Thailand Sets Long-Awaited Rules for Vetting Asylum Seekers

[webfact]

Displaced people from Myanmar live under a makeshift tent along the Thai side of the Moei River in Mae Sot, Thailand on Feb. 7, 2022.

 

by Zsombor Peter

 

BANGKOK — Rights groups say the long-awaited rules Thailand’s government approved this month for screening foreigners seeking refuge from persecution in their home countries are likely to leave many worthy applicants in the lurch.

 

The United Nations refugee agency says Thailand currently hosts about 5,000 “urban refugees and asylum seekers,” though some rights groups say the real number may be much higher.

 

Thailand currently makes no official distinction between refugees or asylum seekers and other foreigners in the country illegally, leaving those seeking sanctuary at constant risk of arrest and a forced return home, where they may face arrest, torture or death.

 

Authorities often give refugees the chance to lay low or move to third countries, but forced more than 100 ethnic Uyghurs back to China in 2015 and four wanted political dissidents back to Cambodia, where they were promptly arrested, late last year.

 

Full story: https://www.voanews.com/a/thailand-sets-long-awaited-rules-for-vetting-asylum-seekers/6801600.html

 

-- © Copyright Voice of America 2022-10-24

 

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[Old Croc]

14 minutes ago, webfact said:

Thailand currently makes no official distinction between refugees or asylum seekers and other foreigners in the country illegally, leaving those seeking sanctuary at constant risk of arrest and a forced return home, where they may face arrest, torture or death.

 

Authorities often give refugees the chance to lay low or move to third countries, but forced more than 100 ethnic Uyghurs back to China in 2015 and four wanted political dissidents back to Cambodia, where they were promptly arrested, late last year.

Thailand is not a signatory to the Convention so even with these new policy guidelines (see link) many genuine claimants are still not guaranteed succor in this country:

(Refugee advocates fear that, with all the possible exemptions, the program “could be the mechanism that screens people out instead of screening people in”)

[worgeordie]

." Anyone who makes it through could still be rejected for unspecified “national security” reasons and will have no right to know exactly why."

 

That says it all .....your still going back to China.Burma , Etc.

 

regards Worgeordie

[Mickeymaus]

They should go to Germany. Everyone is welcome there... Only if you travel using a passport you might need a visa and will have to pay for food and accommodation yourself. Otherwise this will be for free. 

[In the jungle]

Burmese, Laos and Cambodians are specifically excluded from consideration under this scheme.

[Orinoco]

Asylum Seekers.

What a wind up. Thailand don't care.

 

[PETERTHEEATER]

There's a lunatic asylum located at government house....

[hotchilli]

21 hours ago, webfact said:

Authorities often give refugees the chance to lay low or move to third countries, but forced more than 100 ethnic Uyghurs back to China in 2015 and four wanted political dissidents back to Cambodia, where they were promptly arrested, late last year.

Unless very desperate Thailand is not the place to seek asylum.