Rights Groups Press Thailand On Rohingya Boat People

[webfact]

Rights groups press Thailand on boat people

BANGKOK, February 18, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand should swiftly investigate the treatment of almost a hundred boat people amid claims the group was set adrift in a vessel without an engine, rights organisations said Friday.

Thai authorities have said 91 asylum seekers from the Muslim, Bengali-speaking Rohingya ethnic group were returned to Myanmar in January soon after they washed up on the country's shore, Amnesty International said.

But 91 people believed to be Rohingya landed in India's Andaman islands in early February and said the Thai navy pushed them out to sea "in an engineless boat with limited food and water", the rights group said.

"Amnesty International called on the government of Thailand to institute a prompt, independent and transparent investigation into how Thai authorities treated this group," it said.

Thailand's handling of the Rohingya -- described by the UN as as one of the world's most persecuted minorities -- has caused controversy in the past.

Security forces towed hundreds of people from the Muslim community out to sea in "unseaworthy boats" and cast them adrift in late 2008 and early 2009 and some "subsequently died at sea", Amnesty said.

New York-based Human Rights Watch also urged the Thai authorities to investigate.

"If the Thai government wants the world to believe that history is not repeating itself, they need to go well beyond their quick-draw denial and launch a full public investigation into these very serious allegations," said Asia deputy director Phil Robertson.

Mainly Buddhist Myanmar effectively denies citizenship and property rights to the Rohingya, prompting many to flee the country, often to refugee camps in Bangladesh.

The Rohingya are subject to "systematic persecution, including forced labour, forced eviction, land confiscation, and severe restrictions on freedom of movement", Amnesty said.

Hundreds of individuals claiming to be from the ethnic minority, including a number of children, have been detained in Thailand since January.

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said it was given access to many of these people earlier this month, but was unable to speak to the 91 people in question.

A further 129 Rohingyas remain in Indonesia after they were found drifting off the northern tip of the island of on Tuesday.

The country's foreign affairs ministry spokesman Michael Tene said that the immigration officials are still registering the men's identities.

"We sent a team to the location to assess their conditions. The government will decide what kind of measures to be taken based on the assessment result," he told AFP.

Amnesty called on Thailand, Indonesia and India to give the Rohingya access to refugee procedures and stressed that members of the group "would be at risk of human rights violations if returned to Myanmar".

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-02-18

[bangon04]

Just wait until Thailand gets the submarines the generals are asking for -

torpedo the boat people without the press being able to prove anything. Total Deniability. Solve the problem.

except maybe for the occasional spy satellite catching them....

[RKASA]

or until they forget to change the battery - ohaa Bat mote

[jayjay0]

Whatever came of the investigation in 2009.

I remember the Army was blamed for it so Abhisit turned the investigation over to them.

No talk what so ever about a independent counsel being set up to do the investigation.

[bulmercke]

CNN - and Dan Rivers - did a special investigative report on the appalling treatment of the Rohingya last year by the Thai authorities. I thought the Thai military - navy - would have taken note of the bad publicity.

Obviously not.

[rubl]

CNN - and Dan Rivers - did a special investigative report on the appalling treatment of the Rohingya last year by the Thai authorities. I thought the Thai military - navy - would have taken note of the bad publicity.

Obviously not.

Most Thai I've spoken with couldn't care less. We've got our own problems, let them stay home. Lots of countries signed treaties, some could afford, some wonder why they did. This is a problem, but not really a Thai problem. You need a certain environment, background, standing in order to be able to afford to be lenient.

Don't misunderstand me, I deplore the attitude, but understand it in it's current setting. Those who are free of sin, ....

[bulmercke]

CNN - and Dan Rivers - did a special investigative report on the appalling treatment of the Rohingya last year by the Thai authorities. I thought the Thai military - navy - would have taken note of the bad publicity.

Obviously not.

Most Thai I've spoken with couldn't care less. We've got our own problems, let them stay home. Lots of countries signed treaties, some could afford, some wonder why they did. This is a problem, but not really a Thai problem. You need a certain environment, background, standing in order to be able to afford to be lenient.

Don't misunderstand me, I deplore the attitude, but understand it in it's current setting. Those who are free of sin, ....

