Thailand Warns Angelina Jolie Over Comments On Rohingyas

[Plus]

I suppose Thailand doesn't sign the Convention exactly because it doesn't want to provide any more than it does already.

[sriracha john]

Whatever the Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary said, this guy amplified...

Former People Power Party MP and current Puea Thai Party MP Surapong Tovijakchaikul (right) campaigning during the last election.

Puea Thai Party MP lashes out at UNHCR, foreign media on Rohingha's case

Chiang Mai MP of Puea Thai Party Surapong Tovijakchaikul retorted foreign media's and UNHCR's unfair comments against Thailand regarding Royinha illegal immigrants, saying a lot of immigrants were left to be a burden for Bangkok.

Commenting on recent reports and reaction of foreign media and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN refugee agency, that acted as if Thailand failed to treat Burmese minority group, Rohingya boat people, in line with standard human rights' principle, Chiang Mai MP of Puea Thai Party Surapong required the foreign media and UNHCR to understand a fact that Thailand had to handle a lot of immigrants although it was a developing country, while UNHCR has shouldered only parts of expenditures in connection with the problem.

It has selected only qualitative immigrants to be expatriated to the third nations, leaving a lot of unskilled immigrants for Thailand to take responsibility for, which was unfair.

- ThaiNews / 2009-02-13

Edited February 13, 2009 by sriracha john

[Steve2UK]

Recent media attention focused on hundreds of dead people first and foremost

Evidence for this?

[Plus]

Recent media attention focused on hundreds of dead people first and foremost

Evidence for this?

Look at this guy. He obviously read the news.

I am really disappointed in the number of expats here who are condemning Jolie. Maybe many are jealous of her popularity, stardom, whatever. I know people think its a publicity stunt, but so what? If she really wanted more publicity, she could just show her breasts! Jolie is merely bringing up an issue which there are people being killed. How is that a bad thing? Is it WRONG to bring up that people are being killed? You wouldn't think its wrong if it was happening to YOU, and someone stuck up for YOU. Get a life people!!!!

[Journalist]

I hope you're reading all this Angelina.

After this ticking off, you'll think twice before you do your busybody act again.

[Plus]

Here are headlines from Western media, links taken from "Similan thread", I ignored Bangkok Post and local outlets:

Thais 'leave boat people to die'

Thailand's deadly treatment of migrants

Hundreds dead, set adrift by Thais

Thailand Is Accused of Rejecting Migrants

In that one the first paragraph ends with "At least 300 people are reported to be missing at sea."

Abandoned at Sea: The Sad Plight of the Rohingya

That one has a line "More than 300 people who were with Muzaffar are missing; they are all believed to be dead." at the end of the second paragraph.

>>

I think it's kind of silly to deny that the west played the issue of hundreds of dead, and Jolie was probably caught up in this just like everyone else.

[Samuian]

Here are headlines from Western media, links taken from "Similan thread", I ignored Bangkok Post and local outlets:

Thais 'leave boat people to die'

Thailand's deadly treatment of migrants

Hundreds dead, set adrift by Thais

Thailand Is Accused of Rejecting Migrants

In that one the first paragraph ends with "At least 300 people are reported to be missing at sea."

Abandoned at Sea: The Sad Plight of the Rohingya

That one has a line "More than 300 people who were with Muzaffar are missing; they are all believed to be dead." at the end of the second paragraph.

>>

I think it's kind of silly to deny that the west played the issue of hundreds of dead, and Jolie was probably caught up in this just like everyone else.

"Silly" puts it rather mildly....and who is going to come out and APOLOGIZE to the Thai people and Authorities involved?

"hey, sorry, there was so much misinformation, sorry!"

including the BBC and CNN!

[freddiefunk]

"Silly" puts it rather mildly....and who is going to come out and APOLOGIZE to the Thai people and Authorities involved?

I was wondering how long it would take before somebody self-righteously requested an apology from AJ for her compliment to Thailand. It was building to that... and finally it came.

