Thailand Pushes Back 200 Rohingya Boat People: Navy

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Thailand pushes back 200 Rohingya boat people: navy

BANGKOK, Jan 30, 2013 (AFP) - Thailand's navy blocked more than 200 Rohingya boat people from entering the kingdom as part of a new crackdown on refugees from violence-hit western Myanmar, officials said Wednesday.

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Thousands of Rohingya -- members of a stateless Muslim minority group described by the UN as one of the most persecuted in the world -- have fled Myanmar in recent months, mostly believed to be heading for Malaysia.

A Thai navy official in Bangkok said more than 200 Rohingya were found on Tuesday about 40 kilometres (25 miles) off the Thai mainland.

"We took them food and water before pushing them towards a third country," said the official, who did not want to be named.

Local media said the boat people were found near Raja Noi island in the Andaman Sea off Phuket province -- a magnet for foreign tourists.

National Security Council secretary-general Paradorn Pattanathabutr told AFP on Monday that Thailand would turn away any more Rohingya boat people who tried to land on its shores.

The tougher stance came after Thai authorities said they were investigating allegations that army officials were involved in the trafficking of Rohingya.

An explosion of tensions between Buddhist and Muslim communities in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine since June 2012 has triggered a huge exodus of Rohingya.

More than 1,300 members of the minority group have been detained by Thailand after landing on its shores in recent months.

Officials have said those already in Thailand will be allowed to stay for six months in detention while the government works with the UN refugee agency to find third countries willing to accept them.

Myanmar views its population of roughly 800,000 Rohingya as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and denies them citizenship.

The UN estimates that about 13,000 boat people fled Myanmar and Bangladesh in 2012, with some dying during the perilous sea voyage. Thailand has been criticised in the past for pushing Rohingya back out to sea.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-01-30

[thhMan]

Its a shame that Thailand is so self centered.

As a farang, I know what it feels like not being wanted in Thailand.

I hope the boat people find a better place to stay

[muratremix]

Its a shame that Thailand is so self centered.

As a farang, I know what it feels like not being wanted in Thailand.

I hope the boat people find a better place to stay

Why thailand should host them? There is nothing common between them. In fact, these rohingyans follow a religion that orders to kill all non-muslims, no questions asked.

They belong to Bangladesh, where they come from. They should have fleed to Bangladesh, but they don't want to go back.

[Ferangled]

Its a shame that Thailand is so self centered.

As a farang, I know what it feels like not being wanted in Thailand.

I hope the boat people find a better place to stay

Why thailand should host them? There is nothing common between them. In fact, these rohingyans follow a religion that orders to kill all non-muslims, no questions asked.

They belong to Bangladesh, where they come from. They should have fleed to Bangladesh, but they don't want to go back.

Exactly! What a refreshing humanitarian take on the situation. Meanwhile whenever Thailand suffers any political or natural disaster be sure to keep your hands outstretched to the EU, US and China...

Thailand only wants wealthy foreigners on it's soil or slave labour to order, smuggled in via the recognised Thai channels where the Thais can reap their fees every step of the way and then deny them any basic human rights while they work here for peanuts. Even the wealthy foreigners are denied any rights to live in the country long term and are only tolerated because of the many and varied opportunities to tax them and ensure that their funds keep flowing into and not out of Thailand.

Rohingya? Pffft, these people are fleeing persecution, have no money, no opportunity for the Thais to earn (unless of course they follow the established route of selling them into slavery to their neighbours).

The absurdly xenophobic and distinctly un-Buddhist ways of the Thai people rear their ugly head again... meanwhile shock horror, an Australian pet store has used the word Buddha in their advertising/ branding, now that's something worth getting worked up about, Rohingya who?

[tuky]

It is no different to what the Aussies did a couple of times in early 2000s (until the refugees started sinking the boats and/or throwing children overboard).

It is no different to what the Aussie opposition party want to do if they are elected this year.

FORMER Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla has criticised key elements of the Australian opposition's border protection policies, including Tony Abbott's plan to turn back asylum-seeker boats.