The military look down on these economic refugees and - in the main - treat them as lesser humans - just because they're non-Thais. Same attitude - so often - seen directed toward Cambodians - Burmese and Loatians.

[rubl]

CNN - and Dan Rivers - did a special investigative report on the appalling treatment of the Rohingya last year by the Thai authorities. I thought the Thai military - navy - would have taken note of the bad publicity.

Obviously not.

Most Thai I've spoken with couldn't care less. We've got our own problems, let them stay home. Lots of countries signed treaties, some could afford, some wonder why they did. This is a problem, but not really a Thai problem. You need a certain environment, background, standing in order to be able to afford to be lenient.

Don't misunderstand me, I deplore the attitude, but understand it in it's current setting. Those who are free of sin, ....

The military look down on these economic refugees and - in the main - treat them as lesser humans - just because they're non-Thais. Same attitude - so often - seen directed toward Cambodians - Burmese and Loatians.

No offence, but I think it would be more accurate to say 'The Thai people in general look down ...'. The Army attitude follows.

[bulmercke]

CNN - and Dan Rivers - did a special investigative report on the appalling treatment of the Rohingya last year by the Thai authorities. I thought the Thai military - navy - would have taken note of the bad publicity.

Obviously not.

Most Thai I've spoken with couldn't care less. We've got our own problems, let them stay home. Lots of countries signed treaties, some could afford, some wonder why they did. This is a problem, but not really a Thai problem. You need a certain environment, background, standing in order to be able to afford to be lenient.

Don't misunderstand me, I deplore the attitude, but understand it in it's current setting. Those who are free of sin, ....

The military look down on these economic refugees and - in the main - treat them as lesser humans - just because they're non-Thais. Same attitude - so often - seen directed toward Cambodians - Burmese and Loatians.

No offence, but I think it would be more accurate to say 'The Thai people in general look down ...'. The Army attitude follows.

Agreed.

[LaoPo]

It's obvious that Thailand and it's people have not reached the status of civilised country by far yet.

Here, we're talking about a few hundred poor souls towed away to sea in the past few years.

In Europe, Italy is currently watching a nightmare because of an immense invasion of hundreds of boats, carrying more than 5,500 (!!!) people from North Africa landing on Italy's shores between January 1 and February 13th and the stream of refugees is not stopped yet. All this because of the uproar in Tunisia and people smelled their chance to escape poverty and move to the EU.

Lampedusa is a small Italian island off the coast of Tunisia and the EU laws says that if a refugee sets foot on European shores, he's entitled to a refugee investigation status......so Italy has not only to feed them 3 meals a day, give medical care but give them proper shelter and a place to sleep as well.

What would the world say if the EU would do the same and tow these people back into the Med again?

Thailand has a long way to go

http://www.ansamed.i...E.XEF34768.html

LaoPo

[geovalin]

You write: "I think it would be more accurate to say 'The Thai people in general look down ...'. The Army attitude follows. "

The point is that Thai people are even not conscious of their contemptuous attitude, they are convinced to be sympathetic with these inferior human beings. If you point that, they are very surprised because it's sooo natural.

[whybother]

The Thais could do what the Australians do, and lock them up in a camp on a remote island or in the desert.

[asiawatcher]

It's obvious that Thailand and it's people have not reached the status of civilised country by far yet.

Here, we're talking about a few hundred poor souls towed away to sea in the past few years.

In Europe, Italy is currently watching a nightmare because of an immense invasion of hundreds of boats, carrying more than 5,500 (!!!) people from North Africa landing on Italy's shores between January 1 and February 13th and the stream of refugees is not stopped yet. All this because of the uproar in Tunisia and people smelled their chance to escape poverty and move to the EU.

Lampedusa is a small Italian island off the coast of Tunisia and the EU laws says that if a refugee sets foot on European shores, he's entitled to a refugee investigation status......so Italy has not only to feed them 3 meals a day, give medical care but give them proper shelter and a place to sleep as well.

What would the world say if the EU would do the same and tow these people back into the Med again?