This "world (western world) against Thailand conflict" is only a product of your imagination...

[Plus]

This "world (western world) against Thailand conflict" is only a product of your imagination...

The West doesn't care about Thailand. It was a catchy, evocative story and they had a little fun at Thais expense, but it was business, nothing personal. Time to move on.

[freddiefunk]

This "world (western world) against Thailand conflict" is only a product of your imagination...

The West doesn't care about Thailand. It was a catchy, evocative story and they had a little fun at Thais expense, but it was business, nothing personal. Time to move on.

Most people realize this is how media works. Ironically, it is for this reason that a number of posters have pointed out it is dumb for a Thai official to raise a stink about AJs sterile remarks. It only increases the chances that it will remain in the news cycle longer.

[mc2]

not sure if anyone listen to the CNN interview with abhisit ,

he is CLEARLY not interested in getting to the bottom of things , prosecuting those involved , investigating

absolutely pathetic and irresponsible performace as PM on this and many other areas.

[brahmburgers]

"Silly" puts it rather mildly....and who is going to come out and APOLOGIZE to the Thai people and Authorities involved?

"hey, sorry, there was so much misinformation, sorry!"

including the BBC and CNN!

We don't know at this point what's true and what isn't. It's hard to gather qualifying info from people who die at sea (whose bodies are never recovered). From the bits and pieces that I've heard/seen - both within T.Visa and in the media, it looks likely that the scenario is true that; hundreds of Rohinga were towed out to sea to drift and die.

[samgrowth]

not sure if anyone listen to the CNN interview with abhisit ,

he is CLEARLY not interested in getting to the bottom of things , prosecuting those involved , investigating

absolutely pathetic and irresponsible performace as PM on this and many other areas.

Quote from Mark's CNN interview: "There are attempts, I think, to let these people drift to other shores."

English is not my 1st language. Does that mean that Mark is not sure if the Thai's let the people drift or not? I.e., the Royal Thai Navy did not inform Mark if they did it or not? Hence he is guess.

[ballpoint]

not sure if anyone listen to the CNN interview with abhisit ,

he is CLEARLY not interested in getting to the bottom of things , prosecuting those involved , investigating

absolutely pathetic and irresponsible performace as PM on this and many other areas.

Quote from Mark's CNN interview: "There are attempts, I think, to let these people drift to other shores."

English is not my 1st language. Does that mean that Mark is not sure if the Thai's let the people drift or not? I.e., the Royal Thai Navy did not inform Mark if they did it or not? Hence he is guess.

Quoting direct from CNN:

"Bangkok - Thai Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva admitted in an interview with CNN Friday that there had been instances of authorities pushing Rohingya boat people back to sea, contradicting earlier denials by the Thai military that abuses had been committed. "It's not exactly clear whose work it is," Abhisit told CNN.

"All the authorities say it's not their policy, but I have reason to believe otherwise. I will certainly hold the guilty parties accountable, once I find out who is responsible," he said".

Sounds pretty CLEAR to me. The only point I would take issue with is that we all know whose policy this was. Samak and his PPP government.

Maybe we could be also enlightened as to what "the many other areas" are?

Edited February 13, 2009 by ballpoint

[henryalleman]

During the Vietnamese refugee crisis, Hong Kong had huge numbers of refugees and some rather massive and overcrowded locked facilities. Eventually, even HK opened a facility on one of the out-lying islands that had an open refugee camp. They really couldn't go very far, but they could walk around, grow some vegetables etc. At night they were locked in, but the atmosphere at the camp was in sharp contrast to the depression and oppression of the locked camps.

What I remember is how Hongkong rounded up all Vietnamese fugitives and forced them by violence into Hercules transport airplanes end flew them back to Vietnam, its was seen on every news show allover the world at the time.

And the Italians put the boatassylum seekers at the Island of Lampadusa. The results is that the economy of that Island is ruined, Tourist stay away and the crime rate is unbelievable high.