Read more: http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/world/abbott-boat-plan-opposed-in-idonesia/story-e6frfkui-1226565050014#ixzz2JREIRg6d

[geovalin]

If they want to go to Malaysia and if Malaysia accept them, why Thai navy (possibly with Malaysian funds) does not help the Roh. to reach Malaysian coasts?

[Suffinator]

Its a shame that Thailand is so self centered.

As a farang, I know what it feels like not being wanted in Thailand.

I hope the boat people find a better place to stay

Why thailand should host them? There is nothing common between them. In fact, these rohingyans follow a religion that orders to kill all non-muslims, no questions asked.

They belong to Bangladesh, where they come from. They should have fleed to Bangladesh, but they don't want to go back.

That's the trouble with Thailand - always discriminating against others, hence the issues you have in the South. As one other pointed out here, Thailand is quick enough to hold it's hands out when they need help, such as the 2004 Tsunami, but forget easy and turn their backs on others when they need help. God help us, if we all had the same mentality as a Thai.

[JulesMad]

Thailand should be ashamed of themselves!

"We took them food and water before pushing them towards a third country," said the official, who did not want to be named.

"them" should probably be "their"

I have never found a 'third' country between Thailand and Burma.... So, in reality, it should read:

"We took them their food and water before pushing them towards a third country their deaths," said the official, who did not want to be named.

Thailand must be so proud now

[OzMick]

My sympathies with illegal immigrants/refugees would be greater if it wasn't for their persistent trend to head for the wealthier countries rather than the closest. And of course any country that shows any acceptance becomes a recipient of an ever-increasing flow, both illegally (financed by the fore-runners) and legally through "family reunion".

How many SriLankans are heading for Africa? Any?

You don't have to be a little Dutch boy to know that a trickle through a wall will turn into a flood.

[Lucie]

I was expecting this news sooner or later. With the existing Rohingya in Thailand being looked after grudgingly after the UN and other countries pleaded with Thailand, it was only a matter of time before they went back to turning them back out to sea.

Sorry, muratremix, what was that? Why should Thailand host them? How about because they need help? How about because they are human beings just like Thai people? How about because Thailand CAN help them? Surely that's enough? If we all said "Why should I help you?" when someone was in trouble, the human race would still be roaming tribes of cannibals.

And Islam does not teach its followers to kill all non-muslims, just as Buddhism doesn't teach its followers to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.

[simple1]

If they want to go to Malaysia and if Malaysia accept them, why Thai navy (possibly with Malaysian funds) does not help the Roh. to reach Malaysian coasts?

Malaysia does not want Rohingya people as they are stateless, they just keep them in camps until they can be relocated to a third country sometime in the distant future

[me313]

What country doesn't want cheap slave labor from oppressed minorities fleeing persecution in this modern era of Globalization?

[Espinete]

Are you all aware Thailand earns money with the refugee problems? Refugee camps like in Mae Sot are being paid by Western countries; not Thailand. If e.g. a Karen refugee opts for re-settlement in a new country, Thailand charges approx. 10.000 Thb. for an exit permit (which takes months to issue).

The IOM International Organisation for Migration (Geneva based) is there and available to help with the Rohinya HUMANS. Pushing rotten boats back on a sea with people of whatever religion, is a crime against humanity. Never forget that. So spare me Buddhist Belief like the incident with the Dutch toilets. In Thailand Buddhism is past tense: they proof it themselves! In some neighbouring countries you can still find pure belief.

[Melyn]

Its a shame that Thailand is so self centered.

As a farang, I know what it feels like not being wanted in Thailand.

I hope the boat people find a better place to stay

Why thailand should host them? There is nothing common between them. In fact, these rohingyans follow a religion that orders to kill all non-muslims, no questions asked.

They belong to Bangladesh, where they come from. They should have fleed to Bangladesh, but they don't want to go back.

Thailand has no money to even put electricity in schools. It has all been stolen by the nouveau amart.

[submaniac]

Thailand is already a host over 130,000 illegals/stateless people in refugee camps. If some people on this board had their way the entire country would be a refugee camp where everyone and anyone would be free to move into Thailand. A kin try protecting its citizens and culture by limiting immigration: why the utter nerve.

