalists and two activists, who escaped to Thailand, were arrested during a random search by Thai police and charged for illegal entry to Thailand.

 

Full story: https://www.thaipbsworld.com/thai-authorities-asked-to-ensure-safety-of-journalists-fleeing-from-myanmar/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2021-05-12

 

- Whatever you're going through, the Samaritans are here for you

- Follow Thaivisa on LINE for breaking COVID-19 updates

[sammieuk1]

The group allegedly crossed the Thai border illegally, in San Sai district in Chiang Mai province.

 

You lean something new everyday like San Sai has a border, that must be a very long tunnel  ????

[fangless]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

ensure the safety of five media broadcasters and trainers from the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB)

Why are they asking for protection for just the journalists? 

They should be asking for protection for all refugees!

[Srikcir]

3 hours ago, fangless said:

Why are they asking for protection for just the journalists? 

They should be asking for protection for all refugees!

Because journalists are more likely to be politically persecuted that falls under a specific asylum under the UN asylum accords? Which most of Southeast Asian nations do not recognize.

[Burma Bill]

11 hours ago, webfact said:

who escaped to Thailand, were arrested during a random search by Thai police and charged for illegal entry to Thailand.

 The latest from another media source - The Nation:-

 

Three Myanmar reporters and two associates charged with illegally crossing the border will not be deported back to their country immediately, a Royal Thai Police spokesman revealed on Tuesday.

Police sent the case to Chiang Mai district court on Tuesday but were told to detain the journalists for investigation, which could take up to 30 days.

 

All were arrested and sent for Covid-19 tests after confessing to entering the country via a natural border crossing, said the spokesman.

Police will now consider whether there is a legal basis to deport the reporters, he added. At this time deportation was not being considered, Krisana said.

The Thai Foreign Ministry said “humanitarian” solutions were being sought for the case.

Published : May 11, 2021

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/in-focus/40000766

[Excel]

Wouldn't put any faith in the Thai authorities protecting journalists. There has been some very well known cases where the the Thai authorities have done just the opposite.

[Burma Bill]

11 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

like San Sai has a border

 OP is confusing. They crossed a natural border from Burma's Shan State into North West Thailand and were arrested in a residence in San Sai, Chiang Mai.