The same problem at the Spanish isles in front the African coasts, fugitives with small boats even come from India and Bangladesh well equiped with GPS to this Isles. Now the EU even send their fleet to to there and the medditaranian see to stop them;

Because millions fortune seekers are trying to get to Europe. And if you know this its easy to understand the actions of the Thai government trying to stop this invasion of fugitives.

The fact that they are Muslims is also a potential danger for the security in the South.

Edited February 13, 2009 by henryalleman

[WaiWai]

"large portion of the population" is debatable. Yes, I agree that the delusional portion of the US population would get huffy about it... no doubt. But the comment is still mostly a compliment, and the negative reaction to it is perplexing. It would be in the US too. You've done a good job of identifying a cultural similarity between the US and Thailand, but you not explained why a compliment by a movie star should elicit a rebuke.

Absolutely! I wonder where you are from. Not many folk from the USA can recognize that similarity:).

I can give rough "importance of face" rankings to some non-Asian countries I am familiar with. Most of us are familiar with US culture overall, unavoidably , and can see that US folk tend to place an extremely high value on face. You'd expect that cultural emphasis to correlate closely with denial and ... errrrm ... inculturation, would you not?

You can't see why ?

Well, it was no compliment .

The dynamics of politics in this region are so finely tuned I would never pretend to understand them, let alone blunder into them, and publicly.

Again, I wonder where you are from. Where I am from, the fact that a big-haired Star found time in her schedule to grace the suffering with her presence is treated with .... well, indifference. really. True acts of bravery in the continuing bushfires amongst "everyday" people are the news *and the reality* there right now.

Why is the UN buying in to the crass commercialism of "famous is good"? I don't think this enlarges the audience; I think it reduces significant issues to 30 seconds of Our Agelina doing good works ... somewhere ... Taiwan, is it ? for those who live in one or another state of delusion.

But hey- how about Salma Hayek -- did anyone post that article here? Thoughts on that:)?

And yes, I would absolutely love some evidence of the shooting stars speaking about and giving money to their own backyards.

Guantanomo in particular.

[BillyBobThai]

A woman who has on here left arm, a tatoo, that expresses her love for

Billy Bob Thorten, shows that something is not quite rite.

Beauty in her case is probably only skin deep.

[samgrowth]

"All the authorities say it's not their policy, but I have reason to believe otherwise. I will certainly hold the guilty parties accountable, once I find out who is responsible," Mark said".

This make me want to laugh.

You think he will put the generals in jail?

On a different subject, he knew who shut the airport down, and he did nothing. What make you think that he will take action on this matter?

Talk talk talk . . . . . talk only lah . . . . lol.

[freddiefunk]

"large portion of the population" is debatable. Yes, I agree that the delusional portion of the US population would get huffy about it... no doubt. But the comment is still mostly a compliment, and the negative reaction to it is perplexing. It would be in the US too. You've done a good job of identifying a cultural similarity between the US and Thailand, but you not explained why a compliment by a movie star should elicit a rebuke.

Absolutely! I wonder where you are from. Not many folk from the USA can recognize that similarity:).

I can give rough "importance of face" rankings to some non-Asian countries I am familiar with. Most of us are familiar with US culture overall, unavoidably , and can see that US folk tend to place an extremely high value on face. You'd expect that cultural emphasis to correlate closely with denial and ... errrrm ... inculturation, would you not?

I am from the Midwest, but I think the face-saving is rather obvious regardless of where you live in the US. I don't want to begin a Bush bashing thread, because it just gets boring after a while, but he is the poster boy for denying wrongdoing. He sure had a difficult time admitting mistakes during his presidential tenure...

At the university I graduated from, many of the powerful administrators treated work related criticisms as personal attacks and insults and had a habit of seeking retaliation against faculty, staff, and even students. The list could go on and on...

