Similans Tourists See Boat People Mistreated

[saneroad]

A tourist has sent Phuketwan more photos of the encounter on Similan Islands.

Boat People in Thailand

These photos have already appeared in the Swedish press.

[redscouse]

CNN have just led with this story on their hourly news, an exclusive showing pictures taken from the navy ships towing the boats out to sea,

[Devil]

Its almost unbelievable to see these pictures. I was snorkeling and diving in that bay just a few years back. Very disturbing to see this kind of treatment to people.

[Gravelrash]

I think we are beginning to see the true colors of the PM. Fortunately, because of the lack of an electoral mandate, can't say that it's the color of the counry, but someohow I think it may be.

What on earth are you on about?

Are you claiming ignorance and feeding some misconception in your mind that this is a new policy enacted since some 3 weeks ago and never before?

This policy would seem to be instigated by the armed forces, however we have a PM who is beholden to the same armed forces for putting him into power. He and his government are dodging and denying this issue at every turn hoping it will go away.

Welcome back to government by the Democrats. They are digging themselves in so deep protecting the armed forces that they have now become a part of it. It is only a matter of time before

That's what those red shirt twits haven't seem to have figured, the government will implode eventually without their help. A very sad scorecard to date.

[sriracha john]

This policy would seem to be instigated by the armed forces, however we have a PM who is beholden to the same armed forces for putting him into power.

and who was Samak beholding to? The Army certainly didn't put him in power.

Just for fun, let's imagine that some Thaksin crony had explicitly stated plans for harsher treatment of Rohingya.

Oh, wait, someone did! PM Samak in March 2008.

Andaman Island Sites Readied for Boat People

THE THAI NAVY has confirmed that several islands have already been explored in readiness for building a detention centre for Burmese Muslim boat people.

The refugees, known as Rohingya, have been coming from their home state in northwest Burma to the Andaman coast in such large numbers that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej views the problem as a crisis of national security.

Phuketwan has been told that if the island detention centre is built, those who are held there will be fed just one meal a day and treated harshly to deter others from entering Thailand.

While the plan is still being debated at the highest levels of the national government, the Prime Minister is known to be in favor of the concept and wants to take a hard line.

Supreme Commander General Boonsrang Niampradit said that an alarming rate of Rohingya have been sneaking into Thailand.

"The graph is rising and it is worrying and we have to try to solve the problem," he said.

The islands that the Navy has examined in preparation for the go-ahead are all off Ranong and Phang Nga.

Details of the numbers of people involved and the nature of their sea journey continue to emerge.

As many as 1000 Rohingya have been detained, the latest boatload of 80 landing on Koh Kor Khao, near the Phang Nga village of Nam Khem, just last week.

The Thai Navy is concerned because, contrary to what Phuketwan was told earlier, the arrested Rohingya have so far been all men, aged 16 to 30.

Today we learned that human traffickers are said to be involved, carrying the men south from their home state of Rakhine in a large boat. The men are then transferred to smaller, less seaworthy boats.

People smugglers throughout Asia are known as ''snakeheads'' because of their disregard for the safety of the people they provide with often-unseaworthy transport.

If the influx is not dealt with harshly, Thai authorities fear thousands more Rohingya will follow in search of lowly-paid laboring jobs along the Andaman Coast.

Neighboring Bangladesh has previously accepted many of the Rohingya, who have been driven from Burma by lack of food and harsh treatment.

Others hoped to find a new home in Malaysia, a predominatly Muslim country.

But Malaysia has taken a tough stance, so many Rohingya have now turned to Thailand, where the treatment of illegal foreign workers has been more easy-going until now.

Illegally and legally, many Buddhist Burmese have come to work in Thailand for years, because the tourism construction industry has required large numbers of workers.

Some unscrupulous Thai employers encourage illegal laborers to come because they can be paid lower wages and are willing to put up with poorer living and working conditions.

But the influx of Muslims is seen as being different because of the existing separatist insurgency that is bringing death and destruction to Thailand's southernmost provinces.

PM Samak fears that if nothing is done, the Rohingya may keep coming in greater numbers.

While Buddhists and Muslims have lived in peace for a long time along the Andaman Coast, a large influx and greater competition for work could cause problems.

