Rohingya smugglers get an unlucky break - cops and military were setting up practice roadblock...

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Daily News Thai Caption: Smuggling Rohingya...led to arrest

 

Daily News reported on an arrest of a man transporting Rohingya migrants to the Thai Malaysian border, and the fleeing of another.

 

Everything had been going to plan for two men in pick-ups transporting 20 Rohingya to the border.

 

They were using the back roads of Yala.

 

Then they came across a practice checkpoint set up to train the RTP, DOPA and military in joint actions.

 

A chase ensued after the people smugglers got wise. 

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Later one of the pick-ups, a Nissan Navara, crashed nearby and driver Fahmee, 35, was taken into custody along with 12 migrants.

 

Some were injured and taken to hospital. 

 

One kilometer away was an abandoned Chevrolet pick-up. The driver had fled.

 

Picture: Daily News

 

Eight more migrants were picked up there.

 

The event happened in the Jagua police jurisdiction in Raman district of Yala, in the far south of Thailand. 

 

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[milesinnz]

So why is Thailand not offering them asylum, giving them a home and giving them pocket money as well as feeding them ? Oh silly me, that would be a western country, not a fellow Asian country...

[Srikcir]

I'm sure Malaysia would not reject Muslim refugees seeking asylum. While Thailand won't provide asylum as a matter of foreign policy resulting in chase, jail, physical abuse, deportation, etc., just publically and safely arrange a government escort for them through Thailand to Malaysia (assuming pre-approval by Malaysian government)? Win-win.

Or would such State generosity contrary to Buddhist philosophy trigger China's displeasure? Duh.

[MarcelV]

2 hours ago, Srikcir said:

I'm sure Malaysia would not reject Muslim refugees seeking asylum. While Thailand won't provide asylum as a matter of foreign policy resulting in chase, jail, physical abuse, deportation, etc., just publically and safely arrange a government escort for them through Thailand to Malaysia (assuming pre-approval by Malaysian government)? Win-win.

Or would such State generosity contrary to Buddhist philosophy trigger China's displeasure? Duh.

Good luck getting pre-approval by Malaysia. These refugees are not wanted by Malaysia and lead hidden lives there. Once MAS Immigration gets a hold of them, they'll spend months in immigration detention centers all over the country.

[RichardColeman]

Some good anti-South government fodder in the making there

[Eff1n2ret]

A former Thai police officer now living in Australia would give a wry smile if he heard this story - the police and army arresting people smugglers? whatever next?

I don't know if anyone else saw it, but on Al Jazeera's '101 East' series this morning was the story of a Thai police officer who had a stellar reputation for smashing up criminal rackets. About 6 or 7 years ago he was given the job of stopping the smuggling of Rohingya migrants into the country to work as slaves in factories and fishing boats etc. He identified an extensive network of corruption which came to a head when he obtained a warrant to arrest a leading army general. He and his team were subjected to massive intimidation, and he was transferred to the southern provinces, where he feared the almost certainty of assassination. He got on a plane to Australia and claimed asylum.

I think Al-Jazeera featured him before, but this time is more detailed and he named names. I hesitate to do so, but the names reach almost to the top of the government. There's a part 2 next week. I catch it at 9.30 in the morning.