Perhaps this is why I am particularly annoyed by this discussion.

You can't see why ?

Well, it was no compliment .

The dynamics of politics in this region are so finely tuned I would never pretend to understand them, let alone blunder into them, and publicly.

Sorry, I'm not going to justify anyone's hissy fit over Jolies comments. Sure, it probably wasn't a compliment but it was not disrespectful and it was mild. Call the Waaambulance.

That said, I would be more forgiving to Thais expressing these views than expats.

Why is the UN buying in to the crass commercialism of "famous is good"? I don't think this enlarges the audience; I think it reduces significant issues to 30 seconds of Our Agelina doing good works ... somewhere ... Taiwan, is it ? for those who live in one or another state of delusion.

??? I wouldn't know if this strategy of the UN is effective. What is your proposition?

And yes, I would absolutely love some evidence of the shooting stars speaking about and giving money to their own backyards.

Guantanomo in particular.

Do you know the Dixie Chicks? They caused a big stink in Texas by saying they were embarrassed that Bush was from Texas. Have you watched Fox News?... Hollywood constantly has Fox raising a stink, so this nonsense that celebrities only pop off about foreign countries is ridiculous. I dare say, celebrities are more critical of the US than other countries... Does Hanoi Jane ring a bell?

I can't think of a specific example for Guantanomo off the top of my head, but... are we required to discuss every western abuse before we discuss the Rohingyas? I suppose, in the future, the Rohingya issue is a prerequisite to any discussion about Guantanomo. Do you really think the Rohingya issue has even received a fraction of the publicity that Guantanomo has or will still get?

[wolfmanjack]

Obviously disrespectful and not in accordance with the Thai and Asian need for public comments to be about as far way from the truth as possible.

Who does she think she is and from a woman too.!!!!!

Another American Woman interfering with the affairs of countries other than America

When will the Americans learn they are not wanted

They should Get their own house in order

They have virtually ruined the worlds economy

I am an american and I agree with you. Our government should stop interfering with foreign affairs. We should stop all foreign aid, close all of our military bases on foreign soil, and bring all of our troops home. Then we could use all of that money to help our own people. After all no matter what we do we are the bad guys so why not be known as a bad guy for being selfish instead of meddlesome.

[LomSak27]

Another American Woman interfering with the affairs of countries other than America

When will the Americans learn they are not wanted

Hey Well-y, here's what you do, tell the Yanks in return for them shutting up about the world, the world will shut up about the USA. Quid pro Quo. That'll go over like a bronzed lump of excrement

[HorseDoctor]

In all honesty, she should have said SOMETHING about Rohingyas, but this "be just as generous" is a very provocative wording.

I totally agree, what AJ should have said is,

"To the honorable and most noble Thailand:

With your gracious permission, I would like to express my very humble and unworthy opinion with regards the Rohingya. I recognize the inferiority of this species and that Thailand has already risked severe dishonor in allowing them to set foot on Thai soil. However, I still feel compelled, I suppose due to some inherent error in my disposition, or mental disability, to compliment the Thai on their generosity with regard to Burmese refugees. Your treatment of the Rohingyas has also been most excellent. I apologize in advance for terrible insult i have imparted with my bout of verbal diarrhea."

LOL Right on !

http://nationmultimedia.com/2009/02/14/pol...cs_30095697.php

"...Colonel Manat Kongpan, commander of Isoc's Fourth Region, yesterday told reporters the military had not committed any such inhumane acts towards the boat people."Thais should not pay attention to such crazy news reports. If anyone had died, there'd be bodies," he said. "The media are simply quoting those wanting to attack Thailand."

(Here we go with the "..Libeling Thailand.." stuff, I predict this will soon be against the law..)

And Burma's official position ..

"....However, Burma maintains the stateless Rohingyas are not its citizens. The Burmese consul-general to Hong Kong this week defended the junta's policy by telling the South China Morning Post the Rohingyas were "ugly as ogres" and that their "dark-brown" skin was in contrast with the "fair and soft" ethnic Burmese majority."