On the other hand, if a harsh island detention program raises the concern of human rights activists, other Muslims may grow angry in reaction.

Edited January 26, 2009 by sriracha john

[TAWP]

I think we are beginning to see the true colors of the PM. Fortunately, because of the lack of an electoral mandate, can't say that it's the color of the counry, but someohow I think it may be.

What on earth are you on about?

Are you claiming ignorance and feeding some misconception in your mind that this is a new policy enacted since some 3 weeks ago and never before?

This policy would seem to be instigated by the armed forces, however we have a PM who is beholden to the same armed forces for putting him into power. He and his government are dodging and denying this issue at every turn hoping it will go away.

Welcome back to government by the Democrats. They are digging themselves in so deep protecting the armed forces that they have now become a part of it. It is only a matter of time before

That's what those red shirt twits haven't seem to have figured, the government will implode eventually without their help. A very sad scorecard to date.

What you don't seem to grasp was my point that this has been the MO of the Navy and the Armed forces for years. So blaming the democrats for it seems a little off. How about blaming...the public?

"So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. <deleted> Hope.'"" - George Carlin

[Journalist]

^For those who can't grasp the above embedded subtleties and nuances in #185, I think he is telling us that the death of these people is actually Thaksin Shinawatra's fault.

Such a simple explanation, can't think why the rest of us didn't spot it sooner! Thanks for pointing it out !!

[sriracha john]

^For those who can't grasp the above embedded subtleties and nuances in #185, I think he is telling us that the death of these people is actually Thaksin Shinawatra's fault.

Such a simple explanation, can't think why the rest of us didn't spot it sooner! Thanks for pointing it out !!

Actually #185 is quoting an earlier post and its points are reiterated by the same points made in #186... but that requires someone to read the post and realize this situation is not anything new.

But thanks for pointing out again that reading excessively into a few words of comments is not real good for comprehension either.

Journalist you say?

Edited January 26, 2009 by sriracha john

[Journalist]

^Yes, but I am very selective whose posts I read John. Yours are on that short-list.

I don't read just anybodys.

[Steve2UK]

More reporting from Al Jazeera:

Thai admits Rohingya set adrift

A Thai naval officer has confirmed claims that ethnic Rohingya boat people from Myanmar, detained along Thailand's south-western coast, have been taken back out to sea and set adrift.

The naval officer, who declined to be identified, told Al Jazeera: "We have to take the engines off the boats or they will come back. The wind will carry them to India or somewhere."

Full article at:

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pac...7174292748.html

Maybe or maybe not the same officer who leaked photo's of the operation to CNN? In any case, it's hard to escape the feeling that at least some of those down the armed forces food chain may be feeling uneasy about what was being done. Whatever the motive for these insider details to come out now, this looks more and more like it's going to get nasty - to the extent that heads are likely to roll. Except, of course, that in time-honoured tradition........ deputy heads will roll.

@ TAWP - I don't think Gravelrash was trying to lay the blame for the military's actions at the Democrat administration's door..... rather remarking that the PM is doubtless feeling limited in what pressure he can put on them about this. Fair to say, given the Thai military's well-entrenched status and readiness to look after itself, I doubt that any PM of whatever party would feel able to bring significant pressure to bear let alone take them on - rather like successive US presidents with Hoover at the FBI.

This is already reflected in the little that the English-language Thai press are saying about the Rohingya issue (having failed so conspicuously to lift a finger to actually investigate a story on their own doorstep - leaving it to the evil foreign media to do it):

Thailand's newly appointed government under Prime Minster Abhisit Vejjajiva has come under heavy criticism for the rohingya incident, which casts doubts on the new government's commitment to human rights and the fair treatment of refugees and illegal migrants, all huge problems for Thailand. Abhisit has promised to investigate the incident but has assigned ISOC to carry out the probe, which is therefore not expected to be impartial.

Full article at:

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/01/23/reg...al_30094044.php

[my emphasis above]

Edited January 26, 2009 by Steve2UK

[blaze]

I think we are beginning to see the true colors of the PM. Fortunately, because of the lack of an electoral mandate, can't say that it's the color of the counry, but someohow I think it may be.

What on earth are you on about?

