U N, 20 Nations Join Thailand To Help Rohingya

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REFUGEES

UN, 20 nations join Thailand to help Rohingya

The Nation

Envoys hold conference to organise support; UNHCR granted permission to visit refugees

BANGKOK: -- Envoys of more than 20 countries yesterday joined a teleconference that was held to address the grievances of and get help for more than 850 Rohingya people. These illegal migrants were arrested in Thailand's South earlier this month.

The conference focused on immediate assistance and the legal procedures involved.

At the teleconference were representatives of various countries including Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Australia, the United States, New Zealand as well as the European Union.

In a related development, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) disclosed it had already received the Thai authorities' permission to access these Rohingya refugees.

"The Thai authorities have agreed in principle to give us access," said Golam Abbas, UNHCR's Representative ad interim in Thailand. "We would like this to happen as soon as possible, so that we can jointly look at their immediate humanitarian and protection needs."

"If there are people seeking asylum among the group, they should have access to a mechanism to assess their material and protection needs. This could be through Thailand's existing Provincial Admissions Board or another agreed arrangement. We are ready to provide our support and expertise as needed," he said.

Some 115,000 Rohingya people remain internally displaced within Myanmar's Rakhine state following inter-communal violence in June and October last year. The Rohingya are a Muslim minority in Myanmar.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Tuesday her government would provide humanitarian care for the refugees and instructed the Foreign Ministry to work with the UN on the issue.

The UN said it welcomed public assurances from Yingluck that the group would receive temporary assistance in Thailand in respect of the principle of non-refoulement. This principle states that under international customary law, no one should be sent back to a place where his or her life and freedom could be endangered. UNHCR has sought access to this group, and cannot confirm their number or identity without first talking to them.

Thailand's Chularatchamontri, the country's Muslim spiritual leader, visited the arrested Rohingya in Songkhla yesterday. With tears in his eyes, he urged authorities to contact a third country where the migrants could get jobs and humanitarian assistance.

"Please don't send them back to Myanmar," he said.

The Burmese Rohingya Association Thailand, at the same time, called on the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand (NHRC) to prevent any deportation of the Rohingya.

"We have never agreed with deportation. Sending the Rohingya back is like sending them to hell," NHRC commissioner Niran Pitakwatchara said.

He also expressed concern that the Rohingya refugees might fall victims to human traffickers.

"We will consult with relevant authorities in a bid to prevent violation of the Rohingya people's rights," Niran said.

Speaking separately, Mamadjorkhid from Myanmar said he could not feel any human dignity in his homeland.

"Soldiers always harassed us. They were always taking away whatever we had in hands or farms," the 24-old-man said. He has now settled down in Thailand's Ranong.

Nobihuzon, 40, said he felt he had no future while living in Rakhine. "Many neighbours felt the same way. So, we pooled the money to buy a fishing trawler and started our boat trip," he said.

It took him more than 20 days to reach Thailand, where he had now lived for more than 22 years.

"I can live without fear now. I have already got myself registered as an alien worker," Nobihuzon said.

-- The Nation 2013-01-17

[chooka]

Maybe after the international attention the headline should read "Thailand joins 20 Nations to help Rohingya." If it wasn't for these pesky farang nations we could be towing them out to sea as per usual.

[noitom]

Maybe after the international attention the headline should read "Thailand joins 20 Nations to help Rohingya." If it wasn't for these pesky farang nations we could be towing them out to sea as per usual.

Exactly! More like a headline such as UN and 20 nations join to inhibit Thai abuse and trafficking of Rohingya.

[geriatrickid]

Intyteresting how the countries that are always rushing to defend certain poor oppressed people are absent from the listing? Where are arab countires, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iran, Cuba, Venezuala, Bolivia, Russia and China?????

I demand that Turkey sponsor a freedom flotilla to bring these poor refugees medicine, cement and weapons. childrens toys.

[kerrysum]

Intyteresting how the countries that are always rushing to defend certain poor oppressed people are absent from the listing? Where are arab countires, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iran, Cuba, Venezuala, Bolivia, Russia and China?????

I demand that Turkey sponsor a freedom flotilla to bring these poor refugees medicine, cement and weapons. childrens toys.

Just remember.....

It is all an illusion.... Good post, love the honesty.....

kilosierra

[rgs2001uk]

As per usual the muslim world is conspicuous by its silence.

The arab states arent exactly rushing forward with offers of help.

"Please don't send them back to Myanmar," he said.

Plenty of vacancies in Somalia or Mali, of course there wont be gov't handouts.

[Fozfromoz]

As per usual the muslim world is conspicuous by its silence.

The arab states arent exactly rushing forward with offers of help.

"Please don't send them back to Myanmar," he said.

Plenty of vacancies in Somalia or Mali, of course there wont be gov't handouts.

But Somalia has wonderful beaches and plentiful fish.

[Pimay1]

As per usual the muslim world is conspicuous by its silence.

The arab states arent exactly rushing forward with offers of help.

"Please don't send them back to Myanmar," he said.

Plenty of vacancies in Somalia or Mali, of course there wont be gov't handouts.

But Somalia has wonderful beaches and plentiful fish.

And don't forget all the millionaire pirates in Somalia. All except the ones that the Russian Navy blew up on their pirate boat.Go Russia!!!!

Edited January 17, 2013 by Pimay1

[rgs2001uk]

^^^^^^, excellent,

perhaps the Ozzie Navy should join these guys on a fact finding tour, or even better invite the Russians over to protect the coast of NW Australia, boat people problem solved.

[NanLaew]

UN, Thailand and 20 other nations.... what about the Thai army. Are they onboard?

[chooka]

UN, Thailand and 20 other nations.... what about the Thai army. Are they onboard?

Na sorry, can't swim

[MongersSyndicate]

"Poor Muslim refugee" will in a couple of year become the scourge of its host country. We've seen it all before. Please send them to Saudi Arabia.

Edited January 17, 2013 by MongersSyndicate

[khunken]

Some crassly ignorant posts on this thread. This is about trafficked refugees that are fleeing from oppression.

But no, they're Muslim and must be somehow less than human because of their religion. One post even mentioned Bangladesh as being absent from providing help. Absolutely stupid because the country is poor & they have their own problems with the Rohingya.

[PTG]

Maybe after the international attention the headline should read "Thailand joins 20 Nations to help Rohingya." If it wasn't for these pesky farang nations we could be towing them out to sea as per usual.

Exactly! More like a headline such as UN and 20 nations join to inhibit Thai abuse and trafficking of Rohingya.

Or they could just let the Thais tow them back out to sea and give them a sat phone with the same phoine number all the boats to Australia call to get picked up by the Australian navy then get given bridging visas to live in oz. It is much cheaper and easier than dealing with the Australian Embassy in Bangkok

Edited January 17, 2013 by PTG

[bigbamboo]

UN, Thailand and 20 other nations.... what about the Thai army. Are they onboard?

From her comment today you might wonder if the PM is even on board.

[kimamey]

Intyteresting how the countries that are always rushing to defend certain poor oppressed people are absent from the listing? Where are arab countires, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Iran, Cuba, Venezuala, Bolivia, Russia and China?????

I demand that Turkey sponsor a freedom flotilla to bring these poor refugees medicine, cement and weapons. childrens toys.

I don't think it works the same for them. If you see an emergency situation involving their own people or religion then yes you'll see some action otherwise there's less interest.