Secret no-fly list causes Bangkok holiday nightmare
by: By staff writers


File photo: Survanabhumi Airport

BANGKOK: -- A PASSENGER claims he was left stranded for 10 days at Bangkok Airport, sleeping on a cockroach-infected mattress in a windowless detention room, over a secret no-fly list.

Rehan Motiwala a 29-year-old US citizen was trying to get home to his family in California, but airline staff in Bangkok had refused to grant him a boarding pass.

US and Thai officials said he wasn't allowed to travel but didn't give any explanation, so Motiwala assumed he'd been put on the US government's secret no-fly list, the Los Angeles Times reported.

He wandered the airport terminal for the first four nights, resting on benches, until a US Justice Departnment official arrived to question him.

When he said he didn't want to answer any questions without a lawyer present, he claims he was tossed into a detention centre in Suvarnabhumi Airport.

"They treat you like an animal," Motiwala said.
His nightmare ended on the weekend when he was finally given permission to fly out of Bangkok, but questions remain over his detention.

He claims he wasn't told why he was held, and US officials refuse to say who is on the list or why, arguing that any explanation could alert potential terrorists.

Full story: http://www.news.com.au/travel/news/secret-nofly-list-causes-bangkok-holiday-nightmare/story-e6frfq80-1226672365066

-- NEWS.com.au 2013-07-01

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kcal9.com

I wonder why he has the potential for the no-fly list?

Got me stumped ...

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There is surely a lesson here. If you look and dress like Bin Laden, fly to Pakistan and Indonesia meeting with fundamentalist Islam groups like Tablighi Jamaat, there is a very good chance your freedom to travel will be curtailed. If he looked and acted like the Californian med student he claims to be he would have passed through Bangkok without drama. His choice.

[snip]

I think the whole world is very lucky that you don't have the qualifications to be in charge! Why does it matter what someone LOOKS like people are still people and deserve respect from others!!

Why would a med student, taking a year off, visiting Pakistan and Indonesia, joining a "conservative" Islam mission, draw suspicion?

I think the whole world is very lucky that you don't have the qualifications to be in charge! Why does it matter what someone LOOKS like people are still people and deserve respect from others!!

Check closer and you'll see there was more to it than merely 'looks'.

Why would a med student, taking a year off, visiting Pakistan and Indonesia, joining a "conservative" Islam mission, draw suspicion?

Because a "conservative muslim" is defined as a terrorist temporarily out of ammunition. (SATIRE)

There have been many instances of false positives re: the No-Fly List.

Until 2008 Nelson Mandela was on the No-Fly List!

Sen. Ted Kennedy was often detained as there was a T. Kennedy on the No-Fly List.

There have been many, many children denied boarding as their names matched.

Even a U.S. Marine, named Daniel Brown, was denied boarding returning from active duty in Iraq as his name matched.

In February 2006, U.S. Senator Ted Stevens (R-AK) stated in a committee hearing that his wife Catherine had been subjected to questioning at an airport as to whether she was Cat Stevens due to the similarity of their names.

Meanwhile, people who might legitimately be on the No-Fly List often end up flying, or close to it. Faisal Shahzad, Times Sq. bomber, was already on the plane before agents removed him.

In many states, non-violent protesters who might end up being arrested, get added to the terrorist watch and No-Fly lists automatically.

Once you're on these lists you're hosed.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why you would wonder the airport terminal for four days waiting to be questioned,why did he not stay in a hotel ?

Thing is no fly lists are a pain but a secret one is too much. If there is a secret one you can't even check if you are on it and save hardship. I understand the need to stop terrorists and such but sometimes the good ol US of A goes too far.

Just like spying on its allies that has been brought to light, though I still prefer the US over China as super power it starts to become a question who is the lesser evil. A country that has so much about freedom that spies on its allies, puts on secret no fly lists and such is not that free.

America , Land of the free ,home of the brave, maybe once!

regards Worgeordie

I think the whole world is very lucky that you don't have the qualifications to be in charge! Why does it matter what someone LOOKS like people are still people and deserve respect from others!!

Nah......someone who dresses and looks like a terrorist deserves suspicion before respect.

Terrorists don't consider you to be a person, so why would you say people are still people?

Suspicion before respect.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why you would wonder the airport terminal for four days waiting to be questioned,why did he not stay in a hotel ?

Also, actually, as an American citizen, did he seek Consular Support?

I wonder?

With most things ... there is a lot more left unsaid.

What were the triggers which placed him initially (presumably) on the no-fly list?

A lot of unknowns for sure

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kcal9.com

I wonder why he has the potential for the no-fly list?

Got me stumped ...

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IS this his REAL pic?

If so, I guess would spook many.

Why would he not answer questions without a lawyer present.

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kcal9.com

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IS this his REAL pic?

If so, I guess would spook many.

Apparently so.

Below is him being greeted by his father at LAX ...

Also can be viewed at the Seattle Times

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kcal9.com

I wonder why he has the potential for the no-fly list?

Got me stumped ...

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IS this his REAL pic?

If so, I guess would spook many.

This is a photo from the news conference upon his arrival at LAX.