Are you claiming ignorance and feeding some misconception in your mind that this is a new policy enacted since some 3 weeks ago and never before?

This policy would seem to be instigated by the armed forces, however we have a PM who is beholden to the same armed forces for putting him into power. He and his government are dodging and denying this issue at every turn hoping it will go away.

Welcome back to government by the Democrats. They are digging themselves in so deep protecting the armed forces that they have now become a part of it. It is only a matter of time before

That's what those red shirt twits haven't seem to have figured, the government will implode eventually without their help. A very sad scorecard to date.

What you don't seem to grasp was my point that this has been the MO of the Navy and the Armed forces for years. So blaming the democrats for it seems a little off. How about blaming...the public?

"So, maybe, maybe, maybe, it's not the politicians who suck. Maybe something else sucks around here... like, the public. Yeah, the public sucks. There's a nice campaign slogan for somebody: 'The Public Sucks. <deleted> Hope.'"" - George Carlin

The Democrats are no more to blame for this incident- perhaps even less- than TRT was to blame for Tak Bai.

But the Democrats have promised a thorough, transparent and impartial investigation- something the TRT was afraid to do when Tak Bai and, before that, Kreu Se happened. --- (or for that matter the murders in the Ratchaburi hospital while Chuan was at the helm).

Abhisist has sought to distance himself from previous governments by virtue to his committment to the rule of law- impartial and fair for ALL.

And this first real test of his commitment to those principles strongly suggests - that he is either totally deluded as to the ability of a Thai government to rein in the military (in which case he understands less about the power structures in this country than my local som tam lady) or he genuinely believes that an ISOC investigation is sufficient (!!! words fail me)- or he is practicing the time honored tradition of Thai politics: the big guy lays down the facts- and expects them to be swallowed- regardless of their proximity to truth.

Same old- same old- what next- the UN(HCR) is not my father?

This is a god given opportunity for Abhsit to prove to the world and to Thailand- that the last four years were not in vain=- that a new and healthy element has been stirred into the Thai political culture. But in terms of real change, it appears at this point that all that got stirred in- =- was hot air.

Edited January 26, 2009 by blaze

[Scott]

I certainly don't think that anyone can blame the new PM. This policy seems to be pretty much a military instigated solution to a problem; not one implemented by the gov't. That said, how he handles this will tell us a great deal about him.

Years of appeasement of the Burmese military junta are coming home to roost. A policy of expediency might end up causing the country quite a lot of harm.

Meanwhile, there are a lot of very vulnerable people whose lives are at stake and hopefully prying eyes by a lot of people will give them the protection that this country should have afforded them.

[saneroad]

This policy would seem to be instigated by the armed forces, however we have a PM who is beholden to the same armed forces for putting him into power.

and who was Samak beholding to? The Army certainly didn't put him in power.

Just for fun, let's imagine that some Thaksin crony had explicitly stated plans for harsher treatment of Rohingya.

Oh, wait, someone did! PM Samak in March 2008.

Andaman Island Sites Readied for Boat People

THE THAI NAVY has confirmed that several islands have already been explored in readiness for building a detention centre for Burmese Muslim boat people.

The refugees, known as Rohingya, have been coming from their home state in northwest Burma to the Andaman coast in such large numbers that Prime Minister Samak Sundaravej views the problem as a crisis of national security.

Phuketwan has been told that if the island detention centre is built, those who are held there will be fed just one meal a day and treated harshly to deter others from entering Thailand.

While the plan is still being debated at the highest levels of the national government, the Prime Minister is known to be in favor of the concept and wants to take a hard line.

If the influx is not dealt with harshly, Thai authorities fear thousands more Rohingya will follow in search of lowly-paid laboring jobs along the Andaman Coast.

I was just trying to be helpful for the yellow shirts in finding an Evil Thaksin angle to the story. In the end it doesn't matter. The atrocity has been uncovered under the current govt...Rohingya blood is on Abhisit's hands now and he's got to find a way to solve it. Or not.

[Scott]

"All men ... dead," said the man, identified as Iqbal Hussein, corroborating other survivors' reports of boats cut adrift without engines and hundreds of migrants left to die.

