49 Rohingya Detained, 26 Escape in Phuket After Landing on Phang Nga Coast

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures courtesy of Matichon.

 

Authorities in Phuket detained 49 Rohingya migrants who had entered the province on foot after being dropped off along the Phang Nga coastline. However, 26 others managed to escape. The group was reportedly heading to Malaysia when their journey was interrupted.

 

At around 03.00 on January 21, a local resident alerted officials stationed at the Tha Chatchai checkpoint in Mai Khao Subdistrict, Thalang District. The group was seen gathering near the northern part of Phuket Island, close to the Thaos Thepkasattri and Srisoonthorn Bridge, which connects Phang Nga and Phuket.

 

A team led by Mr. Wiwat Jindaphon, an aide to the Deputy Minister of the Interior, joined local police and administrative officials to investigate. They discovered 49 exhausted individuals near the checkpoint. Food, water, and basic medical care were provided.

 

Initial inquiries revealed the group had travelled aboard a vessel from a neighbouring country around the Andaman Sea. After being dropped off on the Phang Nga coastline, they crossed the bridge into Phuket. Some were spotted walking along the beach near Tha Chatchai Temple.

 

The group originally consisted of 75 individuals, but those with enough strength walked to the checkpoint, unaware it was an immigration checkpoint. Others, upon seeing police sirens and administrative officers, fled into the surrounding area. Police are now actively searching for the 26 who remain at large.

 

 

The detained group disclosed plans to travel to Malaysia, their intended third destination. During their sea voyage, disputes broke out among the migrants, and some sustained injuries. This reportedly led to their vessel, believed to be a Rohingya fishing boat originating from Bangladesh, being run aground on the beach.

 

Among the detainees are several individuals in poor health, including one pregnant woman and 6 children aged around 10. The Social Development and Human Security Office of Phuket will assess the situation of the children and families. Some detainees possessed UN-issued identification cards, while others did not.

 

The case highlights the ongoing challenges of managing irregular migration in the region. Further investigations are underway to determine the exact circumstances of the group’s journey.

 

-- 2025-01-22

 

[flyingtlger]

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