For all of those clamoring that Thailand should accept the rohingya why don't you write the embassy of your home country demanding that your home country take in the rohingya? Yeah I didn't think so. Given a choice the rohingya would prefer uk, oz or USA over Thailand anyways. And it is absolutely true the rohingya have no connection with the people or culture of Thailand. Why should Thailand have to accept them?

[rgs2001uk]

I was expecting this news sooner or later. With the existing Rohingya in Thailand being looked after grudgingly after the UN and other countries pleaded with Thailand, it was only a matter of time before they went back to turning them back out to sea.

Sorry, muratremix, what was that? Why should Thailand host them? How about because they need help? How about because they are human beings just like Thai people? How about because Thailand CAN help them? Surely that's enough? If we all said "Why should I help you?" when someone was in trouble, the human race would still be roaming tribes of cannibals.

And Islam does not teach its followers to kill all non-muslims, just as Buddhism doesn't teach its followers to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.

Why dont you contact the relevant Thai authority and set up a Home Stay programme for these people, you can pay to feed clothe and shelter them.

[simple1]

They belong to Bangladesh, where they come from. They should have fleed to Bangladesh, but they don't want to go back.

If you wish to indulge in bigotry, at a minimum get your historical facts straight.

Bangladesh only came a nation state in 1972, prior to that it was East Pakistan, previously British India. As has been pointed out many times on the subject of Rohingya on TV, the Bangladesh government will not accept Rohingya refugees and those that are in camps in Bangladesh have been their for up to 20 years without hope. The Burmese State where the Rohingya are living was annexed by the Burmese in the 1700s. They were Burmese citizens until their citizenship was revoked in 1982, they are not Bangladeshi.

[Squigy]

Let Burma deal with the problem. Send them back over the border to West Pakistan. They like others in this global village do have a country to live in. This is Islam pushing religious boundaries, part of the overall master Islamic Global takeover. All stems from the First Crusade, pay back time.

[sirchai]

"We took them food and water before pushing them towards a third country in a World Class Standard way," said the official, who did not want to be named.His name's Somchai.

Edited January 30, 2013 by sirchai

[masuk]

It is no different to what the Aussies did a couple of times in early 2000s (until the refugees started sinking the boats and/or throwing children overboard).

It is no different to what the Aussie opposition party want to do if they are elected this year.

FORMER Indonesian vice-president Jusuf Kalla has criticised key elements of the Australian opposition's border protection policies, including Tony Abbott's plan to turn back asylum-seeker boats.

Read more: http://www.news.com....4#ixzz2JREIRg6d

The legend of throwing children overboard by the Australian Navy was disproved long ago. It pays to keep up with the news and not what the sensational headlines printed before the actual truth came out.

There were kids in the water, and Aussie naval personnel helped fish them out.

As Australia is a signatory to the UN Human Rights Charter, the government is obliged to take in those seeking refuge until they are either cleared or found to belong to organisations not desirable in the country.

Malaysia is NOT a signatory, and I must assume that neither is Thailand.

[David Mault]

Australia is not an Islamic country, so why should we accept these Musim so called refugees willy nilly? They throw away their passports and ID before being picked up. They also come through 2 Islam / Muslim countries before getting to Australia. Why can't they stay in Indonesia or Malaya where their religin is followed?

[simple1]

Thailand is already a host over 130,000 illegals/stateless people in refugee camps. If some people on this board had their way the entire country would be a refugee camp where everyone and anyone would be free to move into Thailand. A kin try protecting its citizens and culture by limiting immigration: why the utter nerve.

For all of those clamoring that Thailand should accept the rohingya why don't you write the embassy of your home country demanding that your home country take in the rohingya? Yeah I didn't think so. Given a choice the rohingya would prefer uk, oz or USA over Thailand anyways. And it is absolutely true the rohingya have no connection with the people or culture of Thailand. Why should Thailand have to accept them?

You're correct Thailand is under no obligation to "host" the Rohingya as it is not a signatory to the relevant UN conventions. However pushing them back into international waters is not exactly a humanitarian gesture.