Of the 992, 550 are thought to be missing, feared drowned.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has promised a full investigation, but has also issued on behalf of the military a blanket denial of any abuse.

My concern is that it doesn't seem like you can have a 'full' investigation of something if you have a blanket denial it didn't happen (or worse yet, it wasn't abusive).

[cockneyrebel]

Dozens of Rohingya refugees were beaten and detained for hours by the Thai Navy on an Andaman Sea tourist island, in scenes that unfolded in full view of foreign holidaymakers.

Photographs of the December 23 incident in the Similan Islands were captured by Hong Kong-based tourist Andrew Jones.

Mr Jones, whose name has been changed for the purposes of this article, described how guards armed with M-16 rifles forced the refugees to lie face down in the sand for at least two hours, then ''whipped'' them about the head with a strap if they tried to sit up or move. The refugees were naked to the waist and bound at their wrists.

Some tourists appeared oblivious to the scenes just metres away, continuing to snorkel and sunbathe. Others who were shocked by the treatment of the men and tried to photograph the incident had their cameras snatched away by angry guards, who deleted the images.

Full story and tourist photos of the incident at Phuketwan, and also appearing in the South China Morning Post this morning.

from The daily mail

Thai Army tows refugees out to sea

Hundreds of refugees left to die after 'being towed out to sea and abandoned by Thai army'

These are the tragic pictures that show hundreds of refugees being pulled out to sea on motorless boats before being abandoned by the Thai army.

Pressure has mounted on the government to come clean after the images, released by CNN, appear to confirm allegations of a Thai operation to evict Burmese refugees.

But the Thai government's chief spokesman has declined immediate comment on the Rohingya, a Muslim minority who have fled decades of persecution at the hands of Burma's military rulers into neighbouring Bangladesh.

CNN however claim it obtained the pictures from a source involved in an 'on-going operation' by the army to tow Burmese refugees out to sea.

The channel interviewed a Rohingya man captured on a remote Thai island in the Andaman Sea, who claimed he had been on one of six boats that arrived in December carrying the migrants from the northwest of neighbouring Burma.

The boats were towed back out to sea in January but five of them sank, the visibly distressed man said in a mixture of broken English and sign language.

'All men ... dead,' said the man, identified as Iqbal Hussein, corroborating other survivors' reports of boats cut adrift without engines and hundreds of migrants left to die.

More than 230,000 are now in Bangladesh, according to the United Nations refugee agency, and tens of thousands more have fled. Many have ended up in Malaysia.

Rohingya rights groups and survivors who washed up on India's Andaman Islands and Aceh in Indonesia in the last four weeks say 992 migrants were towed out in two separate episodes in December.

Of the 992, 550 are thought to be missing, feared drowned.

The army colonel at the centre of the abuse allegations has denied any wrongdoing, saying the migrants were given food and water and helped on their way after Thai villagers repaired their boats.

Manat Kongpan denied any wrongdoing and questioned the veracity of the CNN report and the pictures.

He said: 'It looks like there might be on-going efforts to discredit Thailand,'

'The NGOs (non-governmental organisations) are maybe trying to launch a campaign to put pressure on Thailand to open a refugee camp for the Rohingyas which, from our point of view, is not possible.'

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has promised a full investigation, but he has also issued a blanket denial, on behalf of the military, of any abuse.

The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said last week it believed 126 other Rohingyas were still in Thai military custody, but it has got nowhere with a formal request lodged six days ago with the government to see them.

Fears are growing that they, too, might have been forced into boats and dumped at sea.

"We don't know where they are," UNHCR spokeswoman Kitty McKinsey said.

Six boats without engines were towed out to sea this month but five of them sank

A group of Rohingya migrants sit on a beach while being processed by Thai authorities .

Edited January 27, 2009 by cockneyrebel

[Scott]

'It looks like there might be on-going efforts to discredit Thailand,'

Left to their own devices, the country seems to be better at discrediting itself than anyone else is. This situation is a good example. Any disrepute brought on Thailand has been brought on by it's own actions towards these people.

[DaleBlue]

'It looks like there might be on-going efforts to discredit Thailand,'

Left to their own devices, the country seems to be better at discrediting itself than anyone else is. This situation is a good example. Any disrepute brought on Thailand has been brought on by it's own actions towards these people.