There is an article that can be read, along with many other items, if you Google his name.

You can come up with such things as his Facebook page, possibly another item that drew suspicion.

https://www.facebook.com/rehan.motiwala.5

There is surely a lesson here. If you look and dress like Bin Laden, fly to Pakistan and Indonesia meeting with fundamentalist Islam groups like Tablighi Jamaat, there is a very good chance your freedom to travel will be curtailed. If he looked and acted like the Californian med student he claims to be he would have passed through Bangkok without drama. His choice.

Its lucky I wasn't the guy in charge or he would be waterskiing or wakeboarding in Gitmo.

<deleted> you live on the same globe as i do , i am ashamed to be part of the human race

Can anyone enlighten me as to why you would wonder the airport terminal for four days waiting to be questioned,why did he not stay in a hotel ?

To gain sympathy and cause an international incident. If he is a U.S citizen why didn't he just go to the U.S embassy to find out what was going on? Maybe that would have been to low key and no publicity

Why would he not answer questions without a lawyer present.

it is every one right not to do so

any thing you say CAN and WILL be held against ou in a court of law so better keep your mouth shut

Why would he not answer questions without a lawyer present.

it is every one right not to do so

any thing you say CAN and WILL be held against ou in a court of law so better keep your mouth shut

Is that a Law in Thailand?

You know for sure?

Or is that just a popular grab from an American or UK police show?

EDIT ... not saying that it's not good advice ... but is it Thai Law?

.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why you would wonder the airport terminal for four days waiting to be questioned,why did he not stay in a hotel ?

To gain sympathy and cause an international incident. If he is a U.S citizen why didn't he just go to the U.S embassy to find out what was going on? Maybe that would have been to low key and no publicity

And why not if you get held because you look different ? Just put him on a public no fly list at least then you know before you fly and you can try to get off it. Land of the free *LOL* Secret this secret that. Sure terrorist don't play nice but to become the thing you hate most to counter them.. they won.

I think the whole world is very lucky that you don't have the qualifications to be in charge! Why does it matter what someone LOOKS like people are still people and deserve respect from others!!

Please advise Homeland Security of your concerns...

Why would he not answer questions without a lawyer present.

it is every one right not to do so

any thing you say CAN and WILL be held against ou in a court of law so better keep your mouth shut

Unless you have nothing to hide...

Oh dear, how sad, never mind

There is surely a lesson here. If you look and dress like Bin Laden, fly to Pakistan and Indonesia meeting with fundamentalist Islam groups like Tablighi Jamaat, there is a very good chance your freedom to travel will be curtailed. If he looked and acted like the Californian med student he claims to be he would have passed through Bangkok without drama. His choice.

Its lucky I wasn't the guy in charge or he would be waterskiing or wakeboarding in Gitmo.

<deleted> you live on the same globe as i do , i am ashamed to be part of the human race

Membership is not compulsory, you can resign at any time.

By Newton's 3rd, any extremist views will generate equally extreme views at the opposite end of the spectrum. And while those of use towards the centre have our freedom restricted because of the actions of extremists, don't be surprised when wanna-bes and associates of extremists attract little sympathy, if not enmity.

When you lie down with dogs, expect fleas.

Can anyone enlighten me as to why you would wonder the airport terminal for four days waiting to be questioned,why did he not stay in a hotel ?

Also, actually, as an American citizen, did he seek Consular Support?

I wonder?

With most things ... there is a lot more left unsaid.

What were the triggers which placed him initially (presumably) on the no-fly list?

A lot of unknowns for sure

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“ There are known knowns; there are things we know that we know.

There are known unknowns; that is to say, there are things that we now know we don't know.

But there are also unknown unknowns – there are things we do not know we don't know. ”

—United States Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld

Oh dear, how sad, never mind

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That's right!

I think the whole world is very lucky that you don't have the qualifications to be in charge! Why does it matter what someone LOOKS like people are still people and deserve respect from others!!

I hope youre not in a position of decision making.

Its because of the ignorance of western PC pollies and public servants that our countries are filling up with all these Islamic creeps.

Appearances tell you so much about people including farangs.

If you dress like a bum you probably are one. See above caption.

Why would he not answer questions without a lawyer present.

it is every one right not to do so

any thing you say CAN and WILL be held against ou in a court of law so better keep your mouth shut

Is that a Law in Thailand?

You know for sure?

Or is that just a popular grab from an American or UK police show?

EDIT ... not saying that it's not good advice ... but is it Thai Law?

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It's the over paranoid American government who bullies other governments, and even spies on citizens across the globe, as well as its own citizens and other world governments whether its in America or abroad.

Even when your having a beer at the bar, you have American secret service, CIA, even under cover FBI and DEA working all over Thailand and the world, stating they are teachers, other business operatives. They are all here for one purpose to gather intelligence, and try and infiltrate networks operating in the area.

Example. Lady flies from philipeans carrying drugs to Thailand, it was the Americans who informed the Thai police.

Your privacy is no longer your privacy, with hitech devices so small, you don't even know who's watching or listening.

Even your microphone on your mobile can be activated to listen to you. And this has been out for decades.