U N Set To Begin Assistance Measures In Thailand: Rohingya Migrants

[webfact]

ROHINGYA MIGRANTS

UN set to begin assistance measures

THE NATION

Ministries to discuss whether to set up a camp, Chalerm says

BANGKOKL -- Relief operations by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to help Rohingya migrants are set to begin in earnest now that Thai authorities have given the go-ahead, agency spokeswoman Vivian Tan said yesterday.

The announcement came as officials detained another 60 Rohingya yesterday. The migrants were found on a boat off Ranong's Muang district that was attempting to dock. The new arrivals bring to 917 the number of Rohingya who have entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar in recent weeks.

While the government works out operational measures, the UNHCR will start by interviewing the 857 Myanmar-based exiles and take other measures to verify details provided by them. In the meantime, the UNHCR will decide what steps to take and in which areas help is most needed, before finally providing full-scale assistance, Tan said.

Asked about the possibility of setting up a camp to temporarily hold the 857 Rohingyas on Thai soil, Tan said the UNHCR would not go beyond frameworks to be established by the government.

Former Asean secretary-general Surin Pitsuwan commented that Thailand should not rush in its handling of the issue by being overly focused on immediate repatriation. He warned that this would affect the Kingdom's positive image in the international community as a country with a history of extending hospitality to refugees fleeing violence. Resolving the problems facing Myanmar's 800,000 Rohingyas would ultimately have to involve the Myanmar authorities.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who has responsibility for internal security issues, said the Foreign Ministry had been assigned to interview the Rohingyas, and that it was important for Thailand to handle the issue carefully, on humanitarian and immigration grounds.

Chalerm said he had no concerns that the Muslim Rohingyas would get involved with the insurgency in the deep South. "What is problematic is their [possible] future illegal entry into Thailand in the long term. This is a very delicate matter and Thailand needs to protect its interests while not violating human rights," he said.

Asked about the possibility of setting up a camp to accommodate the newly arrived immigrants, Chalerm said he would need to discuss the matter with the Interior and Foreign ministries, along with security officials, before making a decision.

"We would need to find third countries who are ready to accommodate [the Rohingya], possibly Muslim countries, as they have abundant accommodation and funding," he said.

Four of the Rohingya exiles yesterday staged a protest outside the Foreign Ministry compound asking Thailand not to repatriate the group. They plan to submit their request to the British, US, Australian and Malaysian embassies.

Foreign Minister Surapong Towichukchaikul had received the request, and was expected to consider it at a ministry meeting next week.

The four also called on Thai authorities to search for a number of their fellow migrants who had gone missing during their journey to Thailand, which took them through jungles and across the sea.

The Sheikhul Islam Office, the Central Islamic Council of Thailand and the provincial Islamic councils in the five deep South provinces issued an open letter calling for sympathy from Thai people and assigning the council in Songkhla to act as centre of assistance. Aid would be distributed from there to all locations where the 857 currently reside.

The statement called on Thai authorities not to repatriate the Rohingya to Myanmar, while welcoming donations to an account named Assistance Fund for Rohingyas, account number 934-1-48557-6, at the Islamic Bank of Thailand's Hat Yai branch.

-- The Nation 2013-01-18

[Buchholz]

The new arrivals bring to 917 the number of Rohingya who have entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar in recent weeks.

While the government works out operational measures, the UNHCR will start by interviewing the 857 Myanmar-based exiles

The UN better hurry up as the Thai Foreign Minister announced just yesterday that the Rohyingya would be deported within a week, whether to Myanmar or a third country, but either way, they were going to be sent out within 7 days.

Asked about the possibility of setting up a camp to accommodate the newly arrived immigrants, Chalerm said he would need to discuss the matter with the Interior and Foreign ministries

Really no need to set up a camp if they are only going to be spending such a brief time in Thailand before their deportations.

.

[Thai at Heart]

If only Thailand had a working relationship with say, SaudiArabia.

[Locationthailand]

If only Thailand had a working relationship with say, SaudiArabia.

Absolutely - send them off to their own kind.

[submaniac]

They plan to submit requests to British, Australian, and United States embassy (Malaysia was also mentioned but I guess that's second tier to them). Good. Since these countries are the ones clamoring for the protection of refugees they can take the rohingya off of Thailand's hands, rather than push Thailand to take them.

[Puma]

If only Thailand had a working relationship with say, SaudiArabia.

Isn’t it some diamonds missing?

[geordiel]

Originally from Bangladesh, surely that would be the obvious country to send them. There they could be with their own culture and co-religionists.