Sad to see CNN feature this as their headline news in their Asian homepage http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/

It is sad that the American are trying to discredit the Thai people, especially Mark.

It is unfair, as all the Thai people I knew are kind and smile all the time.

I find it hard to believe that such cold hearted action can be done by the Thai government.

Besides, showing picture of a towing boat, does not mean that the navy were towing them out to the open seas.

In contrast, I sincerely believe that the navy are towing them from the open sea to sheltered habour, and provide them with basic care until UN can deal with them.

[samgrowth]

'It looks like there might be on-going efforts to discredit Thailand,'

Left to their own devices, the country seems to be better at discrediting itself than anyone else is. This situation is a good example. Any disrepute brought on Thailand has been brought on by it's own actions towards these people.

Sad to see CNN feature this as their headline news in their Asian homepage http://edition.cnn.com/ASIA/

It is sad that the American are trying to discredit the Thai people, especially Mark.

It is unfair, as all the Thai people I knew are kind and smile all the time.

I find it hard to believe that such cold hearted action can be done by the Thai government.

Besides, showing picture of a towing boat, does not mean that the navy were towing them out to the open seas.

In contrast, I sincerely believe that the navy are towing them from the open sea to sheltered habour, and provide them with basic care until UN can deal with them.

http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia-pac...7174292748.html

A Thai naval officer has confirmed claims that ethnic Rohingya boat people from Myanmar, detained along Thailand's south-western coast, have been taken back out to sea and set adrift.

The naval officer, who declined to be identified, told Al Jazeera: "We have to take the engines off the boats or they will come back.

"The wind will carry them to India or somewhere."

I suppose somewhere means bottom of the sea. If you do not call this men slaughter, what do you call this act? Or are The Royal Thai Navy so poor as to rob the old engine off the boat people? Does Thailand hate India so much that they want to send their problem there? And finally, the Royal Thai Navy is so stupid, didn't they know that the WIND is of no use WITHOUT a sail.

I also wonder how can Kasit explain to the Indian Embassy here on the action and comment of the Royal Thai Navy. I guess the Royal Thai Navy tow the powerless and sail-less boat to the border of Indian territory and set them free.

Edited January 27, 2009 by samgrowth

[Scott]

Some folks might want to remove their blinders: It's not the Americans (CNN) who want to discredit Thailand. Before them, the BBC had been reporting on it regularly, and before them the Chinese Hong Kong (South China Morning Post). Somewhere in the middle of this are the Arabs, through Al Jazeera. It's a mighty big conspiracy.

On the other side, it just might be true.

Again, it seems the country is discrediting itself. How many have been towed out to see and are unaccounted for? How many have been detained here? The number in the country should be known, but the powers-that-be, don't seem to know where they are or who has custody of them!

[samgrowth]

Fate unknown (from ALZ)The UN refugee agency asked Bangkok on Tuesday to be allowed to visit the 126 refugees, most of whom it said were detained on an Andaman Sea island.

The foreign ministry said that was no longer the case, citing the army's Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), which admits to overseeing the arrest and detention of the group of Rohingya.

"The latest information that we have from ISOC is that there are no longer any Rohingya left in Thailand," said Thani Thongpajkdi, the deputy ministry spokesman.

He also refused to answer repeated questions about the current whereabouts of the 126, or say where, when and how they left the country.

--- -

To be honest, I would not be surprise if one day someone found mass grave of these people somewhere along the coast. I just pray this will not happen. Not in Thailand.

[Steve2UK]

Some folks might want to remove their blinders: It's not the Americans (CNN) who want to discredit Thailand. Before them, the BBC had been reporting on it regularly, and before them the Chinese Hong Kong (South China Morning Post). Somewhere in the middle of this are the Arabs, through Al Jazeera. It's a mighty big conspiracy.