[Samuian]

During the Vietnamese refugee crisis, Hong Kong had huge numbers of refugees and some rather massive and overcrowded locked facilities. Eventually, even HK opened a facility on one of the out-lying islands that had an open refugee camp. They really couldn't go very far, but they could walk around, grow some vegetables etc. At night they were locked in, but the atmosphere at the camp was in sharp contrast to the depression and oppression of the locked camps.

What I remember is how Hongkong rounded up all Vietnamese fugitives and forced them by violence into Hercules transport airplanes end flew them back to Vietnam, its was seen on every news show allover the world at the time.

And the Italians put the boatassylum seekers at the Island of Lampadusa. The results is that the economy of that Island is ruined, Tourist stay away and the crime rate is unbelievable high.

The same problem at the Spanish isles in front the African coasts, fugitives with small boats even come from India and Bangladesh well equiped with GPS to this Isles. Now the EU even send their fleet to to there and the medditaranian see to stop them;

Because millions fortune seekers are trying to get to Europe. And if you know this its easy to understand the actions of the Thai government trying to stop this invasion of fugitives.

The fact that they are Muslims is also a potential danger for the security in the South.

Sorry, which "isles" exactly?

So it looks now this story has turned from "manslaughter" of some 500 "refugees" to "towing people in rickety boats out into the open seas and leave them to their destiny" story...

And the Thai-PM doesn't really know what is going on, why - because he himself was surprised by the news he received as we all - through the media, which turned out to be "tailored" to suit the refugees agenda!

On some reason I had some remote feeling that this story will turn out just like this!

A big "Thank you" that at "Arakan Project" someone was honest enough and had the guts to blow the cover of this story!

Now the Authorities of the affected countries can tackle the Problem, a Problem, as MANY others CAUSED by the inhumane Myanmar Military Junta!

[HorseDoctor]

not sure if anyone listen to the CNN interview with abhisit ,

he is CLEARLY not interested in getting to the bottom of things , prosecuting those involved , investigating

absolutely pathetic and irresponsible performace as PM on this and many other areas.

Yes I listened to it, he was uncomfortable , his body language guarded and he blinked a lot, the hallmarks of a liar.

He also didn't say much of anything other than somewhat contradictory backtracking.

What a puppet .

[ballpoint]

not sure if anyone listen to the CNN interview with abhisit ,

he is CLEARLY not interested in getting to the bottom of things , prosecuting those involved , investigating

absolutely pathetic and irresponsible performace as PM on this and many other areas.

Yes I listened to it, he was uncomfortable , his body language guarded and he blinked a lot, the hallmarks of a liar.

He also didn't say much of anything other than somewhat contradictory backtracking.

What a puppet .

And you got all that from listening to his interview? Was his blinking really that loud? I know it's never stopped you before, but get your facts right please.

[henryalleman]

Sorry, which "isles" exactly?

Spanisch

Teneriffe, Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera;

The enclaves Ceuta and Melila in Morocco, mainland Spain is only 5k from the African coast.

Portugal

Azores and Madeira Islands

Italy,

Lampadusa

Malta

All this islands are overwhelmed by boat people.

And because they are all belonging to the Schengen zone, once they are in thy can travel freely all over the Schengen zone.

And Thailand like to avoid this situation. So the Thai actions regrettable as it may be, are understandable. in this view. Its the only way to give a strong warning sign, trying to stop the influx.

Thailand simply don't have the means to take care all this people. Not yet to mention the pressure it can have on the labour market where Thai unskilled worker have already a very very meagre wage. So its very easy to have high moral standards when your life is comfortable. And is not influenced by the fact that you can't find a job because its taking away by a fugitive for a lower salary. Its the employers who profit from this situation.

Its happened a few times that they call the police to round up illegal workers and send them back in the middle of the night across the border if Burma a few day's before they must pay them, as it happened some years ago in the port of Bangkok.