[Plastic Brontosaurus]

It's logical that political and/or economic refugees try to escape to the best country for them - in economic terms. However Muslims of lower education levels generally don't integrate well (if at all) in non-Muslims societies (I've lived in Europe, and you see the examples every day everywhere). Yet they always try to come to the countries with the better economies - can't really blame them but they don't fit in.

Still not sure why Muslims don't integrate whereas other peoples generally do to a large degree, but with this knowledge, I think Muslim countries should take the Muslim refugees. Malaysia takes them already - why not make a deal to deport them there. And at the same time start leaning on the Myanmar government (together with Malaysia and others) to force them to come out of the stone age. Just because they have one high-profile democracy activist should not allow them to dump their problems over their borders. If they wanted to, they could simply position a few naval vessels near the border and stop all boats leaving. However for them it is convenient to get rid of these poor uneducated folk they don't want in their country.

[Pimay1]

The new arrivals bring to 917 the number of Rohingya who have entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar in recent weeks.

While the government works out operational measures, the UNHCR will start by interviewing the 857 Myanmar-based exiles

The UN better hurry up as the Thai Foreign Minister announced just yesterday that the Rohyingya would be deported within a week, whether to Myanmar or a third country, but either way, they were going to be sent out within 7 days.

Asked about the possibility of setting up a camp to accommodate the newly arrived immigrants, Chalerm said he would need to discuss the matter with the Interior and Foreign ministries

Really no need to set up a camp if they are only going to be spending such a brief time in Thailand before their deportations.

.

I suppose the UN has forgotten that they are not Thailand's father. Edited January 18, 2013 by Pimay1

[Wombat6]

Easy solution....get them to convert to Judaism and call themselves the lost tribe. they will probably be welcomed in Israel

[hellodolly]

The new arrivals bring to 917 the number of Rohingya who have entered Thailand illegally from Myanmar in recent weeks.

While the government works out operational measures, the UNHCR will start by interviewing the 857 Myanmar-based exiles

The UN better hurry up as the Thai Foreign Minister announced just yesterday that the Rohyingya would be deported within a week, whether to Myanmar or a third country, but either way, they were going to be sent out within 7 days.

Asked about the possibility of setting up a camp to accommodate the newly arrived immigrants, Chalerm said he would need to discuss the matter with the Interior and Foreign ministries

Really no need to set up a camp if they are only going to be spending such a brief time in Thailand before their deportations.

.

Later in the article it says

"Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung, who has responsibility for internal security issues, said the Foreign Ministry had been assigned to interview the Rohingyas, and that it was important for Thailand to handle the issue carefully, on humanitarian and immigration grounds."

So now they are being interviewed by the UNHCR and the Thai Foreign Ministry.

Two to one the right hand won't know what the left hand is doing.

[Mudcrab]

It's logical that political and/or economic refugees try to escape to the best country for them - in economic terms. However Muslims of lower education levels generally don't integrate well (if at all) in non-Muslims societies (I've lived in Europe, and you see the examples every day everywhere). Yet they always try to come to the countries with the better economies - can't really blame them but they don't fit in.

Still not sure why Muslims don't integrate whereas other peoples generally do to a large degree, but with this knowledge, I think Muslim countries should take the Muslim refugees. Malaysia takes them already - why not make a deal to deport them there. And at the same time start leaning on the Myanmar government (together with Malaysia and others) to force them to come out of the stone age. Just because they have one high-profile democracy activist should not allow them to dump their problems over their borders. If they wanted to, they could simply position a few naval vessels near the border and stop all boats leaving. However for them it is convenient to get rid of these poor uneducated folk they don't want in their country.

I think it is due to them being Muslims. Americans are Americans....a mexican in America is an American, but a muslim is always a muslim (no nationality as such...just muslim) no matter where they go. Thats my experience anyway.

[geriatrickid]

If only Thailand had a working relationship with say, SaudiArabia.

Absolutely - send them off to their own kind.

They would probably be treated worse. Their skin colour is a tad too dark to be easily accepted in that part of the world anyway.

Besides, the Saui Arabians are not their kind. Saudi Arabia is an arab country that adheres to Wahhabism, which is quite different than the branch of Islam the Rohingyas follow. It should be Pakistan and Iran that lead the way. Perhaps Venezuala and Cuba will help out. Has someone asked Turkey to send an aid flotilla yet?

I don't understand why the western/christian/infidel countries are picking up the bill on this refugee crisis.

[rubl]

Just like GKid I wonder why Western countries are going to pick up the bill. Especially as our PM said the Rohingya refugees would get care here. Mind you, unlike gKid I never wrote, not even in a somewhat sarcastic manner

"Our PM is a humanitarian leader and I commend her demonstration of compassion and generosity."