Not forgetting Phuket Wan* (who raised this issue initially as a local matter with international implications back in mid-December), New York Times, Jakarta Post, Straits Times, ABC Australia, DPA, AFP etc etc - and the UK's Guardian getting on the spot details from official Indian interrogation reports in Port Blair (capital of Andaman and Nicobar Islands - an Indian territory). Another lengthy article from the Abu Dhabi-based The National newspaper - also reporting from Port Blair:

"A survivor's agonising tale of 300 deaths at sea"

Full article at:

http://www.thenational.ae/article/20090122.../607753950/1135

* http://phuketwan.com/tourism/starving-boat...et-call-action/

http://phuketwan.com/tourism/similans-tour...ple-mistreated/ [scroll halfway down this page to find links to their other coverage]

[Jingthing]

I view US based CNN here in Thailand. CNN featured a very detailed, very long (for tv) investigative journalism piece about this issue. It was damning and very judgmental. It left no doubt that CNN's view is that the Thai military is murdering this group of people. The smoking gun was the boat towing picture. However, at the end there was a weird soft comment about the PM saying he is demanding a full investigation. I thought he backed off of this completely for fear of the military power here.

Edited January 27, 2009 by Jingthing

[Samuian]

This was the lead story on CNN this morning

.....and a good job too. I have been truly sickened by yet another example of what man can do to man. In this case it is obviously authentic.

The CNN reporter actually said the boats were towed "several hundred kilometres" out to sea (more info anyone?).

Now's the time for Abhisit to show his true colours and we'll see if he has the cajones to deal with this in a proper fashion.

Did he follow them with his surf board, Chopper, kite surfer, rubber dinghy or did he swim himself or did he used a spy satellite for support?

However I think that this is an issue to be tackled with the Myanmar Junta, who causes these and several other problems... for their neighbors AND for the people!

Samuian, I haven't seen the exact wording as quoted by Sleepyjohn - but the following is in the CNN website article:

"Extraordinary photos obtained by CNN from someone directly involved in the Thai operation show refugees on their rickety boats being towed out to sea, cut loose and abandoned......................... The source who provided CNN with photos of refugees in a boat being towed out to sea stressed that the Thai army had given the refugees food and water, but he also confirmed that the boats had been pulled for more than two days into international waters before they were set adrift.

His account directly contradicts briefings by senior Thai army sources who denied any such operation was undertaken."

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/asiapcf/01/2...gees/index.html

[my emphasis above]

Frankly, I find your first sentence looks rather desperate not to say more than a little sick given the nature of what is being reported here. Did you actually bother to read any of the articles or view any of the video reports before lunging at the keyboard?

No quarrel with your post-edit second observation - it's very much an international problem that needs multi-lateral action. And, after all, the Thai military brass know their Burmese junta counterparts very well..............

Okay then, if you feel free to suggest that the Thai military and the Burmese military collaborate in this particular situation, go ahead, bring them culprits before "The Hague"...

but then as I suggested in the other post... there is plenty to do, heaps of refugee's who fall victim of one or the other "crime against humanity".

I don't want to be mistaken or condone anything here, but as you accuse me with your polemics of "lunging at the keyboard",

i wish to make clear that I am entitled to hold a differing opinion and not to swim with the mainstream here.

I still believe that this problem has surfaced BECAUSE of the presence of this administration!

Why this didn't surface a couple of years ago?

Action of the UN is needed, my point still is that this problem should be tackled by giving a strong signal, a clear message to the Myanmar Junta, there is the Karen Problem too, forgotten?

Again I refer to the Cyclone, how about human rights then, how about human rights when in Sep. 2007 all the monks from the demonstrations got incarcerated?

Why was then a relative calm, why pick on a Problem CAUSED by the Myanmar Junta and put the blame on Thailand and it's administration that is just a few weeks in office?

Or build more Camps and invite them to the UN led Party.... till the end of their days, who is going to pay the bill?

If these people, as the "Arcan Project" leader states: "are successful farmers"?

Why not ensure to get them back TO THEI HOMELAND and ENSURE that they wont be harassed by Myanmar military and other authorities!

Imho - this would be the appropriate way - not blaming a country which defense forces are trying to handle a problem!

Military isn't exactly the Salvation Army!

[Samuian]

I view US based CNN here in Thailand. CNN featured a very detailed, very long (for tv) investigative journalism piece about this issue. It was damning and very judgmental. It left no doubt that CNN's view is that the Thai military is murdering this group of people. The smoking gun was the boat towing picture. However, at the end there was a weird soft comment about the PM saying he is demanding a full investigation. I thought he backed off of this completely for fear of the military power here.