BTW, did you know that human trafficking is passed the drug trade regarding earnings.

[mc2]

not sure if anyone listen to the CNN interview with abhisit ,

he is CLEARLY not interested in getting to the bottom of things , prosecuting those involved , investigating

absolutely pathetic and irresponsible performace as PM on this and many other areas.

Yes I listened to it, he was uncomfortable , his body language guarded and he blinked a lot, the hallmarks of a liar.

He also didn't say much of anything other than somewhat contradictory backtracking.

What a puppet .

And you got all that from listening to his interview? Was his blinking really that loud? I know it's never stopped you before, but get your facts right please.

im afraid to say her assessment was spot on.

he did look uncomfortable , body language WAS guarded , yes he Blinked a lot , a liar ? he was obviously trying his darndest to defend himself by dancing around with words as he often does. im sure if he had a pair he would be more straightforward, but lets face it, the military and the PAD have got both of them and are squeezing, he is a real impotent PM if I ever saw one.

an absolute puppet , and a serious dissapointment.

[A_Traveller]

^ This is getting silly. From personal direct observation he has a naturally rapid blink rate in day to day life. Some people do.

Regards

[Scott]

Most liars do have a rapid blink rate. On the other hand Angelina seldom blinks at all!

[Samuian]

Sorry, which "isles" exactly?

Spanisch

Teneriffe, Canary Islands, and three small Spanish possessions off the coast of Morocco - Islas Chafarinas, Penon de Alhucemas, and Penon de Velez de la Gomera;

The enclaves Ceuta and Melila in Morocco, mainland Spain is only 5k from the African coast.

Portugal

Azores and Madeira Islands

Italy,

Lampadusa

Malta

All this islands are overwhelmed by boat people.

And because they are all belonging to the Schengen zone, once they are in thy can travel freely all over the Schengen zone.

And Thailand like to avoid this situation. So the Thai actions regrettable as it may be, are understandable. in this view. Its the only way to give a strong warning sign, trying to stop the influx.

Thailand simply don't have the means to take care all this people. Not yet to mention the pressure it can have on the labour market where Thai unskilled worker have already a very very meagre wage. So its very easy to have high moral standards when your life is comfortable. And is not influenced by the fact that you can't find a job because its taking away by a fugitive for a lower salary. Its the employers who profit from this situation.

Its happened a few times that they call the police to round up illegal workers and send them back in the middle of the night across the border if Burma a few day's before they must pay them, as it happened some years ago in the port of Bangkok.

BTW, did you know that human trafficking is passed the drug trade regarding earnings.

Wasn't aware that even Tenerife and the Canary Islands, even the Azores are effected..that is why I asked!

That "human trafficking" has surpassed... .......is new to me too, but easy to imagine, under these circumstances this story gets a whole new dimension especially after this incident where a truck load of Burmese died.... suffocated...

The extra topping on the pizza is but the notion that "Thailand" is the one responsible, even "Lara Croft" fell for it...

However I do think that Thailand has ALL the rights to sort this out themselves, if there is no support from international aid agencies....well..

And one more FACT, here on Samui and neighboring Ko Phangan are many, many legal and illegal burmese workers, an influx I have just recently registered!

It is a problem, especially if labor markets are tight right now!

Fuel for racial conflicts!

im afraid to say her assessment was spot on.

he did look uncomfortable , body language WAS guarded , yes he Blinked a lot , a liar ? he was obviously trying his darndest to defend himself by dancing around with words as he often does. im sure if he had a pair he would be more straightforward, but lets face it, the military and the PAD have got both of them and are squeezing, he is a real impotent PM if I ever saw one.

an absolute puppet , and a serious dissapointment.

I am quite certain, even convinced that you believe that BS yourself!

However, give 'em some time, to establish the "Dictatorship" in full then...

Edited February 14, 2009 by Samuian