I believe I am correct that Thailand is seeking to attract more MNC to base their ASEAN operations or increase their commitments here in readiness for AEC in late 2015/16. They are risking shareholder lobby group activity for the Boards of the MNCs not to do so. In other words their are many implications for Thailand in taking actions that the international community will abhor with their very shortsighted actions and proposed policies regards stateless refugees.

[simple1]

Australia is not an Islamic country, so why should we accept these Musim so called refugees willy nilly? They throw away their passports and ID before being picked up. They also come through 2 Islam / Muslim countries before getting to Australia. Why can't they stay in Indonesia or Malaya where their religin is followed?

Google is your friend and you will quickly discover that neither Indonesia or Malaysia is interested in accepting the Rohingya.

[Pimay1]

I am waiting for the Yingluck faithfuls and apologists to comment on how terrible this is. After all they tried to crucify AV on this board when the same thing happened during his stint as PM.

[khunken]

Let Burma deal with the problem. Send them back over the border to West Pakistan. They like others in this global village do have a country to live in. This is Islam pushing religious boundaries, part of the overall master Islamic Global takeover. All stems from the First Crusade, pay back time.

What a load of racist tripe. The is no such place as West Pakistan. If you had bothered to read some of the other posts in this thread, you would have learned that East Pakistan became independent under the name Bangladesh.

This is nothing to do with Islam - it concerns refugees fleeing a country that doesn't want them and oppresses them. They should be given proper humanitarian treatment just like the thousands of other refugees from Burma's military.

If you have nothing constructive to add beyond hatred, better not to show your ignorance.

[VETO72]

Thailand should be ashamed of themselves!

"We took them food and water before pushing them towards a third country," said the official, who did not want to be named.

"them" should probably be "their"

I have never found a 'third' country between Thailand and Burma.... So, in reality, it should read:

"We took them their food and water before pushing them towards a third country their deaths," said the official, who did not want to be named.

Thailand must be so proud now

Maybe they should have escorted them to Australia......they are taking refugees by the thousands and forgetting thier own...another England in the making....

[Pimay1]

I was expecting this news sooner or later. With the existing Rohingya in Thailand being looked after grudgingly after the UN and other countries pleaded with Thailand, it was only a matter of time before they went back to turning them back out to sea.

Sorry, muratremix, what was that? Why should Thailand host them? How about because they need help? How about because they are human beings just like Thai people? How about because Thailand CAN help them? Surely that's enough? If we all said "Why should I help you?" when someone was in trouble, the human race would still be roaming tribes of cannibals.

And Islam does not teach its followers to kill all non-muslims, just as Buddhism doesn't teach its followers to turn a blind eye to the suffering of others.

You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time but not all of the people all of the time.

[theajarn]

History repeats itself.

[LuckyLew]

Why were they pushed back?

I guess no one in Malaysia had any money left to buy them

[submaniac]

Lets take a moment to look at this is perspective. The rohingya are in reality economic refugees. They do not have citizenship in Myanmar and cannot own land. Basically they're in the same situation as Falangs in Thailand.

Contrast what has happened in history. The Jews were systematically rounded up and sent to concentration camps for extermination by Nazi germany. The Bosnian Muslims were systematically executed and Muslim women raped by Serbians during the Yugoslav wars. In Rwanda, the Tutsis ethnicity was systematically exterminated by the Hutu tribe. Is what is happening to the rohingya he same thing? Are there mass executions and extermination camps of the rohingya in Myanmar? No. They're not escaping death, they're escaping poverty.

Do I like that the Thais are sending them back to sea? No but I don't see what else Thailand can do. There's already 130000 refugees in Thai camps. If Thailand takes them in then they have to care for these people. If Thailand toes the boats to either Malaysia or Myanmar the it causes friction between the countries (neither country will be happy about Thailand dumping all these people on their shores).

Lets take a cue from the us. Cuba is a communist country. Congress enacted a law that those people escaping from communist countries were entitled to political asylum. People from Cuba come in boats trying to reach the United States. When the us coast guard intercepts these boats what do they do? The us coast guard takes these people to Guantanamo bay to prevent them for reaching us shores and claiming political asylum. Thailand is really just doing what other countries are doing. It just doesn't have an offshore military base like Guantanamo bay.

Edited January 30, 2013 by submaniac