Thailand has a long way to go

http://www.ansamed.i...E.XEF34768.html

LaoPo

LaoPo agree with the sentiment but the issues of refugees or the haves and have nots - it's pretty much the same world over, but I would think that the most ridiculous law (EU) to allow anyone to set foot and gain access. In any country in the world - cross a border without papers or permission to enter it is jail or worse (Iran et al). But this constant mass migration of people spreading into societies and then not integrating - such as with the Muslim to Myanmar, I can't help but think - yes - turn them all back.

The problems Thailand faces are not just from displaced people such as Mong and Karen, but also from Muslim. Look to where it's problems arise and it always comes down to religion and politics. Remove the religion aspect and then it is manageable. I am happy for Thailand to remain the way it is and personally I would reject all the Muslim refugees no matter where from as once they merge - the problems will compound. But to continue to accept people on handouts and then have them flare up and kill Thai's - sorry - no sympathy or empathy there...

Whilst we can't save the world, if people denounce their country then do the same for their religions and see if that helps. Belief is a very strong thing but all global conflicts only ever come down to those two points and Thailand is suffering in the south with no solution after allowing refugees then integration never took place and now there is no way out. I for one would isolate it by refusing entry.

Notwithstanding that, I feel sad for the children and others and there has to be more humane ways of returning populace to their own countries. Then it sends a clear message - run and you will be refused entry and returned. Not like Myanar who executed hundreds of the Moken on the islands in the Andaman. It is not an easy situation...

[Scott]

There are two aspects to this and all problems related to refugees. First to provide them with a safe environment and the right to a screening process to determine if they are political refugees and that returning them to their country of origin will result in persecution or worse.

The second aspect is resettlement of people determined to be refugees. Quite frequently, countries of first asylum are not countries which will allow resettlement.

Thailand is under no obligation to resettle Rohingya's. It does have an obligation to treat them in a humane manner. That does not include towing them out to sea.

[Siam Simon]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-south-asia-12445480

http://asiancorrespondent.com/48331/thailand-denies-pushing-rohingya-boat-people-out-to-sea/

[Credo]

Thanks for the links. The video is from sometime ago, I believe, but the BBC report is about the current situation.

So basically the Thai Navy got caught with their pants down and yet they do it again.

[Oberkommando]

I remember the Army was blamed for it so Abhisit turned the investigation over to them.

The ISOC was responsible so Abhisit, as head of the ISOC let them investigate themselves. These were the Rohigyna human right abuses last year. They are continuing unabated.

CNN - and Dan Rivers - did a special investigative report on the appalling treatment of the Rohingya last year by the Thai authorities. I thought the Thai military - navy - would have taken note of the bad publicity.

Dan Rivers was hounded out of Thailand. His investigative journalism in uncovering these human rights abuses and Thai government and military knowledge of them is a contributing factor as to why.

Rivers leaving Thailand

[Siam Simon]

Thanks for the links. The video is from sometime ago, I believe, but the BBC report is about the current situation.

So basically the Thai Navy got caught with their pants down and yet they do it again.

The Abhisit interview (where he promised "No repeats") discusses abuses during the 2008/2009 sailing season.

[phiphidon]

Thanks for the links. The video is from sometime ago, I believe, but the BBC report is about the current situation.

So basically the Thai Navy got caught with their pants down and yet they do it again.

The Abhisit interview (where he promised "No repeats") discusses abuses during the 2008/2009 sailing season.

And still nothing from the PM.

[Siam Simon]

Thanks for the links. The video is from sometime ago, I believe, but the BBC report is about the current situation.

So basically the Thai Navy got caught with their pants down and yet they do it again.

The Abhisit interview (where he promised "No repeats") discusses abuses during the 2008/2009 sailing season.

And still nothing from the PM.

This has been a 'sweep under the carpet' issue for the forum's right wing extremists ever since it hit the international media. It doesn't fit the manifesto, so what else can they do? Calling the World's media liars won't cut it on this one.

[simon43]

The Thais could do what the Australians do, and lock them up in a camp on a remote island or in the desert.

Koh Tao??? It's been done before

Simon

[whybother]

Still no comment on the human rights abuses. Definitely Plus.

What's to comment? There are human rights abuses. Nothing appears to be being done about it. All the posts have been along those lines.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts have been edited or removed.