A source in the Thai military, after extensive questioning, did confirm to CNN that the Thai army was operating a dump-at-sea policy. But the source defended it, insisting that each boatload of refugees was always given sufficient supplies of food and water.

That source claimed local villagers had become afraid of the hundreds of Rohingya arriving each month, and that they were accusing the refugees of stealing their property and threatening them.

from CNN:

isn't it the army's duty to protect the citizens of their country from outside threads?

just a thought, there are always several angels one may view such "drastic" actions

and:

CNN asked the government for comment and was told that an investigation was being launched and that Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva has plans to call an emergency meeting once the country's foreign minister returns from Cambodia.

We'll see.........

[Jingthing]

I think the wording on the tv report was somewhat different. Obviously, this is a group of illegal aliens and don't deserve a red carpet welcome no matter how bad their circumstances. But they don't deserve to be sent to die either. The world is watching, Thailand. In other words, you have been BUSTED. Yesterday, I saw some Thais wearing t shirts calling what happened in Gaza genocide. When are we going to see Thais wearing t shirts protesting their OWN governments human rights abuses?

Edited January 27, 2009 by Jingthing

[Scott]

It is the military's duty to protect the country from an outside threat, however, there needs to be an assessment made as to how these people are a threat and why. I really doubt that these people are threat to the national security of the country.

Upon arrival, they need to be screened to determine if they meet the definition of a refugee. If they do not, and they are deemed to be illegal/economic migrants only, then they need to be returned to their country of origin. Agreements need to be in place for determining the return of migrants. This process needs to be overseen by the UNHCR to make certain that those facing persecution are not returned.

In the case of this group, most don't have citizenship anywhere, so where do you return them to? It takes a great deal of negotiation and pressue by the international community to resolve these problems and put in place mechanisms that assure the protection of these people.

Returning them to the sea is not an option.

[Jingthing]

Returning them to the sea is not an option.

Correction. It is not an option any longer if Thailand wishes to avoid continued very bad international press. In this case, it is only international pressure that has any chance to change things here.

[Scott]

CNN (web site) has reported that another boat load of Rohingya's has arrived in Thailand. I believe it said 78. Wonder how they are going to be treated?

[baht&sold]

Thailand wants UN refugee agency in regional meeting on Rohingyas (article link)

BANGKOK, 27 January 2009 (TNA) - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva advised on Tuesday that the United Nations' refugee agency should be invited to join the recently proposed regional talk involving countries most concerned with resolution of the ethnic Muslim minority Rohingya migrants from Myanmar.

The Thai foreign ministry said its proposal to host the meeting with countries affected by the flow of intending migrants received positive responses from Indonesia, Malaysia, Myanmar, India and Bangladesh.

Mr. Abhisit said he had discussed with the foreign ministry the possibility of inviting the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to join the regional meeting in an attempt to tackle the problem at its root cause.

"The UNHCR should be invited to join the proposed meeting as the Rohingya problem is a transnational issue and Thailand is not the cause of problem," Mr. Abhisit said.

The Thai premier made his remarks following recent foreign media reports about Rohingya migrants alleged to have been mistreated by the Royal Thai Navy before being pushed back to international waters in the Andaman Sea.

Despite his defence of the Thai armed forces and related security agencies in their treatment of the migrants, Mr. Abhisit, conceded that there might be some Thai officials involved with human trafficking syndicates, and said that he had ordered an investigation of the matter.

The premier said he hoped the international community would come to a better understanding regarding Thailand's stance on the migrant issue once it has been discussed among all parties concerned.

The Rohingyas are a Myanmar Muslim ethnic minority who fled to India and Bangladesh to escape persecution by the military junta.

Given the relatively short distance between the refugee camps and Thailand's western coasts, the migrants reportedly arrive in Thailand by sea through transnational human smuggling networks which may include Thai nationals and the complicity of some officials. (TNA)

[Scott]

Inviting the UNHCR is a good start. Pretty hard to address this problem without them.

I am concerned that there is still a lot of foot dragging about who actually has done what. And we should 'understand' Thailand's position. Smacks of a cover-up.